My Attitudes Towards The Elderly - 1031 Words

Society as whole has many false beliefs and preconceived notions about the aging population. I myself have harboured dozens of them throughout my lifetime. However, there are a select few that have stood the test of time as they continue to guide my attitudes towards the elderly. Though one of the oldest stereotypes in the book, I unfortunately see the elderly as being a generally unhappy (grumpy) group. I rationalize to myself that they are this way due to deteriorating health, and also because they are generally unpleased with where life has taken them. I also feel that as a result, many elderly tend to disengage themselves from society, preferring to live quiet lives in solitude. And due to their self-imposed exiles from the judging eyes of the world, they take little pride in their aesthetic appearance. So in an endeavor to examine the impact of my perceived beliefs about others, I interviewed my mother to verify whether or not my currently held beliefs carried any weight. The Interview Me: What is your current age? Mom: 59 Me: Does the thought of aging worry you? Mom: Aging worries me. I know that as we age, no matter how much we take good care of ourselves, we are going to get sick. I m scared of getting sick and being a burden to my kids. And also, I m not ready to die. I want to see that all my kids and my only grandchild to have a stable life. Me: How would you say aging has affected you both physically and mentally? Mom: I noticed that I get tiredShow MoreRelatedIs Ageism Against The Older People Could Potentially Be Reversed Through The Participation Of A Lifespan Human Development Course1620 Words   |  7 PagesIn this article, the author examine if negative attitudes towards older people could potentially be reversed through the participation in a Lifespan Human Development Course. He states that research findings shows that a prevailing factor that is affecting the elder population today is ageism. 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