Running head: WHEN I GET OLD

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When I Get Old Janice Johnson SOC304 – Social Gerontology Dr. Elaine Alden October 26, 2014

Running head: WHEN I GET OLD When I Get Old There are conflicting ideas about what to expect as we get older. Will we be able to keep growing our gardens, be able to keep our present jobs or will the younger generation take our

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freedom and pride from us. Our text states that no matter how old you are, child or adult, that we are told to “act our age” because societies have a social system that is considered to be normal (Markson & Stein, 2012). It is getting harder to think of a norm for saying someone is old now because we are living longer and for example women are having their children, are almost a grandparent or a last child is just graduating and leaving the home around the same age. The chronological age is not enough to say whether someone is reaching a certain norm age group as easily as it used to be determined (Markson & Stein, 2012). Some of the issues that we do have to deal with as we grow older are when others discriminate against us, the aches and pains that come with different levels of intensity and how we feel about ourselves at this time. Discrimination Anyone who has gone and applied for a job, no matter what kind of education they may have or how they feel, they are turned down for the position and while not telling you, it is because of your age that you were turned down. It is much the same kind of discrimination as physical attributes being discriminating. When a bank is hiring their tellers, who are out front and “representing” the bank, do they hire the slim, young person or would they hire the older, larger and unattractive person. Age discrimination occurs when one particular age group is treated differently to another age group on the grounds of chronological age (Sargeant, 2011, Page 1, Para. 1). There has been research done with employees when they were to begin hiring for a position within their company. They were primed to think that they were objective or biased in hiring a younger or older person. Most would still prefer the younger person even if the older applicant had more experience. After all results were counted it was found a decision makers

Running head: WHEN I GET OLD intentions to be objective ends up being ineffective as their preferences still lean toward the younger applicant (Linder, Nosek & Graser, 2012). Discrimination does not just come in the form of pushing someone out of their jobs after reaching a certain age. There are times when an older person can’t receive medical treatment because someone says the person is too old to benefit from it (Sargeant, 2011). My mother was diagnosed with level 4 cancer when she was 87 years old. Her doctor told us that normally he would tell his older patients to go home and he would do his best to keep them comfortable. My mother on the other hand, although she was “old”, was a vibrant and active person yet and the doctor saw with my sisters and me that she had a lot of support. He did surgery on her, and said he hoped he could give her another five years. Well, we had her for seven more years and up to

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her last six months she was still able to care for herself, go shopping, etc. Her mind stayed active up to the end, never forgetting who we were or where she was. She was the pride of the doctor’s office and everyone admired her. If there were to be a “death panel”, people like her would not have the chance to continue their life just because someone else says they aren’t worth the money it takes for the help. This is because doctors and whoever makes these decisions consider the care as a drain on resources and a burden to the system (Sargeant, 2011). If the government wants to start regulating this aspect we should fight against it and at least let the persons doctor decide what is the best way to proceed. This kind of discrimination is criminal and cruel. Diseases As a human being grows older there are many changes in their body. The cells in the body of an aging person begin to slow down and they don’t work like they do when you are younger. They don’t produce the chemicals that make the cells stronger; the cells don’t divide as well to make new cells that are needed but it appears that these cells are made to be programmed to get old and die (Sabbagh & Weitz, 1984). Everyone ages at different stages and are able to continue

Running head: WHEN I GET OLD activities as these stages occur. One of the diseases that many people get is arthritis but as it shows in the film Pinetop Perkins (95) at Notodden Blues festival 2008 with the 95 year old playing music and singing, this does not affect everyone (Fergos2, 2008, Aug. 4). As we age we can help ourselves by staying active and exercising keeping our muscles toned and stay out of the sun to reduce wrinkling. Yet another normal part of aging is the fact that when we take a

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deep breathe we only get half of the useful oxygen compared to what we received when younger (Sabbagh & Weitz, 1984). Something that is not inevitable and that we can help not occur, is hardening of the arteries, which leads to heart attacks. We can do this with vigorous exercise that makes our blood flow faster and the exercise helps to keep bones from growing brittle (Sabbagh & Weitz, 1984). Last is our brain and keeping mentally alert. It has been researched that once your brain reaches maturity, approximately at 20 years old, the brain begins losing cells but we can help ourselves by keeping our lives interesting and fulfilling (Sabbagh & Weitz, 1984). When someone has a hard time with their mobility they can still use their brain by playing cards, working crossword puzzles and/or getting on the internet to read newspapers, play games or just correspond with friends that may not live close by. Self-Concept As people begin to age they begin to look at what their lives have held, have they made a difference to anyone’s life, what have they accomplished so far and do they have time to do those things now. Some people retire thinking they are going to love not having to get out, punch time clocks, etc. This can become a depressing state of life if these people do not keep their socialization skills going by going out, or doing something that keeps them fulfilled with themselves. While you may not want to actually have a full time job many people do volunteer work where they can manage two or three hours a day. This still makes them feel like they are contributing to others and to themselves. Some people go back and finish that degree that they

Running head: WHEN I GET OLD have always wanted even though they may not have a way to use it, this keeps their mind active

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and it could possibly lead to a position that is either full or part time doing something completely different than what they have done all their life. If you keep your mind active it helps your selfconcept at a higher level. To sit at home all day watching television, eating candy or never getting out for any reason it would have to feel like your life is over. If there is nothing to get up for, no one to talk to or go out to lunch with, you begin to decline. Some people are lucky enough that they can live very well without having to worry about money. These people could volunteer to tutor students where the value is two-fold. It not only would keep their brains active it helps the children learn and catch up to the rest of their class (VOAvideo, 2010, June 1). It has been found that what is called inter-generational interaction, like when an older person tutors the younger children, because of the patience of the older person that these students will stay in school longer and have better reading scores (Sahertian, 2009, May4). So when we begin to wonder what it would feel like when we get old, there are many things that each individual has to take into consideration. The social stratification of each one of us includes how we have lived in our socio economic places. Have we always had plenty of money, living in a nice warm home, have we ever had illnesses that helped to weaken our system, what kind of education have we had to enrich our lives, all of these things bring about some of the differences in how we feel about ourselves and how long we can remain productive in our aging years. According to our text, social stratification is described as where society is stratified by age and social class (Markson & Stein, 2012). Some of the issues most of us do have to deal with as we grow older are when others discriminate against us, the aches and pains that come with different levels of intensity and how we feel about ourselves at this time.

Running head: WHEN I GET OLD References Fergos2. (2008, Aug. 4). Pinetop Perkins (95) at Notodden Bluesfestival 2008 [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2KmjMWLymQ&feature=related Lindner, N. M., Nosek, B. A., & Graser, A. (2012). Age-based hiring discrimination as a function of equity norms and self-perceived objectivity. Rochester: Social Science Research Network. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2071447 Markson, E. W. & Stein, P. J. (2012). Social gerontology: Issues & prospects. Retrieved from: https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUSOC304.12.2/sections/fm Sabbagh, K. (Writer), & Weitz, M. (Director). (1984). Aging [Television series episode]. In J. Gau (Executive producer), The Living Body. London, UK: Goldcrest Multimedia Television, Ltd. Available from the Films On Demand database. Sahertian, P. [PatriciaSahertian]. (2009, May 4). What does the older worker bring? [Video]. In Cut Back: Facing Ageism. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8qXveiavdc Sargeant, M. (2011). Age Discrimination: Ageism in Employment and Service Provision. Farnham, Surrey, GBR: Ashgate Publishing Ltd. Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com VOAvideo. (2010, June 1). Older adults see benefits from tutoring young children [Video]. Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTZ4U-SIGO8

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