Hello everyone! My name is Elvira, and I am a junior pursuing a degree in social work. I am a first-generation American born into a family of refugees, and because of that, I grew up helping older adults in my community who faced language barriers navigate important steps in life from an early age. That has shaped my personal experience with older adults, and now, professionally, I have been working in the medical field for over three years, where I interact closely with older patients on a daily basis. Through this work, I have supported patients during some of their best and also some of their most difficult moments. From this class, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of how to support older adults from diverse backgrounds through this stage of life, and to learn ways I can make the process a little easier and more meaningful for them.
To me, “older adulthood” or “later life” means facing a new set of challenges in life. Not only mentally and physically, but spiritually too. Everyone’s experience is unique, and I believe age is shaped by many social constructs. I would probably consider myself an older adult in my late fifties, envisioning myself as slower-paced and more gentle, while still feeling good in my body regardless of physical changes like wrinkles or looser skin. I imagine finding pleasure in a calmer lifestyle without the demands of work. At the same time, one of my greatest fears about aging is losing the people I love, a concern I have carried since childhood because I know it is inevitable.
Hi Elvira, I was really interested in your post and your life experiences. I live in Clarkston and Iast year, I did my practicum at Mosaic Health Center (formerly Clarkston Community Health Center). In the community, I have seen many children acting as a bridge for their families and communities, and I know it is a big responsibility, especially in healthcare settings. Thank you for your dedication to your community and those navigating language barriers. Your skills and compassion are much needed.
I am also interested in the spiritual challenges and the social constructs of age. I have empathy for your fear of losing loved ones. As you said, you know it is coming and that is hard to carry. Death can give life meaning, knowing that change is inevitable and always happening, but the transience of life can sometimes be a burden. I hope you find joy in your work and relationships and look forward to learning with you!
Hello. Overall, this was a great post. I learned some things about you and some things you want to accomplish. I commend you for working with older individuals in your community. I think it is important to learn to assist individuals from different backgrounds because one will not always work with one age group or race. Being able to help someone in or even someone unsure if they are in need has always been a reason I wanted to become a social worker. Advocating for someone unable to advocate for themselves is awesome. I like how you touched on how spirituality could also play a role in aging. The way someone grow up, religion and cultural beliefs can influence a lot in their aging and support process.
Elvira,
Thanks for sharing your experiences and talking about how you see your own aging. I think we all bring our family with us as we age – either literally or spiritually. As a first generation American, your experiences will be different from some many of us and I look forward to hearing more about how you see aging.
The fear of loss in aging is part of all of us, I think. But we don’t talk about it much. It is interesting that you have identified that fear at an early age. I think that might serve you well as you move through your own aging. I look forward to talking more about all of this. Glad you are in this class.
Dr P