Introduction
At this time, when the global community is puzzled by the uncertainty of what is going to follow the pandemic, support and unity have never been as important. The aging population has been subjected to particular challenges related to the implementation of social isolation policies that prevent the gatherings of people. This means that many elderly individuals have been living in loneliness for prolonged periods as exposing them to the outside world is risky because of their vulnerable health status. The risk for death with COVID-19 is significantly more considerable in older people because of the reduced strength of the immune system and the presence of an accompanying condition that exasperate the impact of the virus on the organism. The good news is that modern technologies have presented a way of relieving the burden of social isolation and connecting people to facilitate communication and help them overcome the anxiety of being alone without any support.
During the current project, the focus was placed on providing a short-term intergenerational loneliness intervention among sheltering older adults. While it is essential to keep such individuals engaged in communication to keep them away from negative thoughts, it was also important to question them about their emotional and physical health needs. The findings of the interviews with older adults were expected to illuminate the key issues that the target population is currently facing to determine the steps needed to facilitate the improvement of their life quality, the quality of the services associated with aging, and caregiving, as well as the overall social expectations. This paper reflects on the interview conducted with one of three participants with unique perspectives on life and aging. The interviewee has provided a point of view on her current situation, which is invaluable for future service improvement and the overall practice.
Reflections
The Reality of Aging, Desires, and Expectations
The desires and expectations associated with aging usually differ from reality. The answers that my mother gave to the question regarding this issue were somewhat surprising because she said that nothing excited her about aging. Such a perspective on the aging process means the individual has some emotional struggles associated with getting older. She mentioned expecting to be financially independent, have a happy family, and travel regularly. While such dreams are very positive and present a good outlook on life in general, reaching them is challenging for an older person. Significant levels of emotional and even monetary support are needed to ensure that an older adult with broad aspirations lives an accomplished life that is full of new experiences.
In my opinion, my mother has a different perspective on aging compared to others as some of her views are somewhat unrealistic. Compared to my godfather, who approaches every day at a time, my mother indicated that she hoped not to age the same way in which other people did. Such a perspective seems somewhat naĂŻve as it does not consider the physical changes in the body and the cumulative effects of molecular and cellular damage. Instead of approaching aging with excitement, she is not happy about aging and mentioned she did not look forward to it because her life goals had not been achieved yet. In my opinion, it is crucial to help my mother to cope with aging through support because the negative perspective will only make the process emotionally burdensome. While becoming older is a thought that can even be depressing, there are also positive things about it, such as having more free time, pursuing hobbies, and even opening a small business to have something to do on an everyday basis. Since my mother shares the desire to have a business, I think that it could help her to have a more optimistic view of aging.
The lesson that should be drawn regarding aging is that older adults want to age graciously and approach life effortlessly. This point is especially relevant for the emotional support of older adults and the development of programs associated with increasing their self-efficacy, confidence, and independence. According to Scult et al., “a healthy aging program is a feasible intervention for targeting older adults that have the potential to increase their morale and self-efficacy” (26). Self-efficacy, in this context, refers to the ability of older adults to influence the events in their life as well as facilitate an improvement in personal ratings of healthy aging. Therefore, a healthy aging program should include insights from chronic disease management practices and physical and emotional health interventions that promote self-care in older individuals.
I think that my mother would receive tremendous benefits from a healthy aging program because of the need to lift her spirits about aging as a process. My family needs to show her that aging does not have to be daunting and that we will support her along the way toward reaching positive health outcomes. I would have liked her to take up a hobby that would make her feel good instead of looking for random things to do. An appropriately-developed healthy aging problem would allow her to combine everyday wellness practices with the leisure that would boost her mood and lift her spirits about getting older.
Dealing with Loneliness
At the time of the pandemic, social isolation and loneliness come hand-in-hand. According to the findings of the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and Administration on Aging (AOA) report, around 28% of older adults (13.8 million) older people live alone, which means that they can feel lonely and social isolated, especially during the quarantine. The interviews with the three older individuals showed that loneliness is a touchy subject, but there is always some room for positive thoughts associated with the issue. Social workers mustn’t take the problem of loneliness lightly because it contributes to human suffering in the elderly, among whom the prevalence of emotional distress contributes to the occurrence of physical conditions.
My mother, on the other hand, said that she sometimes felt lonely but tried to overcome the negative thoughts by doing something productive. This shows that programs designed to help older adults overcome the challenges of aging should incorporate hobbies and activities that could occupy them and offer a sense of productivity and accomplishment. Leisure activities represent a good option in this case because they represent an opportunity for personal goal setting, the development of strategies to get more positivity out of life, as well as to give life a new and exciting meaning (Sala et al. 1). Depending on the interests and desires of older adults, it is possible to develop a plan for leisure activities that individuals will incorporate into their daily routines.
Such activities can align with the healthy aging program aimed to facilitate self-efficacy as it is vital to promote the multi-dimensional improvement of older individuals’ paths toward reaching happiness during aging. For older adults, connecting leisure to the growth of self-efficacy is because of the need to boost their energy and increase the overall satisfaction with their lives (Scult et al. 27). Boosting morale is imperative for positively influencing the ability of older adults to deal with the challenge of loneliness, which has exasperated over the past few months. Also, it could be recommended for my mother to get a pet because they offer company in everyday life. It is essential not to overlook the importance of animals in the lives of older people. They can offer comfort and companionship at times when loneliness is an issue.
