Old+Age

Back To Chapter 4 =Old Age= //"DON'T CALL ME "SENIOR CITIZEN"!//

Most people have a fear of aging. A great deal of activity during the working years is aimed at preventing as many of the problems of old age as possible: dependency on others, lack of money, boredom, ill health, and so forth. The very fear of the problems of old age often make mental and physical wrecks of people -- they become old before their time.

> just as long as you don't have to go along". - "Caregiver"
 * __Major Misconceptions About Aging...__**
 * 1) "Getting old is a dead end - that there's no growth or potential for being actively engaged. Aging is not all loss and decline inevitably leading to sadness/depression. It does happen to some, but not to all. Most seniors are very much engaged".
 * 2) "Decline in mental function. This is the most frightening myth for most people. Fear of loss of independence in this way (or because of physical ailment) is at the root of all our myths and misconceptions about aging".
 * 3) "Old people are abandoned by their families. Not the norm at all. Most seniors have frequent contact with their children, siblings and friends".
 * 4) "You're getting old when you don't care where your spouse goes,

Growing old is not only a big physical problem, but it is also could be a big mental problem depending on the attitude of the person. Most people shriek when the topic of old age is brought up. It is one of the most least wanted talked about subjects, the only one that beats it is death. People try to prevent growing old in various ways. They try finding different items that make them feel or look young. The elderly also try to fill up alot of their free time with vacations or other thrilling events that relive them from boredom and take their minds off of things. And also they keep up with the new technology, as it makes them feel like they fit in and that they are not too old.
 * __Guidelines/Principles Of Old Age__**

__**What Good Comes Out Of Aging?**__ 1. Most elderly people say that as they get older they are despite any pyshical problems such as health, etc. The elderly people change to their surrounding and also to what their goals and tasks may be as each year goes on. 2. The elderly people have been living for so long and are now so wise, that stressful situations that may have caused great stress and anxiety when they were in the younger years of their life now do not bother them nearly as much and they tend to not worry or stress out about things so much. As you get older and older you learn to just accept the unacceptable. Your wisdom allows you to realize that there are some things you just can't change, and the elderly people learn to just accept that.

Comical Jokes

God's Plan is that growing old should be the shining moment of his or hers life. The Bible says that growing old can have meaning, promise, importance, strength, and a lot of happiness. When you are old, you may be "slower" pyshically, but you are so much faster in mentally. As you grow older, you grow wiser and wiser. As you grow older you become more content and you should be happier as a Christian because you are closer and closer to meeting God face to face. (If you have Christian Religious Views)
 * __Religious View Of Old Age__**


 * PERCENT OF INDIVIDUALS 65+ SAYING PROBLEM IS "VERY SERIOUS"**
 * ~ PERCEIVED PROBLEM ||~ FOR OTHERS ||~ FOR SELF ||~ % DIFFERENCE ||
 * ~ Fear of crime ||~ 69% ||~ 37% ||~ 32% ||
 * ~ Not enough $ ||~ 55% ||~ 12% ||~ 33% ||
 * ~ Loneliness ||~ 46% ||~ 6% ||~ 40% ||
 * ~ Poor health ||~ 57% ||~ 15% ||~ 42% ||
 * ~ Being needed ||~ 41% ||~ 8% ||~ 33% ||
 * ~ Keeping busy ||~ 26% ||~ 4% ||~ 22% ||

[|The Psychology of Aging] [|Social Psychology Of Aging] [|Old Age (Religious)]