Experience Of Old Age Research Articles

The Aesthetics of Aging: Visual Strategies and Narrative Form in Tanizaki'sDiary of a Mad Old Man

AbstractThis essay reads Tanizaki Jun'ichirō’s controversial novel Diary of a Mad Old Man (1961) for its contribution to discourses about aging masculinity and male sexuality in later life. The Diary meditates on the mental and physical vicissitudes of aging masculinity, arousal, control, and impotence, focused through the fictional diarist Utsugi's physical ailments and expression of libidinal intensities. The article argues for Tanizaki's depiction of male aging as an exercise in both disenfranchisement and agentive potential. First, it reads the aging process through aesthetic and visual strategies, which magnify the protagonist's cultivation of masochistic pleasure as a specific correlative of aging. The article demonstrates that the narrative uses the rhetoric of cinema and photography—central terms of reference in Tanizaki's work—to frame Utsugi's experiences of old age, and inform his erotic fantasies as stylized, staged performances. In conjunction with these visual modes, the novel draws on traditional Japanese aesthetics to conceptualize the potential affect and perverse empowerment of the aging experience. Second, it addresses the implications of narrative form, as the self-reflexive, first-person diary prioritizes the subjectivity of Utsugi's male old age, while the novel's final pages interrupt and thus alter the diary's significance as a private account of self-expression.

Nurses' common experiences of old age and intensive care: A qualitative study

Nurses' common experiences of old age and intensive care: A qualitative study Abstract. Background: Increasingly more people in the 80+ age group are receiving treatment in the ICU-setting. The related critical care nurses' experience has been the subject of very few studies. Aim: To better understand the everyday nursing practice in the care of old patients in the ICU setting, the knowledge of critical care nurses that guides their actions will be examined and presented in terms of their orientations and typologies. Method: Within the interpretative paradigm, three guideline-based group discussions were conducted with a total of 14 critical care nurses from an Austrian clinic. Data was analyzed using the documentary method according to Bohnsack. Results: Five orientations characterize the knowledge and the actions of critical care nurses relating to old patients: the respect for the patients' will, the search for ethical justification, the beauty of the job, the own reflection of professional actions as well as the perception of a partly misguided health care system. The superior action-guiding typology is advocacy in the representation of the very old patients' interests. Conclusions: The multi-faceted experiences of critical care nurses are characterized by personal, interpersonal, and structural challenges, but also by positive experiences. The findings offer approaches to improve the care situation for nurses as well as for old people in intensive care units.

Into the Looking Glass: The Mirror of Old Age in Beauvoir and Améry

Although the pandemic's early months were witness to a nearly unprecedented level of public concern for the plight of the old, such attention did not lead to much sustained analysis into either the concrete experience of old age or the many ways in which a greater knowledge of aging might prove instructive for rethinking the possibilities of contemporary philosophy and social change. The present paper seeks to pursue this otherwise neglected line of inquiry by recovering a previously unexplored episode from the history of social theory in which Simone de Beauvoir and Jean Améry set themselves before the mirror of old age in order to there explore reflections as inimical to their time as our own. For what this intertextual scene of contestation so clearly demonstrates is that the aging body is itself a body of knowledge capable of transforming the very ideologies and social systems that continue to deform the lives of old and young alike.

