INTERVIEW

Interview

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Outline

This paper consists of an analysis based on the interview conducted of a senior citizen whose age is above 64 year. The experience of the interviewee is also given stating if his own old age experience differs from the old age experience in general. The analysis is done on the cultural, psychological, interpersonal and biological aspects of aging.

Experience of the Interview

According to the interviewee: Growing older does not have to mean suffering or loneliness. We have a choice of how we want to approach and live with old age, whether we want to resign ourselves to a sedentary lifestyle or treat the physical and mental obstacles that accompany our later years as a challenge. It just depends on how enriched a life we care to live. We have the power to decide for ourselves what options we want to pursue and we are fortunate enough to have access to communities rich with the resources to meet our interests. Healthy living is multidimensional no matter what the age.

Though some people make it look easy, it does not happen automatically as with most matters in life, you get out of it whatever you decide to put in. Achieving a healthy lifestyle does not have to entail an unbearable schedule. It's a matter of balancing a moderate level of physical and mental activity, eating well, maintaining strong relationships and indulging our interests.

We may have our different reasons for undertaking this path-longer life, sustained mobility to enjoy our respective interests, spiritual gratification-but in the end, the journey becomes the goal a healthy lifestyle.

The above given answer of the interview shows that he has an optimistic view towards aging and is coping well with it although he is experiencing all those things which other aged people do.

Analysis

Aging is the process where the bodies go through many changes. However, the three most significant changes are physical changes, personal changes and emotional changes. As young, the cell growth is fast enough that worn out cells are quickly replaced. With older age, the cell growth slows and the body doesn't function as well. The brain is affected by this as well.

Although we know various effects of aging but still many researchers and scientists are trying to find exact outcomes and negative effects of aging. Life satisfaction is derived from the individual's mastery of the environment. The key to satisfaction appears to have less to do with an individual's actual success than with the individual's perception of his or her potential to succeed.

Aging is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors including life style, food preferences, physical activity, and diseases. It is a multi-factorial process characterized by a progressive reduction in function that occurs from maturity to death. A number of disability and life-threatening diseases are associated with the aging process (Arlington, 2002)

Cultural Aspect

Social images of aging seem to come in two varieties; negative and positive. We know about the negative ones -- decline, dependency, disease -- because they are so pervasive ...