Part One: Introduction
One thing I would like everyone to know about me is that I am currently working toward my Bachelor of Social Work degree because I want a career where I can make a positive difference in people’s lives. I am also a new mother, which has been a major and exciting change in my life. Becoming a mother has given me an even stronger desire to build a stable future, continue growing personally and professionally, and become the best version of myself for my daughter. I also have a background working in financial institutions, where I regularly interact with people from many different age groups and backgrounds.
My experience with older adults has mostly come from personal relationships and through my professional work. Working in the financial field has helped me understand how important it is to advocate for older adults because they can face many challenges, including financial exploitation and elder abuse. As people grow older, some may lose a sense of independence or become more dependent on others for help with their finances and everyday needs. Unfortunately, this can sometimes make them more vulnerable to people who may try to take advantage of them. In my work, I have assisted older adults with questions about their accounts, payments, and other financial concerns, and these experiences have shown me how important patience, communication, and protection are when working with older individuals.
By taking this class, I hope to develop a better understanding of older adults and the issues they may experience as they age. I want to learn how social workers can advocate for older adults while also helping them maintain their independence, dignity, and quality of life. I also hope this course helps me better understand the different experiences of aging and prepares me to work effectively with older adults in the future.
Part Two: The Meaning of Aging
When I think about older adulthood or later life, I think about becoming wiser. To me, age comes with many lessons, experiences, and a different understanding of life. I understand that this may not be the case for everyone, but I believe that as people grow older, many gain wisdom from everything they have experienced throughout their lives. Some older adults have lived through a completely different world and time period than what younger generations can even imagine. They have experienced changes in society, technology, family life, and culture that can give them a unique perspective on life. Because of this, I do not see aging as simply getting older physically. I see it as gaining knowledge, experience, and a deeper understanding of life.
I do not fear aging at all. In fact, as I get older, I notice that my goals continue to grow and my mind expands in ways that allow me to understand things differently. There are things I think about and appreciate now that I probably would not have given a second thought to when I was younger. I believe that every stage of life can teach you something new, and I look forward to seeing how my perspective continues to change as I get older.
I think I will begin to consider myself an older adult around age 65. When I picture myself at that age, I hope I am still active, independent, healthy, and enjoying life. I am hoping my health will be just fine, and I am already trying to create healthy habits now that I can carry with me as I age. I have started including daily workouts in my routine and cooking most of my meals at home instead of constantly eating out. I believe that taking care of myself now can help me maintain my health, energy, and independence later in life.
I imagine spending my later years traveling, enjoying my family, spending time with my children and grandchildren, and doing things that I may not have had as much time to enjoy while working and raising a family. I hope to be financially comfortable and able to enjoy the life I worked hard to create. Family, traveling, peace, good health, and having the freedom to spend my time doing things that make me happy are what I believe will bring me the most pleasure.
There is not a particular problem of aging that I would say I fear. I understand that aging can come with health concerns, changes in independence, or needing more assistance, but I do not want to approach getting older with fear. Instead, I want to focus on the things I can control now, such as taking care of my health, planning for my future, and continuing to grow mentally and emotionally. At the same time, my experience in the financial field has made me very aware that some older adults become vulnerable to abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation when they have to depend on other people. This is one reason I believe advocating for older adults is so important. Growing older should not mean losing your dignity, your voice, or your right to be treated with respect.
I enjoyed reading your post and you pointed of great remarks concerning age. It is good you have a sense or understanding adults from a financial perspective which can help in the long run of the class. You point out that you are maintaining health now and watching what you put in your body. This is good because starting now helps out when we are older it gives us one less thing to worry about as older age approaches and the health concerns that comes with that. You also have a good point on every stage of life can teach you something new which I agree because we all have a path to go through and it teaches you lessons, to be wise, and set you up later in life.
I really enjoyed reading your post, especially your view that getting older can mean gaining wisdom rather than simply experiencing decline. Your point about older adults living through major changes in technology, culture, and society stood out to me because it highlights how their life experiences can shape perspectives that younger generations may not have. I also liked that you connected your current habits to the person you hope to be later in life. Starting daily workouts and cooking more at home shows that aging is a lifelong process and something we can prepare for throughout our lives, rather than something that only matters once we reach older adulthood.
Your experience working in financial institutions also gives an interesting perspective on older adults. I thought your discussion of financial exploitation was important because financial independence can be a major part of someone’s overall independence. Helping older adults with their accounts and payments has likely given you a better understanding of how important clear communication and patience can be. I also liked and related your vision of later life, particularly being able to travel, spend time with your children and grandchildren, and enjoy the life you worked to build. It shows that aging can include having a sense of purpose, meaningful relationships, and the freedom to enjoy the experiences we may not always have time for earlier in life.
I really enjoyed reading your post, especially your view that getting older can mean gaining wisdom rather than simply experiencing decline. Your point about older adults living through major changes in technology, culture, and society stood out to me because it highlights how their life experiences can shape perspectives that younger generations may not have or ever experience. I also liked that you connected your current habits to the person you hope to be later in life. Starting daily workouts and cooking more at home shows that aging is a lifelong process and something we can prepare for throughout our lives, rather than something that only matters once we reach older adulthood.
Your experience working in financial institutions also gives an interesting perspective on older adults. I thought your discussion of financial exploitation was important because financial independence can be a major part of someone’s overall independence. Helping older adults with their accounts and payments has likely given you a better understanding of how important clear communication and patience can be. I also liked and related your vision of later life, particularly being able to travel, spend time with your children and grandchildren, and enjoy the life you worked to build. It shows that aging can include having a sense of purpose, meaningful relationships, and the freedom to enjoy the experiences we may not always have time for earlier in life.
Keeshlyne,
I think you have one of the most positive perspectives on aging that I have read in these blogs. Kudos to you! I think it is well documented that attitude has a whole lot to do with how well we age. Your belief that aging is growing will serve you well. I also think it gives you a great foundation for how you respond to older adults. If we learn to value our older adults, it could change how we treat them.
Your work in financial services has probably also taught you how important financial planning is, right? When you read and hear about the CARA model, you will see that some of the GRRs we talk about are social capital, but also individual capital. Resources are a significant factor for aging well in our culture – particularly when you face challenges that require help.
I appreciate that you don’t want to face your own aging with fear. However, the challenges of aging are real, both physically and mentally. Take just a moment and think about which of those challenges would be the most difficult for you. Maybe fear is the wrong word. Instead, think about what you might find the most challenging.
You must add a featured image to your blog posts. 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/77644126
I look forward to the conversations this semester.
Dr P