How are the elderly treated around the world?
In America, the elderly are more typically sent to nursing homes a contrast that may appear unfeeling, even cruel. But the ways in which societies around the world treat their elderly span a vast and varied range, according to Jared Diamond, UCLA professor of geography and physiology.
How has the status of elders changed as societies modernize?
As societies modernize, the status of elders decreases, and they are increasingly likely to experience social exclusion. Before industrialization, strong social norms bound the younger generation to care for the older. Now, as societies industrialize, the nuclear family replaces the extended family.
How has the experience of being elderly changed over the years?
In North America, the experience of being elderly has changed greatly over the past century. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, many U.S. households were home to multigenerational families, and the experiences and wisdom of elders was respected.
What happens to the elderly in Western culture?
As their health deteriorates, the elderly in these cultures often move to retirement communities, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes. France: Parents also protected by law It's difficult to imagine such an Elderly Rights Law being a legislative priority in many Western cultures.
How are elders treated in different cultures?
Anthropologist Jared Diamond, who has studied the treatment of the elderly across cultures, has said the geriatric in countries like the U.K. and U.S. live "lonely lives separated from their children and lifelong friends." As their health deteriorates, the elderly in these cultures often move to retirement communities, ...
How does society treat the elderly?
Instead of being respected and consulted for their experience and knowledge, older people are frequently belittled, disrespected, patronized, and infantilized, if not ignored altogether. Physical disabilities are equated with the loss of intelligence and competence.
Why are elderly treated with respect?
The Importance of Treating Elders with Respect. Seniors have plenty of experience in life and they can teach us about enduring change and handling life's challenges. They have a great amount of wisdom and knowledge to share with us.
What cultures honor the elderly?
In Greek and Greek-American culture, old age is honored and celebrated, and respect for elders is central to the family.
What are the problems faced by elderly in our society?
Arthritis, hypertension, hearing impairment, defective vision, diabetes and varicose veins are among the usual diseases faced by elders. These chronic diseases tend to occur more in women and tend to increase with age. Use of Tobacco and alcoholism are more among Dalits, Tribals and among urban slum dwellers.
How are elderly viewed in society?
The elderly are often depicted as weak, unattractive, and senile. Other cultural stereotypes often seen in the media portray the elderly as frail, feeble, financially distressed, and not contributing to society [4] .
Why should we obey our elders?
When you obey your parents and elders, it comes with a lot of rewards. Your parents will be happy with you and will give you whatever you ask of them because of that obedience. They will feel loved and respected and this will make you happy too.
Why a society should respect its elders essay?
No society consider all this as good or polite behaviour, but we also do not believe in regimentation. Just as the new generation should respect the elders, so also the elders should conduct themselves with dignity. They should set up a positive example. After all respect cannot be demanded, it can only be commanded.
How should we treat elderly and old people?
Treating the Elderly with Respect and DignityListening Carefully. One of the most important action family members and caregivers can take in caring for elders is to listen to them carefully. ... Affording Respect. ... Understanding Values. ... Relinquishing Independence.
How culture and society affects our view about aging?
Culture and society can also influence our thoughts and experiences around ageing: In many Western societies, the contemporary notion of 'ageing well' presumes independence and active contributions. In many other societies, older adults have been encouraged to disengage and to be looked after.
What is the cultural perception of aging?
According to social representations theory (Moscovici, 1984, 1988) the views of aging held within a given culture are a form of shared cultural representation. They constitute systems of ideas, values, and customs related to aging that are treated by members of the society as if they were established reality.
How does culture impact aging?
Individuals from each cultural context internalize cultural values with age. These internalized cultural values become goals that guide adult development. When individuals from different cultures each pursue their own goals with age, cultural differences in socioemotional aging occur.
What is the Elderly Rights Law in China?
A new " Elderly Rights Law " passed in China wags a finger at adult children, warning them to "never neglect or snub elderly people" and mandating that they visit their elderly parents often, regardless of how far away they live. The law includes enforcement mechanisms, too: Offspring who fail to make such trips to mom and dad face potential punishment ranging from fines to jail time.
What percentage of Japanese people will be 80 in 2020?
According to Social Gerontology: A Multidisciplinary Perspective, 7.2 percent of the Japanese population will be 80 or older in 2020 (compared to 4.1 percent in the U.S.), which will likely lead to a host of new problems for the country.
How has the elderly's attitude been affected?
Attitudes toward the elderly have also been affected by large societal changes that have happened over the past 100 years. Researchers believe industrialization and modernization have contributed greatly to lowering the power, influence, and prestige the elderly once held.
What is the shared meaning of the elderly?
There is an element of social construction, both local and global, in the way individuals and nations define who is elderly; that is, the shared meaning of the concept of elderly is created through interactions among people in society. This is exemplified by the truism that you are only as old as you feel.
What is the field of aging?
Gerontology is a field of science that seeks to understand the process of aging and the challenges encountered as seniors grow older. Gerontologists investigate age, aging, and the aged. Gerontologists study what it is like to be an older adult in a society and the ways that aging affects members of a society.
How do functionalists analyze society?
