Differences in Perspectives on Aging

Differences in Perspectives on Aging

Differences in Perspectives on Aging

· Respond to at least two colleagues who addressed cultures that are different from the ones you addressed.

· Share an insight from reading your colleagues’ postings.

· Describe how you might incorporate the cultural perspectives on aging described by your colleagues into your own social work practice.

Be sure to support your responses with specific references to the resources. If you are using additional articles, be sure to provide full APA-formatted citations for your references.

Colleague 1: BM

Americans are living far longer than they have in the past, with the average age of death at approximately 77 years of age (Ryman, 2003). This increase in years can possibly be attributed to our advanced medical findings, ranging from research to cure, which have resulted in prolonging the lives of individuals who otherwise may not have lived as long. With our citizens living longer, amenities for these individuals have also been revamped, including senior housing facilities and additional units included in nursing homes. Furthermore, it is an unfortunate reality that the elderly population in our society is often considered as a burden (Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman, 2016). This can typically be heard when people refer to driving behind a senior citizen or shopping in the same stores. Their habitually slower pace does not always align with our quick-paced, instantly-gratifying society, typical in the United States. The mental and physical health of the elderly can also have an effect on society, with financial resources being allocated for this population, thus further prolonging their lives (Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman, 2016).

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In countries including Japan and China, however, the elderly are viewed with a much higher prestige than here in the United States. Their role within their families, particularly as they age, becomes more ingrained, with the majority of the elderly living with their grown children and their children (Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman, 2016). This becomes the expectation. In these cultures, the elderly are viewed as wise, possessing a knowledge that can only be obtained with years spent on the planet. On the contrary if grown children consider a nursing home for their parents, they are actually considered uncaring and non-traditional (Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman, 2016). Additionally, the Indian culture reveres their elderly population, again often living in joint families. The patriarch in these families is often the grandfather or great grandfather. It is customary for the grandparents to have a direct hand in raising the grandchildren, including the child care and decision making regarding the children (Ryman, 2003).

The difference between the United States and the other aforementioned viewpoints on aging can most likely be directly linked to the pace of society. The United States prides itself on technology, economics and the resulting power. While these are certainly aspects that have crafted America into the country it is today, some may argue that sense of family and the importance of forged relationships have been lost. This would coincide with the different views our country holds on aging. Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman (2016) referenced our elderly population as being a burden on society, simply because they cannot maintain the rigor of today’s world. This is in sharp contrast to other cultures in which the elderly population is revered for their wisdom of experience. This difference in viewpoint will certainly impact upon social work practice. It would be essential for the professional to understand the cultural elements that come into play when dealing with the elderly. A Chinese grandmother, for example, may have a very different story to share than an American grandmother who is being moved to a nursing home. Cultural competence, yet again, plays such an integra