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THE AGING PROCESSPresented by Naomi Horbatch

TRMT 392

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Abstract PageThe aging process happens to everyone and society has it’s

views and stereotypes on aging. The Ulyssean Approach aims to help make the aging process a fun one by adopting a belief system that aging is about having an open mind and the willingness to try new experiences.

The belief systems we have about aging are ever changing and affect how we interact with seniors and the types of programs offered to them. As the senior population grows so does the demand for younger adults to fill the employment demands.

The education and knowledge about aging will help a programmer design the best activities possible and make each encounter with a senior a positive one. There are steps to take that will help and hurt the aging process and understanding what can be done will enable a person to make the necessary changes to age gracefully.

Everyone will encounter symptoms of the aging process, having the knowledge and information to understand this process will enable you to age the way you like.

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Ulyssean LivingTo ensure a common understanding of what is meant

by an Ulyssean Approach

“A willingness to be open to new ideas and opportunities. The perspective is built upon the belief

that each year of life provides occasions for renewal as well as growth”

Ulyssean Adult“An individual who continually seeks new

opportunities and adventures in the later years of their life”

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The Aging Process

Aging is a process of becomings; not a state; and seeks the opportunities for growth and experiences.

Each age group faces it own set of unique cognitive, psychological, social and emotional set of problems, issues and solutions.

No matter what age, vulnerability still exists. Seem to have more patience for the needs of children and babies in comparison to older, ill adults.

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Your Personal View on Aging Your Personal View on Aging affects your

interactions with older people, the type of programming you offer, how the programming is customized.

Your belief systems will show in the interactions ie. Baby talk, talking slow or loud

Think about your personal view on Aging… Do you feel it will a positive or negative experience? Are you looking forward to it?

Do you subconsciously change when you interact with seniors? Talk loudly or slowly?

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Positive Views on Aging

People look forward to the “Golden Years” Society has different standards that older

people are held to in comparison to younger people

Have more free time to spend with friends and Family Have the freedom to do the things that couldn’t be done before

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Positive Stereotypes about Aging

Older people are nice Warm, friendly people Have lots of knowledge & wisdom

Older people are well off financially Free to do as they please

Old Age is peaceful and fun Senior Citizens Discount

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Negative Views on Aging

Poor view of turning 60 or 70 Older you get the worse off your health Children like young adults Will end up in an old age home Age discrimination (employment, healthcare, etc) Women aren’t as beautiful as they age Become more cranky Wrinkled Skin No one wants to hang out with you unless forced

to You’re a burden to society

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Negative Stereotypes about Aging

Many older people are:

Sick, Disabled, Demented Have no sexual desire orthe thought of seniors having sex is gross Drain on the medical system Old workers are not as good as younger people Families will put you in a home when you

become a burden Live in poverty or cannot afford their

medications

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Changes in Views & Stereotypes

Society’s view and attitude towards seniors is changing

Changes rapidly happening because of the growth in population

Many people in the younger generation will be expected to care for older adults at some point in their life ie: service providers, volunteers, healthcare workers, policy makers, government

Has your views or beliefs started to change or shift as a result of these readings?

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Symptoms of the Aging Process

Please read more to identify the symptoms of the aging process.

Thank goodness there’s a name for this disorder. Somehow I feel better, even though I have it! I’m 61 going into 62.

Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D.—Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests:

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I decide to water my garden. As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide it needs washing.

As I start toward the garage, I notice

mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mailbox

earlier.

I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay my car keys on the table, put the

junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the can

is full.

So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first.

But then I think, since I’m going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.

I take my checkbook off the table, and see that there’s only one check left.

My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Pepsi I’d been drinking.

I’m going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Pepsi aside so that I don’t accidentally knock it over.

The Pepsi is getting warm, so I decide to put it in the fridge to keep it cold.

Symptoms of the Aging Process

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As I head toward the kitchen with

The Pepsi, a vase of flowers on the

Counter catches my eye––they need water.

I put the Pepsi on the counter and

discover my reading glasses that

I’ve been searching for all morning.

I decide I’d better put them back

on my desk, but first I’m going to

water the flowers.

I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote.

Someone left it on the kitchen table.I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I’ll be looking for the remote,

but I won’t remember that it’s on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs,

but first I’ll water the flowers.

I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on the floor.

Symptoms of the Aging Process

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So, I set the remote back on the table, Get some towels and wipe up the spill.

Then, I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day:

The car isn’t washed, the bills aren’t

paid,

There is a warm can of Pepsi sitting on

the counter,

The flowers don’t have enough water

there’s still only one check in my

checkbook,

 

I can’t find the remote, I can’t find my glasses, and I don’t remember what I did with the car keys.

Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today,

I’m really baffled because I know I was busy all damn day, and I’m really tired.

I realize this is a serious problem, and I’ll try to get some help for it, but first I’ll check my e-mail….and the aging process starts all over again.

Don’t laugh—if this isn’t you yet, your day is coming!  Believe me!  Good Day! 

Source:  Bits & Pieces

Symptoms of the Aging Process

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View & Stereotype Recap

Each age group encounters it’s own set of challenges, issues, and solutions.

