Hi! I’m Mary, and I’m a second-year Master’s student in Gerontology. I’m passionate about helping older adults, particularly those with dementia, and much of my academic focus is centered around this area. While my personal experience with older adults is mainly limited to my parents, I’ve gained extensive professional experience as a Certified Nurse Assistant and care partner since I was 18. While working in nursing and assisted living facilities, it sparked a passion for caring for individuals with dementia and I became deeply interested in how we can help this population live well and communicate more meaningfully. From this class, I hope to deepen my knowledge of dementia and learn more about how to support older adults across this spectrum of care.
When I think about the term “older adulthood”, I see it as a time of transition and reflection. People experience this phase in different ways, influenced greatly by their physical and mental health. Some enter later life having maintained strong health and activity levels, while others face limitations due to chronic illness that began decades earlier. These factors shape how a person experiences aging and their ability to stay engaged with life.
For older adulthood, I envision someone in their mid-to-late 70s, with white hair and wrinkles, someone who is social, active, and enjoys this phase of life through hobbies like hiking, walking, water aerobics, and being surrounded by love.
For my own later life, I’d probably consider myself an older adult around the age of 75–80. I’d love to say I will look and feel great, but I live with several chronic illnesses, so that may not be my reality. Still, I plan to stay as active as possible in ways that suit my abilities. I’m also hopeful that medicine will advance significantly over the next 30–40 years. As an older adult, I envision myself spending lots of time outdoors, such as hiking if I’m able, socializing with friends and family, gardening, crocheting, caring for my horses, traveling occasionally, and cooking nourishing meals.
In terms of aging-related fears, I would say cardiovascular disease or dementia are the conditions I’m most concerned about. While dementia isn’t a typical part of aging, its impact is profound. Given my chronic health issues and family history, I worry about the possibility of cognitive decline and generally about the idea of losing my sense of self while still physically present.
However, between the two conditions, dementia concerns me more. Cardiovascular medicine has advanced so much that many issues can be treated or managed even with surgical intervention or devices. But with dementia, there is still no cure or permanent way to slow the progression. Most approaches are preventive or supportive, not restorative. That uncertainty is what makes it so daunting.
Hi Mary, I’m glad you’re here and I’m interested in hearing more about your perspectives on aging, given your background in Gerontology and your CNA experience. I am curious about effective communication with those with dementia and hope that you’ll be able to share more about this.
I agree with your perspective on how people’s experience of later life is influenced by their earlier physical and mental health. Being able to maintain these as much as you are able really does impact your engagement as you age. Living with chronic illness must be difficult and I can understand that would be on your mind as you consider your later years, and it sounds like you have solid plans for future health. I hope there are many medical breakthroughs in the future as well.
Cognitive decline and cardiovascular disease are daunting and can make the future seem uncertain and tentative. There are a lot of new studies about the role of sugar in both conditions, with dementia now being called “Diabetes 3.” Hopefully there will continue to be studies and new treatments. Like you implied, prevention is the best tool and taking good care of future you now hopefully will comfort some of your fears.
Hello Mary! I really enjoyed reading your blog post and hearing your perspective on aging as a someone who is living with chronic illness. It is also interesting that you have worked in assisted living facilities as a CNA and have had direct contact with clients diagnosed with dementia. I would love to hear more about your experience working at assisted living facilities and learn more in this class about how chronic illness affects aging as that is a perspective I have not considered!
Hello Mary! Nice to meet you. I think this class will help you out so much since your field of interest is Gerontology and i think you have a pretty good understanding when it comes to working with older patients. I like how you brought up the point that old age comes with grey hair and wrinkles since this is something that worries me because i won’t want to look old! Thank you for sharing!
Mary,
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I appreciate your work as a CNA, both personally and professionally, and I have some sense of how hard work it can be. I am particularly impressed by your commitment to older adults with dementia. Most of the time people are interested in avoiding that population. I think you will enjoy the Perusall discussion with Jim Fox and his work with older adults living with dementia.
I agree that your cardiovascular issues have a better chance of medical advancement. We continue to have trouble understanding the brain, don’t we? I think you will enjoy the texts we are reading this semester and I look forward to more conversations.
Dr P