Late Adulthood
Jonathan Ramirez
PSY/280
11/29/2016
Abraham Samuel
The life experience is unique for every individual, guaranteeing that everyone will have a different story to tell. From the time we are conceived, to the time we take our last breath, many changes will occur. Learning how to walk, suck, eat, play, speak, read, run, work, supervise, and so forth, are all examples of cognitive and social progression. It is in our late adulthood, where all of our life has come to a conclusion, and depending on how we have lived, will dictate our final days.
Ageism
Ageism “is a form of discrimination and prejudice, particularly experienced by seniors” (Arguentum, 2016). The sad reality is that ageism is very real, and many of the …show more content…
What we do in our youth can and will play a role in our overall health when we reach late adulthood. Schools are getting better about serving healthy food to our children and promoting physical activity. Schools are adopting eating programs where they are serving less sugars and fats, replacing them with fruits and vegetables. One does not have to be a health nut to see the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle; we just have to have good eating habits and physical activity. It is easy to ignore the damage that one does to their body physically in their adolescence and early adulthood. College adults can partake in heavy drinking and smoking, not feeling long periods of a hangover or shortness of breath. However, depending on how often one does so, can result in devastating long term health issues. Diseases such as liver disease or diabetes are two of the possibilities of poor eating habits and drinking. Lung cancers, heart attach, high blood pressure, and trouble breathing can be long term results of smoking. Healthcare has advanced in today’s world, giving doctors many tools to help keep us healthy. Using a healthcare provider regularly can help tremendously, especially if the doctor is able to detect early forms of various cancers or vulnerabilities. Other than practicing good habits and making good life decisions, stress can lead to health problems. Simply having a positive outlook on …show more content…
We all hope for health, both physically and mentally; however ideal, it is not always the case. As we progress in age, we can have physical limitations and abilities. Some elders may need assistance with simple tasks such as bathing or eating. It is not only embarrassing to some; it often hurts ones pride to count on others to be taken care of. Depression can go hand in hand with being dependent, feeling bad knowing that ones body is deteriorating. There have been many arguments about the ability to take ones life, and making the decision to pass with dignity. Religious beliefs and family play a huge role in that argument, many religions having literature about not taking ones life. It is hard to say what we would do in the situation, especially being in pain and death is imminent. Should one be able to choose when they should pass, or is it not clear of the mental, suicidal thought process?
Conclusion
There are many myths, stereotypes, and legitimate issues about the late adulthood stage. One can just hope that in their early adulthood, they were conscious enough to help themselves in mitigating long lasting damage to their body. Investing in their grandchildren and children’s future can make all the difference in the quality of an elders closing years. With more medical advances occurring every day, we will continue to see the elder community live longer and live healthier
Jonathan Ramirez
PSY/280
11/29/2016
Abraham Samuel
The life experience is unique for every individual, guaranteeing that everyone will have a different story to tell. From the time we are conceived, to the time we take our last breath, many changes will occur. Learning how to walk, suck, eat, play, speak, read, run, work, supervise, and so forth, are all examples of cognitive and social progression. It is in our late adulthood, where all of our life has come to a conclusion, and depending on how we have lived, will dictate our final days.
Ageism
Ageism “is a form of discrimination and prejudice, particularly experienced by seniors” (Arguentum, 2016). The sad reality is that ageism is very real, and many of the …show more content…
What we do in our youth can and will play a role in our overall health when we reach late adulthood. Schools are getting better about serving healthy food to our children and promoting physical activity. Schools are adopting eating programs where they are serving less sugars and fats, replacing them with fruits and vegetables. One does not have to be a health nut to see the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle; we just have to have good eating habits and physical activity. It is easy to ignore the damage that one does to their body physically in their adolescence and early adulthood. College adults can partake in heavy drinking and smoking, not feeling long periods of a hangover or shortness of breath. However, depending on how often one does so, can result in devastating long term health issues. Diseases such as liver disease or diabetes are two of the possibilities of poor eating habits and drinking. Lung cancers, heart attach, high blood pressure, and trouble breathing can be long term results of smoking. Healthcare has advanced in today’s world, giving doctors many tools to help keep us healthy. Using a healthcare provider regularly can help tremendously, especially if the doctor is able to detect early forms of various cancers or vulnerabilities. Other than practicing good habits and making good life decisions, stress can lead to health problems. Simply having a positive outlook on …show more content…
We all hope for health, both physically and mentally; however ideal, it is not always the case. As we progress in age, we can have physical limitations and abilities. Some elders may need assistance with simple tasks such as bathing or eating. It is not only embarrassing to some; it often hurts ones pride to count on others to be taken care of. Depression can go hand in hand with being dependent, feeling bad knowing that ones body is deteriorating. There have been many arguments about the ability to take ones life, and making the decision to pass with dignity. Religious beliefs and family play a huge role in that argument, many religions having literature about not taking ones life. It is hard to say what we would do in the situation, especially being in pain and death is imminent. Should one be able to choose when they should pass, or is it not clear of the mental, suicidal thought process?
Conclusion
There are many myths, stereotypes, and legitimate issues about the late adulthood stage. One can just hope that in their early adulthood, they were conscious enough to help themselves in mitigating long lasting damage to their body. Investing in their grandchildren and children’s future can make all the difference in the quality of an elders closing years. With more medical advances occurring every day, we will continue to see the elder community live longer and live healthier