Part One: Introduction
Hi everyone! My name is Stephanie, and I’m currently working toward my Bachelor of Social Work. I’m excited to be taking this class because aging is something I have had a lot of personal and professional experience with, but I also know there is still so much for me to learn. One thing I would like everyone to know about me is that I have always been someone who cares deeply about people, especially when they need someone to advocate for them. A lot of my life and work has involved helping people through different stages of life, and that is a big part of why I decided to continue my education in social work. Professionally, I have quite a bit of experience working with older adults. I worked in the medical field for about 15 years, and during that time, it really showed me that everyone’s experience with aging is different. Some people need a lot of physical assistance, while others mainly need someone to listen to them, advocate for them, or help them connect with the right resources. I have also had personal experience with caregiving through my own family. Being a caregiver for my mother and grandmother gave me a different perspective than simply working with older adults professionally. It helped me understand how aging can affect not only the individual but the entire family. It also showed me how important caregivers, support systems, and social workers can be. I’m hoping this class will help me look at aging from a deeper perspective. I want to learn more about the experiences older adults have, the challenges they face, and the ways social workers can advocate for them. I also want to challenge some of my own assumptions about aging and become better at understanding people as individuals instead of looking at aging as just a number or a stage of life. Since I’m pursuing social work, I think this is knowledge that I will be able to carry with me throughout my career.
Part Two: The Meaning of Aging
When I hear the terms “older adulthood” or “later life,” I don’t automatically think of someone being old or unable to do things for themselves. I think of a stage of life where someone has experienced a lot, learned a lot, and hopefully has the opportunity to enjoy some of the things they may not have had time for earlier in life. Because of my experiences working with older adults, I know that there is no one way to age. I have met older adults who were very independent and active, and I have also worked with people who needed significant assistance with everyday activities. Those experiences have made me realize that aging looks different for everyone. When I think about myself in later life, I honestly don’t have a specific age where I suddenly think, “Okay, now I’m officially an older adult.” I think I will probably consider myself an older adult somewhere around my 60s or 70s. To me, it will have more to do with where I am in life and how I see myself than the actual number. When I picture myself at that point in my life, I hope I am still active, independent, and enjoying my life. I want to be able to travel, spend time with my family, and enjoy the things that make me happy without feeling like my age is stopping me from doing them. I also hope I will have the opportunity to slow down a little. Life can be so busy when you’re raising a family, working, going to school, and constantly taking care of other people. I imagine later life being a time when I can finally have more freedom to enjoy the things I worked so hard for. I also hope that I will feel comfortable with getting older. I don’t want to spend my later years constantly wishing I looked younger or wishing I could go back to a different stage of my life. I want to appreciate the person I have become and everything I have experienced along the way. One thing I do think about when it comes to aging is losing my independence. That is probably one of the biggest “problems of aging” that concerns me. After seeing older adults who needed help with things they were once able to do on their own, I understand how difficult that can be emotionally. Being dependent on someone else for basic parts of your everyday life can be frustrating and can change the way you see yourself. I think that fear is also connected to the fact that independence is important to me. I want to be able to take care of myself, make my own decisions, and continue doing the things that make me feel like me. At the same time, my experiences with older adults have taught me that needing help does not make someone less valuable or less of a person. If anything, it has made me realize how important it is for social workers to help people maintain as much independence, dignity, and choice as possible as they age. I honestly think my view of aging is still evolving. I have already seen so many different sides of aging through my work and my family experiences, but I know this class will give me an opportunity to understand it on an even deeper level. I’m seriously looking forward to learning more and seeing how my perspective changes throughout the semester!
Stephanie, thank you for caring so deeply; it truly makes a difference when our hearts are in what we do. I share your perspective on aging; it’s not merely about the number of years but about the quality of life we can enjoy. I particularly appreciated your point that there isn’t just one way to age. Your experiences with older adults, both those who are independent and those who require significant assistance, highlight how unique the aging process can be for each individual.
I also resonate with your concerns about losing independence, as it relates to my worries about memory loss. The ability to make our own decisions, care for ourselves, and engage in activities that bring us joy significantly impacts our sense of identity and dignity. This stage of life can be very vulnerable and delicate, which makes the need for compassionate, knowledgeable, and well-rounded social workers even more important. As social workers, we have an opportunity to advocate for older adults, support their independence, and ensure that they are treated with dignity, respect, and compassion throughout the aging process.
Hi Stephanie,
I enjoyed reading your blog and found myself relating to a lot of what you shared. When you mentioned that you don’t automatically see older adulthood as being “old or unable to do things for themselves,” I felt the same way. Sometimes, we hear the word “aging” and instantly think of limitations, but as you said, “there is no one way to age.” Everyone’s experience is unique. I also agree with your point that “needing help does not make someone less valuable or less of a person.”
I also liked when you said that later life could be a time to “finally have more freedom to enjoy the things I worked so hard for.” After years of working hard, making sacrifices, and overcoming challenges, I hope that in my later years I will be able to enjoy the fruits of my labor.
I also share your fear of losing independence as I get older. Like you, I want to “take care of myself, make my own decisions, and continue doing the things that make me feel like myself.”
I appreciated your point about helping older adults keep “as much independence, dignity, and make making their own choices as much as possible as they age.”
As future social workers I know we can’t stop aging or every challenge it brings, but we can make sure older adults are heard, respected, and included in decisions about their lives.
Last but not least, I agree that our views on aging are still changing. By the end of this course, I hope we’ll understand older adults better as future social workers and feel more ready for our own seasoned era.
Stephanie,
Your professional experience in the medical field and your personal experience as a caregiver give you a much broader understanding of aging. Being a caregiver myself for my mom, I understand what you mean when you say that it changes how you view and understand aging. The view is just bigger and broader, right? Not better, just more.
It makes sense to me that you see a lot of variability in how people age. I also think the realities of caregiving create a fear of losing independence. Independence is seen as a significant value in our society. To lose that is a bitter pill to swallow. And when you have been a caregiver, you have at least one sense of how that loss can affect both you and those around you. I think you will enjoy the first two chapters of both texts, as they deal with this issue of independence.
May we all reach our fourth chapter and feel content and valued. I look forward to the conversations this semester.
One of the expectations of the blog posts is that you add a featured image. Just an FYI – if you look at the video on the blog, or read my latest email, I talk about how to upload your featured image. If you scroll down to the bottom on the right side of your post window, you will find “Set Featured Image.” I walk you through this in my video on using the blog. This information is about halfway through. You might find it helpful, and it will place your image right at the top of the blog post. Here is a link to the video.
https://gastate.view.usg.edu/d2l/le/lessons/3694485/topics/77644115
Dr P