Aging in Modern Society

Paper Summary:

Although much earlier in the history of humans, the age of 50 was once considered old. That statistic has changed significantly over the last two centuries due to greatly improved living conditions, nutrition and disease control. Population projections in the United States indicate the percentage of the population over 65 will continue to increase through the first quarter of the 21st century. A preliminary report from the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based on U.S. statistics for 2005, places national life expectancy at 78 years, a figure that has been increasing steadily. This is much different than the life expectancy in 1800 of only 36. Considering these facts, this paper describes an interview with a 70-year-old neighbor and tries to offer insight into what it is like physically, cognitively and socially during this age.

From the Paper:

"So far, her problems with eyesight and hearing have been minor. She has had to wear bifocals since she was 60, but passed her hearing test and does not yet need any kind of hearing aid like her husband. However, the soreness in her legs and arms from fibromyalgia is becoming worse, and she finds it more difficult to do streneous things. She also has seen a difference in her ability to do things in the last five years and knows that changes are coming faster now in her physical and mental abilities. She realizes that this could be from not exercising enough. She and her husband take a couple of 20-minute walks each week, but this is not enough. Mrs. Freeman knows that this is wrong, since the older she gets, the more difficult it has been to exercise. She tried joining the senior workout sessions, but could not motivate herself to go to the center every morning. She gets frustrated because she does not like her extra weight, but not frustrated enough to encourage her to do something more strenuous on a regular basis."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Center for Disease Control. "Healthy Aging for Older Adults." 30 November 2007 http://www.cdc.gov/aging/.
• Beers, Mark H. (Ed). Merck Manual of Health and Aging. Whitehouse Station: NJ, 2004.
• Michaels, Evelyne. Encyclopedia of Health and Aging. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1997.
• Sheehy, Gail. New Passages. New York: Random House, 1995.

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