What stood out to me most in Cruikshank’s discussion was how easily normal aging can be treated like a medical problem. I knew that older adults may experience more health concerns, but I never really thought about how society sometimes treats aging itself as an illness. Cruikshank (2013) explains how much attention is placed on physical decline as people get older. This made me think about how we sometimes assume that every change an older person experiences needs medication or some type of treatment.
Aronson’s conversation with Irina was also interesting to me. Irina was trying to make the best decisions for her father, but she also depended on the doctors for guidance. I think this is something many families experience because most people trust that doctors know what is best. At the same time, families should feel comfortable asking questions about whether a medication or treatment is really necessary. Aronson (2019) showed how important it is for the older adult and their family to be included in those conversations.
When Cruikshank (2013) says that Alzheimer’s disease “stands for aging in America” (p. 38), I think she means that dementia is one of the first things many people think about when they think about getting older. Aging can become connected with losing your memory, independence, or ability to care for yourself. Aronson (2019) looks at dementia differently because she focuses more on the individual person and their quality of life instead of only focusing on the diagnosis. I think we are moving more toward this approach, but there is still a lot of fear surrounding dementia. Personally, losing my independence is one of the things that concerns me when I think about getting older.
For my article, I chose Jønsson’s (2024) article on the medicalization of old age. One thing I learned was that even our focus on being healthy can sometimes lead to overdiagnosis. Some normal changes that come with getting older may be treated as medical conditions that need to be fixed. This connects with Cruikshank because she also talks about how aging is often viewed through illness. It also connects with Aronson’s point that more treatment or medication does not always mean better care. After reading everything, I still wonder how doctors determine what is normal aging and what actually needs medical treatment. I would also like to learn more about how older adults can have more input in these decisions, especially when it comes to their independence and quality of life.
References
Aronson, L. (2019). Elderhood: Redefining aging, transforming medicine, reimagining life. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Cruikshank, M. (2013). Learning to be old: Gender, culture, and aging (3rd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Jønsson, A. B. R. (2024). Medicalization of old age: Experiencing healthism and overdiagnosis in a Nordic welfare state. Medical Anthropology, 43(4), 310–323. https://doi.org/10.1080/01459740.2024.2349515
Hi Ja’Maya,
It is very upsetting that aging gets treated as an illness and how much medications are overprescribed for something that can be helped with lifestyle changes like diet, reducing stress, or exercise.
I appreciated Aronson’s perspective on dementia because it focuses more on the individual and other factors besides dementia being a neurological disease that needs to be treated. I liked reading about how doctors and other healthcare professionals should prioritize skills like communication, understanding caregivers, and other qualities like that. I think these skills would help more patients feel more understood and listened to as it builds trust.
I enjoyed reading the article you chose about how being too healthy can lead to overdiagnosis, as sometimes we feel like we need an answer to everything and a fix; but sometimes that’s just how it is. I would also like to learn more about normal aging and then what becomes a cause of concern!
It is so crazy how we literally thought about how we trust the doctor so much and trust them on the medication and treatment process and also how we thought about the statement about ” Alzheimer’s Disease stands for aging Americans” is the first thing people think of when we get older which is really scary to think about because we all know we have to get old one day. I like how you said what personally scares you, i just do not want to be dependent on no one when i get older or feel like a burden. I think a doctor will always think of a medical treatment even if it is not needed and can anyone truly know what normal aging may look like because it is different with every one medical condition and what may be going on so, it seems like every-one is still looked at like a medical standpoint but the care in itself wants to be more person centered.
Your question about how doctors distinguish normal aging from a condition that needs treatment stood out to me. It seems especially difficult when a change could have several causes, including an illness or a medication side effect. Aronson’s account of Dimitri shows why it matters to investigate those possibilities before assuming a decline is inevitable.
I also connected with what you said about fearing the loss of independence. That fear can make a diagnosis feel like a prediction about someone’s entire future, which relates to Cruikshank’s point about Alzheimer’s becoming a symbol of aging. I think older adults should be asked what independence means to them and which goals matter most before decisions are made about their care. How could providers make more room for those conversations during a regular appointment?
Ja’Maya,
I think you picked a couple of good points and comments from Aronson and Cruikshank in terms of our thinking of aging as illness. I think the conversation with Dimitri’s daughter was significant, but I suspect the diagnosis was perhaps the most important thing. Yes, the daughter (whose name I got wrong, BTW) wanted what was best and trusted the doctor. But more importantly, by asking the right questions, Aronson was able to piece together the problem he was having – medication reactions. It was the information the daughter shared that made that possible – and Aronson asking the right question.
I am sure your article was a good one and that the points connected. I was wondering if you think that would be the same or different in a Non-Nordic country?
Dr P