Portrayal of the Older Adult in the Humanities In today’s world, there is a great misunderstanding about the aging process and a plethora of associated myths. Many people have a jaded view of aging and the elderly in general, which may be attributed to the false portrayals and stereotyping of the population in media platforms such as movies, television shows, and novels. There is a great disconnect between the current generations, which is even more concerning in our “aging society”, meaning that in the coming years, those over the age of 60 will outnumber those under 15 (MacArthur Foundation, 2009). A report published by the MacArthur Foundation (2009, p. 2) summed this problem up best, “Too much of what passes for knowledge and understanding
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As the movie takes place in present-day New York City, some inferences can be made as to how society in looking at the older adult. For the most part, present day society views older adults as people to be respected but not necessarily admired or a major part of their everyday life. It is not to say that society thinks they are worthless but there is a rather large sector that views the elderly as chronically ill, slow-thinking, non-contributors in the work force, old-fashioned, and financial burdens. This is somewhat evident in the movie as Ben’s colleagues question his ability to work and question his motives.
Assessment
According to the World Health Organization (1948), health is defined as, “A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Therefore, in order to fully assess the health of the older adult, it is necessary to look at all aspects of the person, including physically, psychologically, socially, functionally, and spiritually. Each of these areas will be addressed for Ben Whittaker in the sections following. …show more content…
His skin appears to be clean, dry, and intact. He does not appear to have any skin tears, obvious dryness, or issues with temperature or color. Respiratory wise, Ben does not have any indicators of respiratory distress, including shortness of breath, dyspnea on exertion, use of accessory muscles, pursed-lip breathing, or use of the tripod position. His cardiac status also appears to be within normal limits as Ben does not experience any chest pain or signs and symptoms of heart issues including edema, shortness of breath, and more. His neurologic status also appears in tact as he is awake, alert, and oriented to person, place, and time; he does not appear to have any deficits in memory or cognition and does not experience any difficulties with reflexes or sensations. His gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems also appear to be within normal limits. In regards to his musculoskeletal system, Ben has a steady gait and is up ad-lib, does not appear to have any muscle breakdown, and stays active with physical activity including tai-chi. Lastly, he does not appear to be taking any meds as he is never shown to be doing so throughout the
As the movie takes place in present-day New York City, some inferences can be made as to how society in looking at the older adult. For the most part, present day society views older adults as people to be respected but not necessarily admired or a major part of their everyday life. It is not to say that society thinks they are worthless but there is a rather large sector that views the elderly as chronically ill, slow-thinking, non-contributors in the work force, old-fashioned, and financial burdens. This is somewhat evident in the movie as Ben’s colleagues question his ability to work and question his motives.
Assessment
According to the World Health Organization (1948), health is defined as, “A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Therefore, in order to fully assess the health of the older adult, it is necessary to look at all aspects of the person, including physically, psychologically, socially, functionally, and spiritually. Each of these areas will be addressed for Ben Whittaker in the sections following. …show more content…
His skin appears to be clean, dry, and intact. He does not appear to have any skin tears, obvious dryness, or issues with temperature or color. Respiratory wise, Ben does not have any indicators of respiratory distress, including shortness of breath, dyspnea on exertion, use of accessory muscles, pursed-lip breathing, or use of the tripod position. His cardiac status also appears to be within normal limits as Ben does not experience any chest pain or signs and symptoms of heart issues including edema, shortness of breath, and more. His neurologic status also appears in tact as he is awake, alert, and oriented to person, place, and time; he does not appear to have any deficits in memory or cognition and does not experience any difficulties with reflexes or sensations. His gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems also appear to be within normal limits. In regards to his musculoskeletal system, Ben has a steady gait and is up ad-lib, does not appear to have any muscle breakdown, and stays active with physical activity including tai-chi. Lastly, he does not appear to be taking any meds as he is never shown to be doing so throughout the