Accepting Aging As A Continuous Normal Development

In the last two decades, life expectancy has considerably improved, and a majority of the senior citizens are looking forward two fifteen and more years after retirements. However, the increasing propositions of elderly to that of young population has brought with it challenges as well as opportunities for the community. Age is not just a mere physiological change of the body through the life course or a biological function that quantifies the years lived. Age is more precious and equally present a sign of wealth in life experiences that reflect individuals’ personalities and mold who they become.

Age more or less a social norm product and the expectations which to each life stage. Many aging aspects and experiences, however, are dependent on gender, social class, race, among other social issues. Positive aging thus is the consolidation of better choices the elderly make during their vibrant, youthful days to make their later lives in the old age be happy and delightful.

Positive aging is thus a constructive perception of growing old and accepting aging as a continuous normal development that must occur in human life.

Get quality help now

Doctor Jennifer

Verified writer

Proficient in: Aging Process

5 (893)

“ Thank you so much for accepting my assignment the night before it was due. I look forward to working with you moving forward ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

For this such positive attitudes to be cultivated and embraced by the senior societies, societies, the government, and involved stakeholders should be more than willing to help address this issues in the most effective ways possible. And for that reason, this proposal aims to in building a vibrant community by encouraging an organization to adopt a positive framework.

Introduction

Serenbe is a magnificent community found a few miles outside Atlanta known as Chattahoochee Hill Country.

The beautiful rural land was founded by Steve Nygren and his wife Marie Lupo Nygren in the early 1990s. We're motivated by the “to change the world, start in your own backyard” principle. The vision of the Serenbe community is to protect the magnificent beauty of the Chattahoochee rural lands.

The Serenbe community values passion, nature, community togetherness, and most important nature. According to Serenbe.com, the community believes that people have the opportunity to live a full life if they are connected to the wonders and beauties of nature. The Serenbe people value other for who they are and not by what they do or what they are (Serene.com, 2018).

In such a friendly community, the issue of aging has been embraced across all ages within society. Researchers conducted in the Serenbe community have shown that the life expectancy is above 85 years. In this community, age and especially old age is not viewed as a challenge or obstacle to the growth of the population. The elderly are given better cares and social respect compared to any other age groups. As a result, appreciation of the growing old as a normal physiological and biological process has resulted in a positive attitude towards aging which is one among many other instances of positive aging.

Problem definition

The issue of Aging or elderly in many organizations is viewed as a physical health issue, while in others, it is merely a chronology of age. People above the age of 65 years in most cases are the ones referred by this term. Thus, most organizations believe that these people are not physically fit to work for the organization or in extreme cases for themselves. However, the issue of age also varies across gender. For instance, organizations with senior men (men over sixty-five years) allow men to continue working for up to when they are in their seventies. Women, on the other hand, will be laid off from their duties from as early as 55 years.

Aging has caused a serious healthcare crisis around the world. For instance in countries like Canada and USA, the cost of healthcare increases with age. Societies living with the elderly often complain of the hefty medical bills and expenses needed to take care of the old properly. Unfortunately, the feeling of being a burden, stress, anxiety, and unnecessary compassion as many older adults argue, and the major factors that result in unhealthy aging. However, this may not be the case if organizations start adopting models that support the elderly.

For instance, Bridget Fisher, who is 62 and work as Human resource administrator and part-time as a nurse, admitted to feeling as ‘younger’ and ‘strong’ as she could be (Little &McGivern, 2012). Her reason to vibrate contrary to her age is that she was appreciated by her organization, through pension schemes and retirements benefits she received after she retired. She also acknowledged the love and supported her, and her fellow age mates received from the organizations, and the different activities she engaged.

When an organization or a community acknowledges and appreciates that aging is a course of life and that it is not a defect or a disability, the organization encourages positive aging. That is, these men and women approaching their retirement ages are not barged with the worries of aging. They live happy lives, and such challenges that come with aging are significantly reduced.

Positive aging concept

Positive aging as defined by psychologists involves attributes that concentrate on positive aging scenarios. That is definite aging highlight the techniques, strategies, and policies that help in the development of a more resilient at the same time strengthen the sense of control and fulfillment, regardless of the hardships and challenges that are linked with growing old. As noted by Kending and Browning, positive aging amalgamates better choices that can be made for later lives that offer opportunities to make the old age live more happy, productive and delightful (Kendig& Browning, 2018).

Psychological perspectives

Positive aging is dependent on positive psychology. Hoxmark theoretical and empirical publications suggest that positive psychology in among the concepts that are applied in research studies and the intervention of aging problems (Hoxmark, Bergvik, Pettersen, & Wynn, 2011). The scholars suggest that recovery movement and positive psychology share similar emphasis and interests, but differ in several aspects. Both concepts are applicable in analyzing and developing strategies that touch on the psychological issues of aging. For instance, in aging situations, recovery movements is a multi-disciplinary ground effort that is led by individuals who are in the aging process.

Usually, this types of movements are often established in elderly home care, or in organizations that have a relatively good number of the aged people. These movements are built on a recovery-oriented approach rather than pathological- orientation framework in which the aging challenges and solutions are best understood (Krentzman, 2012). White W. L ( 2007); noted that the movement worked from a well-known set of goals and values and that participants in this movement work together to eliminate barriers to positive aging, support various paths to happiness, satisfaction, and delightfulness in their old age They will also make the known social system to be supportive of their recovery approaches . When individuals develop a recovery movement, the individuals are usually victims the situations. From a psychological perspective, positive psychology is what triggers this actions.

