Senior citizens are noteworthy members in most communities. A rich information source can be found among the seniors. A society’s way of life was normally treasured in an individual’s life experience. Senior members of a population shared their knowledge with individuals who were ready to listen. An interview session was scheduled with an elder of 65 years. The meeting was set up to interrogate the man on his life experiences. An interview synopsis was prepared for the exercise. A sustained information probe by the interviewer was conducted. The interview questions were skillfully designed. The interviewer was able to capture information on the interviewee’s life experience by asking the interrogation questions. The interviewee was allowed time for information clarification.
A diagnostic interview session method was applied. Information on a variety of subjects was sought from the respondent. Aspects of childhood, life events, physical status, psychosocial challenges, present gratifications, and acumen were cross-examined. The interview meeting was carried out in a sequential questioning approach. Open ended questions enabled the elder to express himself fully. Furthermore, echo questions assisted the interviewer to validate and gather additional information. The session produced good results as expected by the interviewer. A report on the interview account was later prepared. Information details were presented in an essay format.
Life experiences and physical wellbeing of the interviewee were cross-examined. The gentleman of 65 years remembered vividly his childhood days. He attributed his life contentment to a good childhood background. A characteristic smile engulfed the interviewee as he narrated his well groomed upbringing. The elder was satisfied with living all through his days (Ehrlich & Isaacowitz, 2002). At 65 years the elder could maintain a subtle degree of emotions. The interviewee reacted steadily to the quiz questions, no mood swings were observed. The interview session established that life contentment remained equal or increased with age as observed in the senior citizen (Ehrlich & Isaacowitz, 2002). The respondent explained his childhood experiences with passion. In the rural setting, individuals were trained on life skills by senior community members. The interviewee narrated how they were exposed to numerous life operations as a young boy. The man of 65 years credited his intelligence to a well structured community setup.
In addition to a happy upbringing, the elder statesman had an equally gratified adulthood. The elder had a wonderful marriage with three children. The nucleus family was noteworthy in the interview. The elder reflected on how his family has enjoyed love and peace. He delighted in his two children whom he treasured. The elder was resourceful and could satisfy the family needs (Kim & Park, 2000). The man’s vibrant healthy appearance could be linked to his ingenuity and creativity. In the interview, the elder explained the advantages of having a creative mind.
The interviewed elder had proper cognitive operations. At 65 years, the man was capable of working long hours. The man had self contentment, exercised frequently, and a positive outlook to life. The characteristics enabled the man to have a strong physical appearance. Data on daily operations gathered from the interview classified the elder as physically able. Based on his age, a higher category scale was applied to the elder’s physical wellbeing (Jorm et al, 1996). Observation accounts of the elder’s movements exposed his sturdy physical condition. The elder performed daily bodily tasks with relative ease. The interviewer noted that the man’s life attitude contributed to his current physique. The interviewee was requested to rank physical activity alterations over time where he gave a physical status score of seven out of ten.
At 65 years old, the interviewee’s adulthood experiences were remarkable. He was a happily married man for thirty two years. At fifty years, he had achieved majority of his life goals. The elder had planned to retire from employment and engage in community work. Apart from usual life challenges, the elder lived through his early adulthood life with tact and skill. He attributed his skills set to good childhood training. The interviewee recalled how employment opportunities were rare and he was forced to work in odd jobs. The elder strived in the available employment opportunities and provided for his family. Nevertheless, the interviewee’s personal happiness was determined by his poignant reaction, area contentment, and overall verdict on existence gratitude (Ehrlich & Isaacowitz, 2002). Even though challenged, the man handled life events well. The elder controlled his emotions and was satisfied with his life achievements. The life predicaments lasted most of his adulthood years with painstaking thoughts. The interviewee delighted in his attained age and community work that engaged the mind.
The elder enjoyed advising young people on life challenges and how to overcome them. He had words of encouragement based on his life experiences. The man had exceptional qualities and authority. The interviewee’s intelligence level could be established in his speech and mannerism (Ardelt, 1996). The man applied wisdom and developed a positive outlook to life. Knowledge on life was depicted in the advice offered to the cross-examiner. At 65 years, the man explained all his life stages events to the interviewer. He suggested varied methods of life situations management. Most importantly, he stressed on controlled emotions as a prerequisite to a fulfilled life.
Information on life experiences of an elder of 65 years was collected primarily from the respondent. The quiz utilized open ended semi-structured questions. The open ended and echo questions allowed the interviewee to provide additional details. The questions were structured and applied in a sense that ensured required information was captured. Responses were recorded on a fact sheet. Answers alterations by the interrogator were not permitted during the quiz. Unclear statements were exclusively clarified by the respondent. Questions were asked independent of each other and queried in a systematic approach. The interrogation procedure ensured a free information flow.
The interview report established that the interviewee’s life experience was constructive. The elder was brought up in a rural setting that made him tough and adventurous. The interviewed man remembered his earlier upbringing hands on skills vividly. The man constantly compared his childhood days to modern society’s children. The senior statesman’s opinion was that modern communities offered less challenges to their members. At 65 years the elder was able to continue with productive activities. Apart from a midlife employment dilemma, the man’s emotional response aided his industriousness. The elder had a prompt creativity capacity, strong posture and regular bone structures. The man was happy, energetic and sturdy. The elder attributed his condition to continued body exercises and a positive life outlook. Queried on mid life dilemmas, the man responded with a sigh of relief. The man claimed to have been tested to the limit after his employment challenges. It was at the tough midlife stage that he exercised his aggression capacity fully. The elder gathered support from his marriage and his children. He engaged his charm that enabled him to live a productive life. The interviewee enjoyed community assistance and counseling young adults on life skills. He believed that life is worth living without any despair. The elder advised that life is a gift and nobody must allow outside sources policing. His elderly opinion on life was that it comes and goes; therefore, a person should discover their own life while they can.
Most elderly members of a society have great life experiences. Data gathered on life experiences can only be comprehensive if properly accumulated. A semi-structured interview approach coupled with open ended and echo questions can assist an interviewer. Elders of a community normally have composed personalities. An interviewer has to be tactful in the interrogation method selected for cross-examination. The interview questioning method chosen must build up systematically. A logical arrangement permits the respondent to understand the interview trend. On the other hand, the interviewer will be in a position to gather the required information. Questions clarity, follow through, and relevance allows an interview process to flow well.
Study on the life experience of an elder required diplomacy. A rushed and haphazard interview could have easily irritated the respondent. Language suitability, comprehension, and appropriate rejoinders to answers yielded the required interview outcome. Elders have far reaching life wisdom that can benefit a society. Time allocation for the interview was suitable for both sides in the quiz exercise. Knowledge on how to conduct an interview was fundamental.
References
Ardelt, M. (1996). Wisdom and Life Satisfaction in Old Age. Journal of Gerontology. Psychological Sciences 1997, Vol. 52B, No. 1. P. 15-27. Web.
Ehrlich, S.B. and Isaacowitz, D.M. (2002). Does Subjective Well-Being Increase with Age? Perspectives in Psychology. Web.
Jorm, A.F. et al. (1996). Informant ratings of cognitive decline of elderly people: relationship to longitudinal change on cognitive tests. Health Care Industry. Web.
Kim, J.H. and Park, Y.H. (2000). Factors Influencing Health Promoting Behavior of the Elderly. 1: J Korean Acad. Adult Nurs. Vol. 12, No. 4. P. 573-583. Web.