THE ROLE OF VIRTUAL PEER HEALTH SUPPORT IN ALTERNATIVE ILLNESS APPRAISALS AND PATIENT SELF-REAPPRAISAL AFTER CANCER

Abstract Technology is transforming how older adults find health-related support and get connected with others who cope with similar healthproblems. This study examined the relationship between virtual peer health support and alternative appraisals of illness experience in old age among people who use the Internet for cancer related support (N=157, Age Range: 50-79, Mean = 57). Regression models with interaction terms examined whether and to what extent virtual peer health support was associated with differential illness appraisal as well as and post-diagnosis self-reappraisal. Results demonstrated that a) perceived benefits of virtual peer health support is a significant predictor of self-reported self-reappraisal (β = .24, p < .01) b) appraisals of illness experience as a traumatic event and/or as a life challenge are both significantly associated with virtual peer health support (β = .18, p < .05 and β = .23, p < .01), and c) appraisal of illness experience as a personal growth growth opportunity is not significantly associated with virtual peer health support (β = .10, p < .23). These results suggest the statistical interactions of the virtual peer health support with illness appraisals are significant predictors of self-reappraisal post-diagnosis. Specifically, those who appraised cancer to have been a traumatic experience and/or life challenge for them perceived virtual peer support to be positively influential on their self-perception after cancer diagnosis, which is in contrast to those who perceived cancer experience as an opportunity for personal growth and thus possibly not deriving further significant additional benefits from virtual peer support.

The Importance of Place Attachment in the Understanding of Ageing in Place: “The Stones Know Me”

As academic literature has shown, there is a preference among older adults to experience old age independently, in their own homes, giving shape to what has been called ageing in place. This phenomenon links residence, life cycle, and the experience of old age. Although it depends on many factors (housing characteristics, the elderly's economy, or their social support, among others) it is based on place attachment as a key aspect, which comprises two different but interwoven dimensions: the home (private space) and the neighbourhood (social space), understood as an extended sphere of the home. Despite its importance, and beyond the consensus that the time spent in a place increases attachment to it, the processes whereby place attachment is constructed by the elderly and the role of the experience of neighbourhood are little known. This article intended to delve into the meaning of place attachment, its importance, and how it is built by the elderly population in urban areas. For this purpose, a qualitative study was conducted in Spain, selecting Madrid (the biggest city in the country) as a case study of how place attachment is shaped in an urban setting. To obtain in-depth information, data were collected through ethnographic interviews with 37 people aged 65-95 and 1 focus group among elderly aged 65-71. The most relevant finding of the qualitative analysis is the emotional significance of attachment to the local space as an element that enables continuity-as opposed to the rupture to which we associate old age- in the experience of the life cycle of the elderly. It should be noted that some of the results are conditioned by the specificities of Spanish society, particularly with regard to family ties. Potential extrapolations to other realities should take this point into account.

Wang Anshi and Song Poetic Culture

Wang Anshi and Song Poetic Culture

Subjective age and attitudes toward own aging across two decades of historical time.

A large body of empirical evidence has accumulated showing that the experience of old age is "younger," more "agentic," and "happier" than ever before. However, it is not yet known whether historical improvements in well-being, control beliefs, cognitive functioning, and other outcomes generalize to individuals' views on their own aging process. To examine historical changes in such views on aging, we compared matched cohorts of older adults within two independent studies that assessed differences across a two-decade interval, the Berlin Aging Studies (BASE; 1990/1993 vs. 2017/2018, each n = 256, Mage = 77) and the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS; 1995/1996 vs. 2013/14, each n = 848, Mage = 67). Consistent across four different dimensions of individuals' subjective views on aging (age felt, age appeared, desired age, and attitudes toward own aging) in the BASE and corroborated with subjective age felt and subjective age desired in the MIDUS, there was no evidence whatsoever that older adults of today have more favorable views on how they age than older adults did two decades ago. Further, heterogeneity in views on aging increased across two decades in the MIDUS but decreased in BASE. Also consistent across studies, associations of views on aging with sociodemographic, health, cognitive, and psychosocial correlates did not change across historical times. We discuss possible reasons for our findings, including the possibility that individual age views may have become increasingly decoupled from societal age views. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Turning grey is not a black-and-white experience: A phenomenological study on the lived experience of old age among Dutch Franciscan friars