Positive psychology as suggested by Martin Seligman focuses on the wellbeing of an individual. Positive psychology is therefore focused on the rigorous study of the well-being, strengths and most favorable functioning of an individual, and flourishing. He further added that flourishing people have emotional vitality and enable them to function positively in both the social and private realms of their old age lives (Duckworth, Steen, & Seligman, 2005).

Seligman and his fellow psychologist (2000) publicly asked for the promotion of institutions to be positive. The scholars defined positive institutions as institutions that drive people towards acceptable and better responsibility, altruism, moderation, citizenship, work ethics and tolerance (Waters, Murray, & White, 2012).

In the modern world, it is vital to be a well-functioning organization that meets the ideals of a positive institution. And as Waters, Murray, and White have called upon learning institutions to be and give ideas before character development, so should elderly organizations. Previous researches suggest that collective, collaborative approach and positive change approach are the two major dimensions that should be incorporated by any organization that seeks to encourage positive aging (Waters, Murray, & White, 2012). Using approaches that are more sophisticated in the understanding of the positive attributes that come with aging can be implemented to encourage positive aging within an organization.

In relations to a real institution, recent research finding revealed that ‘positive institutions’ effectiveness is primarily judged based on the attitudes and traits that arise from these institutions. Results from these studies have discovered intriguing similarities that were relatively endorsed by senior citizens (the elderly) and adults across the United States. According to the findings, most endorsed strengths by positive institutions are fairness, gratitude, authenticity, kindness, and open-mindedness while the less recommended were modesty, self-regulation, and prudence. These positive traits trigger positive emotions towards aging and social issues that affect the elderly and also cuts across all age groups as well as active adults (Seligman, Steen, Park, & Peterson, 2005).

Increasing positive aging

As discussed in the previous sections, positive aging will require involved stakeholders as well as the society to combine efforts to ensure that the senior citizens and those approaching the age bracket are not afraid or worried about being old. This objective can only be achieved in the both the elderly and the society in which they belong to participate in activities that not only embrace aging as a physiological change but also perceive aging as a phase in the course of life.

Basing these recommendations on the Serenbe model, older adults should at least be active and engage in activities that strength, their physical, spiritual and psychological strengths. By regularly participating in sporting activities, nature walks, hiking and connecting with nature can boost by at least 30% the level of happiness, excitement, and activeness of the elderly as well as all other age groups.

Organizations with elderly staff should regularly engage in activities that institutionalize the organization as a positive institution (Waters, Murray, & White, 2012). By organizing staff retreats, pension schemes and retirement bonus and other elderly befits can boost the confidence and the general mood of the elderly. Although a majority of the elderly populations do not add production value as they used to in their active years, organizations can implement policies that do not entirely put the seniors to rest instead, other less demanding positions can replace them or be allowed to work less regularly as they age (Little &McGivern, 2012).

The community and especially the young and active generation should support, be fair, kind, responsibility, altruism, moderate, and apprehend work ethics that tolerate-without affecting production, in organizations- the elderly behaviors by supporting their projects and schemes, seeing them as colleagues and not as aliens who do not deserve the opportunities because their time is out. Instead, the community should support and respect them and most importantly love and care for them (Serene.com, 2018).

Building a vibrant community

Positive psychological interventions need to be applied to create a vibrant community successfully. A vibrant community is born of a happy individual (Seligman, Steen, Park, & Peterson, 2005). In other words, a vibrant community is built on positive psychology (Seligman, Steen, Park, & Peterson, 2005).

Communities should embrace positive thinking towards social issues. Such issues will including age, gender, level of education, ethnic backgrounds, race, and religion. These social aspects are the major contributors to individual happiness. When one appreciates the other and embrace their either irrespective of their differences, they cultivate higher chances of happiness and low level of conflicts. Similarly, organizations should strive to eliminate obstacles that limited the establishment of a vibrate community. For instance, organizations should promote a positive attitude towards these differences and establishes policies that embrace these social aspects.

Communication and activeness of the community also contribute to the creation of a positive and vibrant community. When communities come together to celebrate their achievements, they support togetherness. When there is collective support towards achieving an objective, individuals are motivated even to be more activated. Besides, the effectiveness of the communication channels and strategies also contribute significantly to community activeness. Thus community members should work in unison to articulate challenges, barriers or conflicts to ensure that individual interests are addressed and fulfilled. Effective communication is a crucial factor in the creation of a vibrant community.

When emotional, spiritual and physical needs are addressed accordingly, a mutual relationship with the community is established. And when individuals have a common goal, belief, or ground, they are not afraid to do what makes them happy — a good example in the Cuban community. Although Cuban people are still lagging regarding technological advancements, the community is globally known for its vibrant community.

Conclusion

Organizations should encourage positive aging as a form of appreciating and embracing the aspects of age. These objectives can be achieved easily if the organizations and community as a whole collaborate to promote positive psychology, establish positive institutions and encourage positive traits and emotions (Hoxmark, Bergvik, Pettersen, & Wynn, 2011). The well-being of the other is not only a personal responsibility rather, but it is also social responsibility and everyone; both young and old, have a role to play.