Apply Theories of Aging

According to Kornadt, (2015), he asserts that we are currently living in times where there are decreasing governmental and family support systems. As a result, old age is becoming quite unbearable for most of the people. Therefore, the author recommends that individuals ought to be prepared for old age. This would enable them to avoid late-life loneliness and poverty. However, in Maya’s case, she never had this preparation and this affected her in a great way after her husband’s death. She is still struggling with grief and loneliness. Different age cohorts respond differently to grief. Career individuals mostly those within the middle age gap; often consume themselves in their work. They often become workaholics and this is how they manage to grief for their losses. However, for older people such as Maya, it is quite evident that her life majorly revolved around her husband. Therefore, his loss affected her functioning greatly thus resulting in her disengagement.

Wright-St Clair et al, (2014), claims that giving a voice to the day to day experiences of the aged offers them an authenticity to many facets that caregivers may otherwise have ignored.  Therefore, in Maya’s condition, the caregiver should not at any given time give up on her. Most importantly, the caregiver should engage in encouraging Maya to speak out about her day to day experiences. This will allow her to lead a life that is positively represented and interpreted. With time she will build trust in the caregiver and this will assist her in dealing with grief and loneliness. Having someone to listen to her and to share her experiences will be a form of strong support system.  

 

 

References

Kornadt, A. E., Voss, P., & Rothermund, K. (2015). Hope for the best, prepare for the worst? Future self-views and preparation for age-related changes. Psychology and Aging, 30(4), 967–976.

Wright-St Clair, V. A., Grant, B. C., & Smythe, E. A. (2014). Narratives in research: Story as 'showing' the eminently ordinary experience of ageing. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 33(2), 132–135.