The media plays a big role on how our opinions are formed, tv programs, magazine ads, etc

Watching how our parents interact with their parents influences how we think

The arguments for the positive and negative aspects of aging are real

Views are ever changing and forming, your view can be changed starting now!

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Ageism

Webster’s online dictionary gives this definition and example of ageism

“Discrimination against middle-aged and elderly people”.

“Discrimination of individuals based on their age, i.e. of the elderly based on the notion that they are incapable of performing certain functions such as driving, or of the young based on the notion that they are immature and therefore incapable of performing certain tasks“.

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Examples of Ageism

Cards are the best example of ageism“Over the hill” “Too sexy to be 30”

Employment age specific jobsWalmart Greeter job is for older people

Housing NeedsRefused housing based on age or higher priced rent

Health Care Needs Doctors dismiss complaints, don’t really

listen, or assume they are “on the way out”

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Why Ageism Happens?

Many people have the patience for babies, children and teenagers when their vulnerability shows. Like it is Okay for them to be vulnerable

We subconsciously have this belief that when we get older that we should not be vulnerable anymore or need specialized help, and if so, that it is a sign of weakness

Theory for this attitude, Survival of the Fittest People loose patience or have a hard time

dealing with people who are sick or needy, that shows through in the treatment of the elderly

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Reasons for Ageism Continued..

I have encountered my own ageism discrimination with my health issues, people do treat me different when they realize that I am not having a “strong, independent, unemotional” moment.

Reasons for this treatment include: I don’t know what to do when this happens, Your always so strong, I have enough going on in my life that I can’t deal with you or your stuff

This cycle keeps a person trapped because they do not want to address this type of treatment as they feel like they deserve it or that they are a burden

Think about your encounters with Ageism and do you inadvertently contribute to this type of treatment?

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Aging, When & Why

Aging begins from day we are born Everybody experiences aging differently

and the timelines are not the same for everyone

A person’s genetics ( ethnic background, parents DNA, etc)

Changes in cell structure contribute to the growth and decline of the body

How we treat our bodies is a major factor on how we will age

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Aging is Normal

Changes in the body and health are not bad nor should be considered a “Dis-Ease”

Changes include: Sensory System Bones, Muscles, Tissues Digestion Respiratory System Brain and Central Nervous System Metabolism Heart and Circulatory System

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Can We Stop the Affects of Aging?

How we treat our bodies will affect how our bodies age

Health problems occur because of misuse, overuse, and abuse to our bodies

We can help the aging process by limiting the abuse and taking care of ourselves.

Incorporation of vitamins, supplements, dietary changes, exercise, anti-oxidants, detoxification, positive, mental, emotional, and physical attitudes will help

Evidence from studies has shown that incorporating anti-oxidants into diet will help slow down free radical damage

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Ways to Slow the Ageing Process

Lifestyle behaviours contribute to aging, ie: Smoking Excess consumption of alcohol Lack of exercise Poor diet Not getting enough sleep Lack of vitamins and minerals Mental, emotional, physical, & spritual well-

being STRESS

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Funny’s

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Summary & Conclusion

The Ulyssean view of aging will help keep a person young because the belief system focuses on new experiences and new ideas

There are more adults focusing on the “Ulyssean” way as the population of older adults grows

The aging process, problems and solutions are different for every age level and stage of life

Your personal views have been shaped from the media, your family and personal experiences

Your personal views will change for the better the more experiences you have with older people

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Summary &Conclusion

There are many positive and negative views/stereotypes about aging and “Ageism”

Some are funny, hurtful and discriminatory

What we think about aging will change as we personally experience the different stages

As older people change, so does society. More people are needed to work in the health care industry, recreation & leisure fields and knowledge regarding programming, treatment and needs of seniors is very important

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Summary & Conclusion Really think about the Poem on Aging and the

symptoms. This is the closest thing I can present to you on how to understand the changes in older people related to memory.

We can help the aging process but cannot stop it.

Aging is normal and we the choices we make about food, exercise and mental health influences how we age

The views we have on aging influence how we view aging. “I’m not as good as I once was”

Everything is ever changing, new advances are being discovered everyday to improve people’s health.

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References AGS Foundation for Health in Aging. (2009). The Aging Process. Retrieved May 15, 2010, from

The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging: http://www.healthinaging.org/agingintheknow/chapters_print_ch_trial.asp?ch=1#Changes%20in%20the%20Regulation%20of%20Body%20Systems

Corporation for National and Community Service. (2010). Overview of the Aging Process. Retrieved May 15, 2010, from Resource Center: http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/

Denham, H. (1981). The aging process. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA , 7124-7128. F.A, M. G., & Boyd R.K, T. R. (2009). Leisure and Aging, Ulyssean living in later life. Champaign,Il:

Sagamore Publishing, L.L.C. Webster's Dictionary. (2010). Ageism. Retrieved May 17, 2010, from Webster's Online Dictionary:

http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/ag/agism.html Mc Guire, F, Boyd, R, Tedrick, R. (2009). Leisure and aging: Ulyssean living in later life (4th ed.).

Champaign,IL, Sagamore Publishing L.L.C. , Australia: Thomson. R, O. U. (2008, July 6). The Irreversible Aging Process. Retrieved May 15, 2010, from Lingua

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