Blog 3 Post
What surprised me most about Cruikshank’s discussion of the over medicalization of aging is how easily normal changes that come with getting older can be treated as medical problems. As someone who is almost 60, this stood out to me because I can relate to noticing changes in my body and realizing that aging is a natural part of life. I was surprised by how society can sometimes make older adults feel like they need to fix or prevent every change that comes with aging. This made me think differently about aging and reminded me that getting older does not mean that something is wrong with me. Instead, aging should be viewed with respect, while recognizing the strengths, experiences, and knowledge that older adults bring.
I had a few things that stood out to me about Aronson’s conversation with Irina, Dimitri’s daughter. First, I thought about how much power physicians have when it comes to making decisions about medications and treatment. Second, I noticed how difficult it can be for family members to question a doctor or speak up when they are concerned about an older loved one. Third, the conversation made me think about the importance of including the patient and family in treatment decisions instead of automatically assuming that more medication is always better. As someone who is almost 60, this made me think about how important it is for older adults to understand their medications and feel comfortable asking questions about their care.
I think Cruikshank meant that Alzheimer’s disease has become a symbol of what many Americans fear about getting older. People sometimes connect aging with memory loss, confusion, dependence, and losing control over their lives. Because of this, Alzheimer’s can represent the negative way society sometimes views aging instead of recognizing that aging is different for every person.
Aronson takes a different approach to dementia. She focuses more on understanding the person instead of only focusing on the disease or the symptoms. Her approach shows that a person with dementia is still a person who deserves respect, dignity, and a voice in decisions about their care. In simple terms, she encourages us to look at the individual and their experiences rather than seeing them only as someone with dementia.
In 2026, I think we have moved somewhat toward Aronson’s approach, but the older way of thinking still exists. There is more awareness that people with dementia should be treated with dignity and included in their care. However, many people still associate dementia with aging in general and may assume that memory loss and dependence are just unavoidable parts of getting older. I think we still have work to do to separate normal aging from dementia and to see older adults as individuals rather than focusing only on their limitations.
From the peer-reviewed article “Rising Prescription and Supplement Use Poses Health Risks for Seniors,” I learned that older adults can face health risks when they take several prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, or supplements at the same time. I learned that taking multiple products can increase the chance of side effects, drug interactions, and other health problems. This made me realize how important it is for older adults to regularly review their medications with their healthcare providers.
This connects with what I learned from Cruikshank and Aronson because all three sources show that aging should not automatically be viewed as a medical problem. Cruikshank helped me understand how aging can become overmedicalized, while Aronson showed the importance of looking at the individual instead of only focusing on a diagnosis or medical condition. The article added another example of how medical treatment can sometimes create additional risks for older adults.
I still wonder how older adults can make sure their doctors and pharmacists are communicating with each other about all the medications and supplements they are taking. I would also like to know more about how older adults can safely decide which supplements are actually necessary and which ones may be unnecessary or harmful. Aging has been a thing for me as I age gracefully, so this topic makes me want to be more aware of the medications and supplements I take and to ask more questions about my healthcare.
I appreciated how you connected these readings to your own experience of approaching 60 and aging gracefully. Your perspective challenges the idea that every physical change must be treated as evidence that something is wrong.
I also agree that the risks involving prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and supplements deserve more attention because people may not always think of vitamins or herbal products as substances that could interact with their medications.
Your question about communication between physicians and pharmacists is especially important. Regular medication reviews and maintaining one complete list of everything a person takes could help older adults participate more actively in their care.
Your discussion of dignity also resonated with me because my grandfather lives in assisted living due to dementia. His condition affects him, but it does not erase his identity, relationships, or value to our family.
As a future social worker, I want to encourage older adults and their families to ask what each medication is for, whether it is still necessary, and how it may interact with other products.
Isadore,
Amen to your first paragraph. In addition, we should remember that some changes that come with aging can be improved and supported with treatment. The hard part here, and what Cruikshank emphasizes, is that when aging is socially constructed, as it is in our society, it is hard to separate that from effective medical intervention. That was a terrible sentence, and I am sure Grammarly will flag it, but my point is that both can be true at the same time. We can move to medical intervention at times when we don’t need to, just because we want to stop aging in its tracks. On the other hand, if I have really high blood pressure, I will utilize that medicine to keep me around a while. It’s pulling the two things apart and making decisions based on the individual that makes the difference.
That leads me right to your discussion of Dimitri and his family. Yes, it is important to include the family in treating older adults. But Aronson also knew to keep asking questions until she got the information she needed to figure it out. That is a rare skill in medicine – or in social work sometimes.
I, too, hope we are making strides in separating dementia from aging. Unfortunately, I am afraid we have a way to go. It is difficult to find the balance between being realistic about this disease and, at the same time, not letting the fear of it steal our present moments.
For your article, I need a reference list at the end of the blog post. Based on the title alone, it looks like this article is from The Watchman, and the article you reference is not peer-reviewed. The actual study they reference was a USC-led study published in JAMA. If you wanted to use this article, that was the place to go and the reference to use. While the biblical references were good ones, for the purpose of this assignment, the scientific peer-reviewed is essential. I was interested in the study, and when I’m not grading, I’ll look it up. Finding current research on polypharmacy levels among older adults isn’t easy, so it could be a worthwhile reference to keep.
Dr P