The proportion of elderly people is quickly increasing in both western and eastern countries. We aren’t prepared for 25, let alone 30, of leisure, though. This presents a challenge to the way society is set up right now, and how we respond will have an impact on how seniors are viewed both now and in the future adult day care Albuquerque.
One aspect of the problem is how to fill your time after retirement, but there are other issues as well. You may have seen articles in the media warning that an ageing population could bankrupt the healthcare system and bring down the pension system.
It’s also critical to comprehend our origins and aspirations if we are to comprehend how elderly citizens may play a more positive part in our community. So let’s look at some of the different roles that people in their senior years have played throughout history to maybe have a clearer idea of how we can move toward an age-inclusive society.
Senior Citizens: What Are They?
Humans have the propensity to categorise individuals. In actuality, we have been classifying humans ever since the beginning of civilization.
Therefore, even if a person does not consider themselves to be elderly or senior, they will be classified as such when they reach the age of 65. This occurs for utilitarian purposes, making it just a societal construct as opposed to a specific biological stage.
Additionally, the chronological age that is meant by “old age” might change through time and among cultures. Unfortunately, “old people” and “old age” have a stigma attached, which is why various cultures throughout the world feel the need to invent euphemisms, such as:
- Seniors (American)
- Elderly people (British and American)
- Older people (In the Social Sciences)
- Elders and the aged (In various cultures, especially those of indigenous people)
- In the fall of life
- The final hours of life
- Life’s winter season
- The Golden Period
Many people find some of these labels to be patronising, and many dislike being referred to as elderly or senior citizens in any way. They would want to just be referred to as “old” and accept the truth that they are no longer as young as they once were. Others object to categorisation because they believe the word “old” has bad connotations. It’s a delicate issue in either case.
How Has the Position of the Elderly Changed Historically?
Where are we from? And how have older people’s responsibilities evolved? History reveals some startling and frequently depressing realities about ageing. Old age can be viewed as a source of wisdom and stature or as a decrepit stage and a source of suffering.
Ancient Eras
Though a few robust, healthy individuals lived to be 70 years old, most passed away before the age of 50. People who survived into their 40s were respected, while those who were frail were looked down upon, disregarded, or even slain. The term “old” was once used to describe someone who was no longer capable of performing meaningful duties, not because of their age.
Greek and Roman Classical Cultures
Beauty, power, and youth were prized above all else, whereas old age was considered a period of decline and decrepitude.
In the time of Aristotle, the Athenians frequently rebelled against the elderly because they did not like them.
Renaissance and Mediaeval Eras
Both of these periods did not prove to be the “golden age of ageing,” and there was frequently a negative attitude toward the elderly. Age was frequently portrayed as a terrible or feeble period of life. Depending on the situation, they can be “respected or reviled, revered or put to death.”
Chinese philosophy: Confucianism
We observe a more collectivistic attitude in Eastern thought, influenced by Confucianism, where family, the old, and conventional age hierarchies were valued more highly.
Latin and Mediterranean cultures
Another society that values seniors as important individuals is this one. While the breadwinners work outside the home, the elderly generation is frequently counted on to help with caring for the younger members of the family. As a result, even in their latter years, older people maintained a high level of integration.
Modern Era
Life expectancy has increased significantly throughout the ages, with men and women currently living an average of 79 and 83 years, respectively. However, the cultural prestige of seniors has fallen in contemporary Western nations. The elderly are frequently forced to move as a result of financial hardships or an inability to live independently as they live longer.
As a result, the UN proposed a human rights convention in 2011 that would particularly defend senior citizens. It is a truth that many family structures have undergone a significant shift, with more grandparents than children.
What Function Do Older Adults Play in Today’s Society?
Viewpoints on the elderly are always shifting, with regard and treatment ranging from culture to culture and evolving with time. Some societal segments, whether in Western or Eastern nations, could treat elderly people like a laundry list of things that need to be taken care of.
But despite having grey hairs and achy joints, they continue to serve as the unshakeable, rock-solid cornerstone of our civilization. It’s simple to understand that their significance goes beyond feeding and caring for the family, cooking, and watching over the grandchildren if we’re prepared to listen and learn.
Despite having weaker bodies, they have a vast reservoir of experience and knowledge that can serve as a lighthouse for younger generations. As the custodians of rich cultural history, they are also vital in passing along cultural values and maintaining customs to the next generation.
Fortunately, times are changing and younger generations are being raised in a new atmosphere that aims to safeguard the more senior generations. The fact that people from various cultural backgrounds are prepared to care for their old parents out of love, respect, and a strong sense of obligation is still essential to note, but there is undoubtedly much that we can all learn from one another.
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