Improvement of Public Health Systems
The interview with my mother showed that there were some expectations of public health systems improving to benefit the aging populations. For example, it may be possible to offer more affordable assisted living centers that would change how the public healthcare systems function. This is an interesting thought because nursing homes often fail to address the healthcare needs of their patients, and the intervention of nursing staff and health clinicians is needed. The public health systems should be better suited to address the needs of older adults because they may feel left out from the everyday life of the general public. The perspective on public health that my mother provided is valuable to consider because it takes into account important challenges. For instance, she mentioned that many older adults were still driving, which presented significant risks to their health due to vision problems (Albert et al. 45). Also, she said that many buildings were not appropriately equipped for elderly and disabled people, and this point should be included in a plan on how to improve public health services.
My mother’s comment illuminated a critical problem that requires addressing. The sphere of public health has the potential to improve and ensure that the needs of the vulnerable populations are met when the latter are involved in the decision-making. As mentioned by Elliott et al., communication with older adults is important for facilitating meaningful engagement among providers to improve the quality of their services (383). By establishing a reliable and straightforward decision-making model, older adults can be involved in adjusting the current processes and services to meet their needs. Such engagement of aging adults in decision-making can facilitate an enhanced relationship between policymakers and the community to have more open communication. If not possible, healthcare providers, older adults, and their social support networks should share information to develop and sustain meaningful partnerships.
Making Society Better Designed for Older Adults
Reflecting on the interviews with my mother, I noticed that she said nothing positive about how society in general approaches aging individuals. Older adults encounter not only declining health but also may find it more complicated to adjust to the ever-changing society with new trends, technologies, socioeconomic shifts, and political changes. More support is necessary, and monetary contributions targeted at funding public health and life-long learning and education are essential for keeping the aging population healthy and fulfilled (Narushima et al. 652). Educating older adults on how they can navigate modern life will give them more leverage in decision-making and ensure that they understand what actions are better for them on a long-term basis. Thus, society should allow more participation from older individuals, including their involvement in the labor market, which can facilitate an improved quality of life. This can also include the promotion of financial literacy among the target population so that they are educated about how they can manage their monetary capabilities.
My mother supported the perspective that the general society is unsuited for the needs of older people. They start feeling less productive because they are not given a chance to adjust to technologies that are essential for navigating the fast-paced environment in which people love today. My mother also mentioned that designing a better society to fit the needs of older people implies ensuring that they feel productive for as long as possible, which involves ongoing education and job opportunities. Therefore, two individuals shared the same sentiment – having the ability to learn and develop professionally to feel needed and accomplished. Unfortunately, older individuals felt as burdens to society, which is troubling. There is a high need to shift the narrative and no longer approach older people from the perspective that they are vulnerable and cannot offer any significant contribution. The improved socio-economic and political participation of aging populations is essential because they can provide invaluable experience and knowledge that can enhance society.
Summary of the Reflection
In the interview, my mother showed that older people have aspirations and desires to live a fulfilled and happy life despite their age or the impact of declining health. Older people want to have their own business or travel because doing something makes them feel accomplished and well-rounded individuals. While aging is challenging and often frightening, there is always room for a positive outlook on what is yet to come. The development of healthy aging programs that facilitate self-efficacy and confidence in older adults is possible through encouraging hobbies and leisure activities that improve both the emotional and physical well-being of older adults. Whether it is taking up mild stretching exercises or getting a pet, aging individuals are encouraged to invest in opportunities that would make their life more fulfilling. The strategies are especially relevant when it comes to dealing with loneliness, which is an overarching problem affecting millions of older adults.
Beyond the healthy aging program, older individuals should receive support from the broader community because they often feel unwanted or undervalued. They should be involved in the decision-making on the policies improving public health systems because of their first-hand experience with barriers that reduce their quality of life. Besides, it is important to inform the older populations about the new tools available for information dissemination, financial transactions, and everyday activities such as online shopping so they can navigate their lives better. In addition, lifelong learning and professional education programs are necessary to integrate older adults into the workforce is recommended because of their potential to contribute to society with their knowledge and experience. The interviews showed that older individuals want to be useful and productive, but society and current health systems should adjust to their needs and support them on their journey.
Works Cited
- ACL and AOA. “2017 Profile of Older Americans.” ACL, Apr. 2018. Web.
- Albert, Gila et al. “The Challenge of Safe Driving Among Elderly Drivers.” Healthcare Technology Letters, vol. 5, no. 1, 2018, pp. 45-48.
- Elliott, Jacobi, et al. “Engaging Older Adults in Health Care Decision-Making: A Realist Synthesis.” The Patient, vol. 9, no. 5, 2016, pp. 383-393.
- Narushima, Miya et al. “Lifelong Learning in Active Ageing Discourse: Its Conserving Effect on Wellbeing, Health and Vulnerability.” Ageing and Society, vol. 38, no. 4, 2018, pp. 651-675.
- Sala, Giovanni et al. “The Impact of Leisure Activities on Older Adults’ Cognitive Function, Physical Function, and Mental Health.” PloS One, vol. 14, no. 11, 2019, e0225006.
- Scult, Matthew et al. “A Healthy Aging Program for Older Adults: Effects on Self-Efficacy and Morale.” Advances in Mind-Body Medicine, vol. 29, no. 1, 2015, pp. 26-33.