Free Essay: Aging
Introduction
The life’s journey of an individual is a remarkable thing and it ought to be enjoyed. Nevertheless, as an individual grows old, he/she creates opportunities on the way and sometimes he/she loses them. In Western countries, there are increasing numbers of old people due to nutritional health changes and proper infrastructure in the health sector. Remaining healthy as grows old does not occur without a proper plan.
The aging person’s experience is based on several social factors that include economic position, health status, public policies, and social support. There are several theories that help in explaining the process of aging such as activity theory and disengagement theory. The aim of this study is to expound on the aging process and its negative and positive effects on society.
Aging in Sociology
In sociological studies, old age has always been a vital issue and it led to the gerontology study (Saxena, 2006. P.3).This is a study that covers psychological, economic, and biological aspects of the aging process. Aging forms a foundation for planned inequality in society. There are things that ought not to be rushed. Aging is among them. Several issues about aging as well as how to take care of the aged have been raised due to a longer life span in most developed countries. For some time, the working population has been stagnant and this has created a dilemma when it comes to satisfying the dependent individuals. Increased life expectancy for seniors causes a dilemma in contemporary societies because they must find ways of providing for them.
Among the identifiable aging aspects is loss. Losing memory is one of the aspects that are used to identify old persons. According to scientists, the brain’s volume of a person starts to shrink when he/she reaches thirty years. The prefrontal cortex is affected the most. This is the section found behind a human’s forehead and it accomplishes several functions that include forethought, intelligence, and reasoning (Begley, 2010, Para. 5). For persons who feel like they have not achieved much in their lives, aging is a serious problem. Usually, old individuals suffer from different chronic illnesses yet most of them are unable to afford health care. This isolates them and they can even be depressed.
Nevertheless, old age is not always as bad as individuals tend to perceive it to be. Begley (2010) notes that some abilities of the mind like wisdom improve as one age (para. 3). As such, old people are considered wise and they are therefore assigned duties that include counseling the young as well as mediating issues that prevent the society from developing such as peace missions and boundary issues.
Social skills and emotional intelligence also improve with age. Old age may also be full of fun because parents are not required to perform the duties of taking care of the children. They get time to concentrate on voluntary work and reuniting with old friends. People get better with age because they become open to new activities, relationships, and activities (Marie et al., 2009). There are couples that rediscover the real meaning of their relationship as they age. They learn the importance of having one another in their lives.