Question

Aging and Environmental Influences

Life expectancy has continued to increase in the United States.

Please respond to the following:

• What health practices would you suggest to promote longevity?
• Based upon the description of contemporary theories of aging: genetic, non-genetic cellular, and physiological, which theory do you believe is most impactful in describing the aging process and why?
• What are some of the stress management techniques you would recommend to a client who is dealing with a distressing life event, such as caring for an older adult family member who has Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 1

Becoming old is aging.

As the child grows he goes through different phases of growing up, Erick Erickson has divided into different development stages from birth till death.

It is a genetic as well as the environmental process. At a different stage of growing up, humans show different behavior and the appearance also changes the texture and the glow of the skin starts diminishing, the graying of hair and the wrinkle on the face are the first sign of getting older.

As one age the physical strength and immunity decrease. Due to the body showing less resistance the one become prone to various age-related diseases, the social life decrease as the mobility becomes less. One tries not to look old and use various methods, the biological process can be delayed but it cannot be stopped.

By delaying the biological process the life expectancy has increased. The expected number of years a person is going to live is called the life expectancy of an individual. Life expectancy depends upon human health, mental condition, social and family life, diet, economical status, etc.

In the US the life expectancy has improved and statistically as per data for the year 2020 it is approximately 78.93. The life expectancy of the female is higher than male it is approximately 81.1 years.

The increase in life expectancy is due to good hygiene, housing, education, healthcare system, new medicines and technology that has made difficult surgery easy and social awareness like reducing smoking, alcohol, and drugs, doing regular exercise, maintaining body weight.

The non-genetic process of aging is the psychological theory of aging that are caused due to depression loneliness, separation from a partner's lack of mobility. It can lead to emotional disorder, it differs from person to person.

The psychological theory is most impactful because the genetic and biological theory of aging is the natural phenomenon.

The psychological process of aging happens when one loses his interest in life, the friend circle reduces and there is no one to look after, The separation from the children have a great impact in old age. But this is the culture one has to bear it. The mobility decreases giving rise to loneliness depression anxiety and sometimes a lonely person commit suicide.

Some of the stress management techniques the researchers have found out are 1. In old age, one should try to increase friend circle active social involvement with friends and neighbors create a group and say Halo every morning to each other on the apps to stay connected. 2. Visit the mall, and buy the grocery by physically going to the shops, as window shopping also has a good psychological effect on our mind.

3. The research also suggests that they should improve church activity as religious involvement helps in being connected to people of the same group. Praying in the congregation they come to know new people and share their good and bad memories it helps in reducing the stress.4. Make yoga group and do exercise and yoga together it helps in psychological well- beings.

Alzheimer's is a mental disorder, it increases with time the person suffering from it suffers from memory loss, behavioral problems, change in moods, aggression, mood swing, social withdrawal, change in sleeping habits, etc. it can be genetic or due to unhealthy lifestyle.

There is always fear that they may lose their way, the show aggression and mood swing that is difficult to handle. Thus looking after an elderly person who is suffering from Alzheimer's is a physically and mentally tiring job.

Looking after an elderly person who is suffering from Alzheimer's is a physically and mentally tiring job.

He has to reassure the person that he is safe, make things simple and do not show anger. Take the help of community service.

The person who is taking care of a person should take out time for himself, do some stress buster activities like meeting the friends, take the help of other family members. One should not overreact and be calm.