Functionalists analyze how the parts of society work together to create a state of equilibrium. They gauge how each part of society functions to keep society running smoothly. How does this perspective address aging? Structural functionalists argue that each age performs a specific function in society. Much of the focus in this approach is on how the elderly, as a group, cope with the functional transition of roles as they move into the senior stage of life. How do individuals adapt to the different roles, norms, and expectations of old age, and to their changing physical and mental capacities?
What is social gerontology?
Social gerontology refers to a specialized field of gerontology that examines the social (and sociological) aspects of aging.
How old was Bridget Fisher when she became a grandmother?
At age 52 , Bridget Fisher became a first-time grandmother. She worked in human resources (HR) at a scientific research company, a job she’d held for 20 years. She had raised two children, divorced her first husband, remarried, and survived a cancer scare.
What are the negative attitudes toward the elderly?
Many media portrayals of the elderly reflect negative cultural attitudes toward aging. In North America, society tends to glorify youth, associating it with beauty and sexuality. In comedies, the elderly are often associated with grumpiness or hostility.
Why is death important in African American culture?
In African-American culture, death is seen as part of the "natural rhythm of life," which lessens the cultural fear around aging. For this reason, Karen H. Meyers writes in The Truth About Death and Dying, "African-American funerals tend to be life-affirming and to have a celebratory air intermingled with the sorrow.".
What is the role of elders in a family?
The elders are supported by the younger members of the family and they in turn play a key role in raising their grandchildren. "Advice is always sought from them on a range of issues, from investment of family money to nitty-gritties of traditional wedding rituals and intra-family conflicts.
What is the Korean elder's role in the Korean family?
In Korea, elders are highly respected. Much of the Korean regard for aging is rooted in the Confucian principle of filial piety, a fundamental value dictating that one must respect one's parents (although Confucius was Chinese, Confucianism has a long history in Korea ). Younger members of the family have a duty to care for the aging members ...
What is the Greek culture of old age?
In Greek and Greek-American culture, old age is honored and celebrated, and respect for elders is central to the family. Arianna Huffington described an experience of Greek elderly respect in her book, On Becoming Fearless: "Ten years ago I visited the monastery of Tharri on the island of Rhodes with my children.
What is the highest virtue in Korea?
As in Korea, Chinese families traditionally view filial piety and respect for one's elders as the highest virtue, deriving from the Confucian tradition . Although westernization has lessened the power of these values in some cities and communities, adult children are still generally expected to care for their parents in their old age.
Why are Koreans socialized?
And even outside the family unit, Koreans are socialized to respect and show deference to older individuals as well as authority figures.
Is aging a biological process?
Aging isn't just a biological process -- it's also very much a cultural one. Different cultures have different attitudes and practices around aging and death, and these cultural perspectives can have a huge effect on our experience of getting older. Advertisement. While many cultures celebrate the aging process and venerate their elders, ...
How does health care affect autonomy?
They suggest that many health care practices can affect autonomy by virtue of their effects not only on patients’ treatment preferences and choices, but also on their self-identities, self-evaluations and capabilities for autonomy.
Why is it important to recognize that supportive relationships are sometimes more facilitative of enactments of autonomy than concern to
The recognition that supportive relationships are sometimes more facilitative of enactments of autonomy than concern to allow independence is particularly significant for clinicians’ efforts to help people manage their health conditions and risks.
Why is autonomy important in biomedical ethics?
Personal autonomy is widely valued. Recognition of its vulnerability in health care contexts led to the inclusion of respect for autonomy as a key concern in biomedical ethics. The principle of respect for autonomy is usually associated with allowing or enabling patients to make their own decisions about which health care interventions they will ...
Why are procedures standardised in institutional care?
In institutional care, for example, procedures are often standardised to ensure efficient completion of patient care tasks. Residents who are imposed on by these procedures may fear to challenge those on whose care they depend.5Clinically imposed behavioural norms may also become oppressive.
What is relational understanding of patient autonomy?
Relational understandings of patient autonomy could underpin an enriched specification of the principle of respect for autonomy. They encourage recognition that concern about patients’ autonomy is relevant in many health care contexts. They encourage clinicians to attend to the implications of health care interactions for patients’ self-identities, ...
Introduction to Aging and The Elderly
>Who Are The Elderly? Aging in Society
- Think of the movies and television shows you have watched recently. Did any of them feature older actors? What roles did they play? How were these older actors portrayed? Were they cast as main characters in a love story? Grouchy old people? How were older women portrayed? How were older men portrayed? Many media portrayals of the elderly reflect negative cultural attitude…
The Process of Aging
- As human beings grow older, they go through different phases or stages of life. It is helpful to understand aging in the context of these phases as aging is not simply a physiological process. A life courseis the period from birth to death, including a sequence of predictable life events such as physical maturation and the succession of age-related roles: child, adolescent, adult, parent, sen…
Challenges Facing The Elderly
- Aging comes with many challenges. The loss of independence is one potential part of the process, as are diminished physical ability and age discrimination. The term senescencerefers to the aging process, including biological, emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual changes. This section discusses some of the challenges we encounter during th...