The lack of constructive cultural narratives of old age impedes older people from giving meaning to any difficult circumstances related to aging in which they might find themselves. In this study, we attempted to shed a different light on experiences of meaning in older age to contribute to sources for constructive counter narratives by gaining insight into (the experience of) meaning in old age of Dutch Franciscan friars. The research was a phenomenological in-depth interview study among twelve friars (mean age 80.6 years) following a reflective lifeworld design. The three main themes that emerged from the analysis were (i) ‘brotherhood’, illustrating a strong, axiomatic sense of connectedness, (ii) ‘finitude’, illustrating individual and relational confrontations with daily and existential finitude, and (iii) ‘dynamic’, illustrating opportunities for new possibilities, personal growth and being able to be receptive of the ‘good’ in daily life. Our findings showed that aging is a multidimensional process that is not exclusively characterized by decline and loss, but also offers substantial opportunities to experience (new) meaning. Occasionally, meaning seemed to arise as a result of (physical) decline. Our results illustrated that under circumstances of connectedness and togetherness, frailty and dependency do not necessarily form a threat to one's autonomy. Connectedness also showed itself to be a source for authenticity, which reinforced the Franciscans as autonomous moral agents.

Ambivalence Among Intergenerational Relationships In Old Age

Family strain is associated with higher numbers of depressive symptoms and lower levels of life satisfaction. Leisure activities are observed to buffer the negative effects of family strain among younger adults, however, this phenomenon is understudied among older adults. This study examines the relationship between intergenerational strain and depressive symptoms and life satisfaction among persons aged 50 and older. The study also examines the moderating effects of gender and leisure activities. The analysis uses the Health and Retirement Study to addresses these questions. The results suggest that intergenerational strain (p=.000) and being female (p.=000), are associated with more depressive symptoms, while engagement in social leisure activities (p.=04) is associated with fewer. Intergenerational strain (p=.000) and being female (p=.03) are associated with lower levels of life satisfaction, while engagement in solitary (p=.000) and social leisure activities (p=.000) are associated with higher levels. Results from moderation models suggest that as intergenerational strain increases, women have lower life satisfaction and more depressive symptoms as compared to men (p=.000). Also, the association between intergenerational strain and life satisfaction is reduced among respondents who engaged in leisure activities (p=.002-social and p=.000-solitary). Further, the positive relationship between intergeneration strain and depressive symptoms is lower for persons who engage in leisure activities (p=.027-solitary and p=.013-social). Finally, women who engage in social and solitary leisure activities have fewer depressive symptoms than men (p=.037). The study findings imply that the subjective well-being of older persons may be improved in terms of intergeneration strain if they engage in leisure activities.

Visualizing Inclusivity: Aging Lifelong and Worldwide Through the Lens of Gerontology as Social Science

Abstract A new course actively engages students in applying social science to examine their own prospective aging and the aging of others. This Grand Project begins with self-assessment of their expectations for the “Future Self” at age 67, then conducting two structured interviews each followed by writing a “life story” – one of an US older adult and the other an imagined older adult from a different county. Comparative analysis of these three stories highlights the impacts of society, heredity, and choice on shaping the experience of old age. Each project is presented to the class. Seeing life from this personal “tour” of the “other” informs beliefs about differences. Students gain knowledge about gerontology as a social science and develop personal understanding of their own and others’ aging, a good step toward becoming comfortable with diversity and inclusivity. Ageism is the only “ism” guaranteed to include all who survive long enough.

Zadowolenie z życia słuchaczy uniwersytetów trzeciego wieku

The article aims at describing the relationship between the educational activity of the elderly and a more optimal way of experiencing their aging. That link can be justified by a higher measure of the overall level of satisfaction with their lives. The purpose of the study described in the paper was an in-depth analysis of the components of life satisfaction among actively learning seniors. A questionnaire survey was conducted with the voluntary participation of 405 third age university students (U3A). The authors collected data on the critical areas comprising individual well-being, illustrating the diversity in the experience of old age among active mature learners. Only 6.8% of the U3A learners are not satisfied with their life achievements. The study revealed that seniors with four or more children were most pleased, suggesting that self-actualization in the family and educational domains need not be competitive. The analysis of the health component of life satisfaction showed a clear overrepresentation of seniors with the good psychophysical condition. In general, successful ratings of the component measures of life satisfaction among the members of the researched group predominate.

