Reference no: EM132290215

Question: Discuss your own philosophy of aging. When do you think a person becomes elderly? What do you think of older people? Are they active, senile, debilitated, etc.? Give a description of an elderly person that you know.

Discussing my own philosophy of aging. It really changes with each year I get older I used to think 31's was old now I'm 35 it doesn't seem so old yesterday was my birthday, I see myself as young feeling most days I have noticed more aches with aging and pregnancy and I feel I'm young acting anyways, my husband jokingly says otherwise and my son told me yesterday, I can't believe your still a teenager at 35, I joked with him that I was a teenager and I said I know me either. So, at this time in my life I feel elderly to me is 65 and older like at retirement age. Also, though it varies in my mind my mom is 73 but doesn't seem elderly at all, she is very active and seems to have more energy than me. My grandma is 103 and has very sharp mind, a better memory than myself, she still walks with a rolling walker, my aunt lives with her and has since she was in her 80's and cooks for her, her vision and hearing has gotten worse with aging, she will complain about some aches, which I think she has deserved the right to do, but really she is, I believe in superb condition to be her age this August 6th she will be 104. I love listening to her stories and she loves talking. Age to me has just become a number. How you act, feel, and take care of your body can really can impact your aging. In the ICU I've seen drugs age people in there 31's and 40's and make them look twice their age and if it doesn't kill them it really effects their health and has a impact on their family. I try and keep a open mind no two people are alike even if they are in the same age category. As it talks about in the text I have found myself believing certain things aren't achievable because of a person's age. As the text says:

"Promoting wellness in older adults is an ideal; however, nurses may not believe it is achievable in practice because of barriers such as the following:

• Older adults may be pessimistic about their ability to improve their health and functioning.

• Survival needs and a multitude of health problems may take precedence over the "luxury" of being able to focus on wellness and quality of life.

• Despite the increasing emphasis on wellness and health promotion, health care environments focus more on treating diseases than on preventing illness and addressing whole-person needs.

• Often older adults and health care providers mistakenly attribute symptoms to aging rather than identify and address the contributing factors that are reversible and treatable.

• Health care providers may not believe that older adults are capable of learning and implementing health-promoting behaviors that are inherent in wellness-oriented care" (Miller).

So, it just really all depends on the person to me some age better and are able to take care of themselves, and some don't, it may not necessarily be their fault they may have a debilitating disease that they cannot help, but one thing is for sure we all age if we are still here on earth and I just hope we all can age well, and make the most out of this life we are given.