Ashley Summers

Article 7: Emotion in the Second Half of Life

1.) This particular article in the text, Emotion in the Second Half of Life, deeply

navigates readers through the physical, mental and emotional states that both elderly men

and women must endure in their final years of life. Typically, a majority of senior

citizens in today’s society heavily rely on loved ones and close friends to assist in caring

for their essential needs, such as picking up groceries, keeping good, personal hygiene or

taking care of household chores for healthy living conditions. However, the author, Berk,

brings up a vital point on page 485, as she claims, “Many older people place such a high

value on independence that they do not want extensive help from others close to them

unless they can reciprocate” (Liang, Krause & Bennett, 2001; Warner et al., 2011). This

is a very accurate statement, as one will often catch elderly individuals reminding our

younger generation of statements, such as, “Do unto others as they would do for you.”

While is it important to allow senior citizens to know that despite their old age, they still

remain competent in their own capabilities, it is also necessary to remind them that they

do still require assistance for greater current and future living conditions on their behalf.

To develop a greater sense of personal competence, perhaps the family of a senior

citizen could provide them with seedling packets to care for a vegetable garden, provide

crossword puzzle books or Sudoku games to keep their cognitive abilities up and

functioning. Also, if circumstances align, families can allow the senior citizens in their

lives to pick-up their grandchildren from school or soccer practice on weeknights. These

small, daily, hands-on tasks will provide the elderly person with the greatest feeling, and

that feeling is that they are worth something they might not of first recognized within

them. However, with a bit of support and a whole lot of love and mental beliefs from the

people that care about them the most, the older individual will gain self-worth,

confidence and a stronger, balanced state of mind.

2.) According to the text emphasizing on elder suicide rates, page 486 claims, “As

comfort and quality of life diminish, feelings of hopelessness and helplessness deepen”

(Conwell et al., 2010). We often look up to our elderly loved ones for support, great

advice and stories that reveal their personal experiences when relating their world to our

own. However, as seniors place such a high, often times unbalanced emphasis on both the

areas of caring for a family and keeping their own, personal independence intact, these

particular individuals are often times more likely to end up losing themselves in the

process. Elderly depression can be caused by, but is certainly not limited to: placing

other’s needs and personal priorities before one’s own, the loss of loved ones in the

elderly citizen’s life, demanding schedules and gaining a higher risk of arthritis or

weakening of the bones and joints. These areas and more are not only likely to cause

physical stressors to the older adult, but also depress and drain the citizen emotionally,

socially and especially mentally in their own daily lifestyles. Page 486 points out some

warning signs of reasons that high chances of suicide are more likely in this decade,

reporting, “Warning signs of elderly suicide might include despondency, sleep and

appetite changes, statements about dying and efforts to put their personal affairs in

order.” (Conwell, Van Orden, & Caine, 2011). It is crucial for anyone caring for or living

with an elderly individual to know in their heart that they are more capable in assisting a

senior citizen then they might recognize right away. Caregivers and family members of

elderly individuals can humble themselves in assisting these older citizens by striking up

a causal conversation with them or simply asking the older citizen to state what they like

the most about their supervisor when they care for them, such as how they are made to

feel. Often times, all it really takes is a loving, caring, supportive person who will never

give up on them at their desperate times of need, despair and periods of self-doubt, which

often leads to frustration, outrage and can likely lead to depressive states of mind for the

older person.

3.) As specifically outlined in our textbook, Exploring Lifespan Development, as

well as in our course modules, every aspect of human development is crucial and

necessary for adequate brain and physical growth and maturation in every year of the

human’s life. Each stage holds something new, powerful, unexpected and of value for the

individual. The more real-world experiences one gathers along their journey known to

humans as, “life,” the greater the overall outcome in the current and even the final years

of the human’s lifespan will turn out to be. While in every stage of human development,

one can expect to find great joy and satisfaction; there will always be physical, mental

and emotional hurdles to find our way across somehow. One must discover all of their

capabilities and personal strength through the build up of independence over the years.

However, none of us were asked to face each life trial on our own. As stated on page 486

of the text, “Greater willingness to seek social support and religiosity prevent many from

taking their own lives.” (Conwell, Van Orden & Caine, 2011).

There is no shame in asking for assistance to build up one’s levels of resilience

and cope with personal stressors as they arise. After all, we are all in this together, so now

is the time to come and band as one and keep the suicide rates declining instead of

increasing. This long stride goal can be accomplished by hosting nationwide, state and

local awareness meetings and social gatherings, as well as simply starting up a

conversation with someone who appears to be in need of some type of saving just by

one’s gathered observations over a period of time.

4.) The topic of suicide rising in America and all over the nation certainly puts a

damper on families in today’s society. Family members of elderly adults often are quick

to judge and automatically make the assumption that the following symptoms, listed on

page 486 of the text, are a “natural” consequence of the aging process: “Refusing food or

medical treatment, making statements about dying and frequently skipping out on leaving

the home to run errands or visit family members” (World Health Organization, 2013b;

Conwell et al., 2010). The impact of suicide, especially in the elderly years, is most likely

to affect the family in a negative, detrimental manner. Families can help prevent this

dramatic rise in suicide rates not only for their older, beloved family member, but also for

the following generations still to come.

In effort to provide the older adult with practice and constant regulation in their

continuous theory in their own lives, page 487 suggests, “Elderly citizens should rely on

their familiar skills and engage in activities that they are already familiar to them in effort

to provide them with a secure sense of routine and direction for their life.” (Berk, 2014).

Overall, family support in keeping their senior citizen in the family active, constantly

involved, even in the smallest of daily life tasks, and reminding them their loved ones

genuinely care is exactly the answer the elderly need to keep going at the game of life.

Reference

Berk, Laura E. Exploring Lifespan Development. Third ed. Boston: Pearson, 2014. Print.