Sustainable Ageing: Supporting Healthy Ageing and Independence Amongst Older Turkish Migrants in the UK

In the UK, as in many other European countries, the population is growing older, and older adults are becoming more diverse. As a result, there is a mounting interest in supporting healthy ageing and independence, acknowledging the needs and agency of older adults from diverse backgrounds, expectations, and life trajectories. Healthy ageing is promoted as a critical component of sustainable ageing to ensure meaningful social and economic contributions through the life course for all individuals. However, the definitions of healthy ageing are debatable. The public and policy discourse treat all older adults through generic and homogeneous models that do not consider the heterogeneity of experiences and perspectives of old age among different groups. In this context, independence has often been defined in terms of functional independence, i.e., cognitive and physical functioning, as a core construct of healthy ageing. However, this focus excludes older adults’ interpretations and day-to-day experiences of this concept. This article investigates the interpretation and lived experience of independence amongst older Turkish adults in the UK as a central explanatory concept of healthy ageing. Semi-structured individual interviews (n = 48) and community mapping workshops (n = 5) were conducted with 65 older Turkish adults in London, supplemented by interviews with professional service providers (n = 13) within the community. The data collection was conducted between March and November 2017. We identified three main themes integral to understanding healthy ageing and independence: 1—interdependency and having reciprocal care relations; 2—individual autonomy at home and choice in housing options; and 3—functional independence, mobility, and control over the physical environment. Independence appears to remain an essential element of healthy ageing. However, it is a fluid and complex construct constantly negotiated around personal and community resources. Therefore, there is a need to develop more comprehensive interventions that capture the diverse experiences in old age to enable healthy ageing and social sustainability. These are timely considering current policy directions such as the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Experiences of Old Age in Indian Fiction: A Study of Two Indian Short Stories.

In India, where around 19,500 dialects are spoken, there is a great abundance of fiction quite rich in varied descriptions of old age and aging. While scholars like Pramod K. Nayar and Ira Raja have recently begun studying Indian literary texts written in English from the perspective of literary gerontology, those literary experiences of aging (which are originally in languages like Bengali, Tamil, Hindi, Oriya, etc.) are yet to be analyzed from a gerontological point of view. The present paper aims at studying the experiences of old age in 2 Indian short stories (one from Bengali Literature and another from Tamil Literature)-Bibhutibhusan Bandyopadhyay's "Drabomoyee Goes to Kashi" ("Drabomoyeer Kashibash" in Bengali) and T. Janakiraman's "The Puppet" ("Vilayattu Bommai" in Tamil). Regarding "Drabomoyee Goes to Kashi," the paper interrogates the problems in the emplacement of Hindu older widows to Kashi and explores the possibilities in Drabomoyee from ecofeminist and creatural perspectives. The discussions on "The Puppet" chiefly reflect on the social exclusion of the aging bodies of people living with dementia. Through the story of Venu, the paper shows that what the society or family generally expects from the older persons suffering from dementia may not do any good to them, and may instead lead to their institutionalization and other forms of exclusion.

Ambivalence among intergenerational relationships in old age

IntroductionThis study focuses on ambivalence among intergenerational relationships in old age.ObjectivesThis study aims to analyze the perspectives of intergenerational relationships between older adults and adult children. For this purpose, a qualitative research was carried out, which analyzes these relations at a cross-national level.MethodsFour hundred and twenty four older participants aged 65-97 years, were interviewed. Participants were of three different nationalities and lived in the community. All the interviews went through the process of verbatim transcription and subsequent content analysis.ResultsTwo dimensions of generational ambivalence were revealed from the study; support and the conflict dimensions. Findings of content analysis produced six themes, which represent intergenerational relations between older adults and adult children: older adults-adult children interaction quality; family integration; care and support; definition of limits; distance and alienation; and communication difficulties.ConclusionsThis study highlighted the diversity of experiences in old age, in relation to intergenerational relationships and underlined the conflicting expectations from older adults in relation to their adult children.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Intergenerational relationships: do older adults experience ambivalence with their adult children?

ABSTRACT This study aims to analyze the perspectives of intergenerational relationships between older adults and adult children. For this purpose, a qualitative research was carried out, which analyzes these relations at a cross-national level. Four hundred and twenty four older participants aged 65–97 years, were interviewed. Participants were of three different nationalities and lived in the community. All the interviews went through the process of verbatim transcription and subsequent content analysis. Two dimensions of generational ambivalence were revealed from the study; support and the conflict dimensions. Findings of content analysis produced six themes, which represent intergenerational relations between older adults and adult children: older adults-adult children interaction quality; family integration; care and support; definition of limits; distance and alienation; and communication difficulties. This study highlighted the diversity of experiences in old age, in relation to intergenerational relationships and underlined the conflicting expectations from older adults in relation to their adult children.

Active Ageing across the Life Course: Towards a Comprehensive Approach to Prevention.

“Active ageing” has become the leading scientific and policy conceptualization of a later life over the past two decades in the European Union (EU). It has been used as a key strategy for responding to demographic ageing. In the United States, in contrast, discourses around successful ageing have been more prevalent. This review article charts the development of active ageing responses to demographic change, showing how the concept compares with the notion of successful ageing and other terms associated with “ageing well.” It identifies how, in practice, active ageing has been dominated by a narrow economic or productivist interpretation that prioritizes the extension of working life (to reduce the “burden” of population ageing). Such interpretations of active ageing undermine its value and emphasize the need for a more comprehensive approach which is set out. The development of the Active Ageing Index in 2012 provided a new analytical tool to promote evidence-based strategies towards population ageing. However, in practice, we show how it has not yet engaged fully with a comprehensive approach to active ageing or with the critical role of the life course in shaping the experience of old age. Nonetheless, this review article shows that the concept of active ageing still has an important role to play in our understanding of and responses to population ageing.

Modern urban and architectural solutions as an answer for the progressive aging of society

Modern urban and architectural solutions as an answer for the progressive aging of society The phenomenon of aging societies all over the world is getting significantly bigger in size. This stage of life will affect each of us to a lesser or greater extent, which is why it is so important to undertake large-scale actions that will enable active, peaceful and, above all, safe and dignified experience of old age. Investing in older social groups is, in fact, an action beyond generations, ensuring current younger generations with decent living conditions and a safe environment in the future. This article aims to analyze the forms of housing for older people in the world, taking into account their problems and needs. The most important aspects of the issue, which guided the execution of the assumptions, will be identified. These aspects should be taken into account when creating new senior architectural and urban solutions.

Elderhood by Louise Aronson: A Big Picture of Aging in America

Elderhood by Louise Aronson: A Big Picture of Aging in America

“I have no reason not to be happy”: The social and bodily conditions of positive aging for Latin-American men in Mexico

ContextLatin-American countries are faced with the challenge of trying to adapt to an aging population, which is exacerbated by the unequal access to income through social security. Previous research from Mexico has focused on the negative consequences of aging in contexts of social adversity. ObjectivesTo explore, describe, and characterize the lived experience of old age in Mexican retired men who, despite having diverse medical conditions and meager funds in retirement, led independent and fairly fulfilling lives. MethodsAn in-depth idiographic analysis was conducted following the experiential methodology of Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Ten participants (aged 65–81) were interviewed. ResultsTwo superordinate themes emerged as the subjective conditions for a positive experience in old age: (1) the conservation of social agency, and (2) the preservation of a strong bodily identity. Participants from different occupations prior to retirement depicted contrasting narratives. ConclusionsPerceived financial security, despite modest means, was the underlying condition upon which subjective experiences of old age was based. The results show that in countries like Mexico, there is a possibility to reimagine old age as a fulfilling stage in life.

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