My Aging Model
If an ideal model for aging could exist, Mrs. Madeline J. Shanks would exemplify it. At the age of 78, she remains active not only in her senior complex but continues to volunteer in her surrounding community. Involved in many different activities, she manages to volunteer, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy life all at the same time. Looking back, she accredits much of her success in aging to her healthy diet and lifestyle all throughout her life.
At a young age, her family immigrated to the United States from Scotland and continued their traditional lifestyle which included a diet consisting of "meat, potatoes, and veggies with no dessert." Her daily activities as a child included playing outdoors and extensive periods of walking …show more content…
which further reinforced her healthy lifestyle. Sticking to a consistent and healthy diet, Mrs. Shanks continued to cook for herself, rather than dining out, often cooking large portions and freezing the rest for future meals. Through her midlife, she continued to remain active with her husband participating in various activities including frequent trips to Lake Eerie and the Ohio River to water-ski as well as other various water sports. To say the very least, Mrs. Shanks led an active and busy life.
Even at 78, the negative effects of aging have not truly impacted her daily life. By engaging in activities and keeping herself busy, her body and mind are in constant use. Keeping her mind and imagination active with mystery novels and other fiction improves her vocabulary pool while Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are spent volunteering as a reading tutor for the local elementary school. As an active participant in many of the senior activities, she has been on the Activities Committee in her senior complex for several years, organizing monthly dinners as well as trips to the planetarium, various restaurants, bakeries and more. During the summer months, she and her good friend Mrs. Makai frequent the nearby park, taking long strolls, and listening to special programs that are put on such as "Music in the Park." Over the years, she has become a regular participant in the Senior Olympics, taking part in ping-pong, basketball free throw, and even shot put, accumulating numerous medals, "but more silver and gold than anything else."
The energy and joy in life that Mrs. Shanks has found in her golden years is incredibly uplifting and encouraging. Prior to the interview, there was the negative assumption that any senior over the age of 75 would exhibit dramatic increases in hearing and memory loss. However, there were little to no signs of such deficits. I had also expected that it may be more difficult for her to hear my voice which is higher pitched. However, very few instances did she ever ask me to repeat or rephrase what I had asked. Though hard to differentiate over the phone, she spoke in a loud and clear voice and was able to articulate her voice with adequate intensity as well as fluency. The minor instances where she did forget small details dealt with the formal names of the tutoring/volunteer program and other items that did not pertain to her immediate self. As we learned that seniors are more attentive to details and conversation directly concerning their life, it was no surprise as this piece of information did not pertain to her.
Overall, Mrs. Shanks was able to keep up in speech and active conversation. One exception was her verbal expression and pragmatic use of certain proper nouns, more specifically, her naming abilities. This was present throughout the conversation beginning with her reference to her "good friend," Mrs. Makai who remained unnamed until another question prompted the use of an actual proper noun. In reference to her son and grandchildren, names were never used until the specific question was asked. This change was also noticed in latter conversation concerning her grandson's musical instrument, which was not disclosed until more specific questioning. The continuous use of pronouns demonstrated a slight reference problem in her overall verbal expression. Though these slight differences were noticed, they could have also occurred due to other factors. This was the very first time that contact was made and could have increased the referent use of pronouns rather than proper nouns.
Prior to this interview, much of my experience with seniors extended from the contact with my grandparents.
After battling breast cancer in her late midlife, my grandmother is now once again healthy. My grandfather, however, experienced a downward digression of health due to a rare form of Parkinson's disease. Now at the age of 76, my grandmother continues to take art classes, attend frequent bible studies, and participate in various volunteer projects. She takes part in exercise activities such as Tai Chi, long brisk walks, and other basic stretches. Therefore, the expectations that I previously held were of a wide range. However Mrs. Shanks has extended my view of what a positive attitude, healthy diet, and plenty of lifelong exercise can accomplish. Despite these marginal declines in verbal expression and memory, Mrs. Shanks has demonstrated the ideal path to grow older and wiser. She constantly strives to better herself whether it is through consistent exercise to her body or brain. As an avid reader, she is constantly reading, doing jigsaw puzzles or playing games on her computer. Together, she and Mrs. Makai are now in their second round of a 10 week law class taken at the local community center, enabling them to ask questions and expand their knowledge of law. Able to break through the typical stereotypes of an old and decrepit senior, she claims she still feels like she is in her 40's and "can't wait to experience hopefully a couple
more.
It is evident that a healthy aging process must be an extension of a healthy lifestyle. This can be dependent on the stresses that are placed in life including career, nutritional diet, and healthy exercise. In order to achieve the ideal golden years, it is necessary to take these measures while we are still young and to make goals to utilize our bodies at a healthy rate. This extends to exercising our minds and continuing that process well into out 60's and 70's. Mrs. Shanks has taught us that it is possible to love and enjoy every life stage as it comes.
At a young age, her family immigrated to the United States from Scotland and continued their traditional lifestyle which included a diet consisting of "meat, potatoes, and veggies with no dessert." Her daily activities as a child included playing outdoors and extensive periods of walking …show more content…
which further reinforced her healthy lifestyle. Sticking to a consistent and healthy diet, Mrs. Shanks continued to cook for herself, rather than dining out, often cooking large portions and freezing the rest for future meals. Through her midlife, she continued to remain active with her husband participating in various activities including frequent trips to Lake Eerie and the Ohio River to water-ski as well as other various water sports. To say the very least, Mrs. Shanks led an active and busy life.
Even at 78, the negative effects of aging have not truly impacted her daily life. By engaging in activities and keeping herself busy, her body and mind are in constant use. Keeping her mind and imagination active with mystery novels and other fiction improves her vocabulary pool while Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are spent volunteering as a reading tutor for the local elementary school. As an active participant in many of the senior activities, she has been on the Activities Committee in her senior complex for several years, organizing monthly dinners as well as trips to the planetarium, various restaurants, bakeries and more. During the summer months, she and her good friend Mrs. Makai frequent the nearby park, taking long strolls, and listening to special programs that are put on such as "Music in the Park." Over the years, she has become a regular participant in the Senior Olympics, taking part in ping-pong, basketball free throw, and even shot put, accumulating numerous medals, "but more silver and gold than anything else."
The energy and joy in life that Mrs. Shanks has found in her golden years is incredibly uplifting and encouraging. Prior to the interview, there was the negative assumption that any senior over the age of 75 would exhibit dramatic increases in hearing and memory loss. However, there were little to no signs of such deficits. I had also expected that it may be more difficult for her to hear my voice which is higher pitched. However, very few instances did she ever ask me to repeat or rephrase what I had asked. Though hard to differentiate over the phone, she spoke in a loud and clear voice and was able to articulate her voice with adequate intensity as well as fluency. The minor instances where she did forget small details dealt with the formal names of the tutoring/volunteer program and other items that did not pertain to her immediate self. As we learned that seniors are more attentive to details and conversation directly concerning their life, it was no surprise as this piece of information did not pertain to her.
Overall, Mrs. Shanks was able to keep up in speech and active conversation. One exception was her verbal expression and pragmatic use of certain proper nouns, more specifically, her naming abilities. This was present throughout the conversation beginning with her reference to her "good friend," Mrs. Makai who remained unnamed until another question prompted the use of an actual proper noun. In reference to her son and grandchildren, names were never used until the specific question was asked. This change was also noticed in latter conversation concerning her grandson's musical instrument, which was not disclosed until more specific questioning. The continuous use of pronouns demonstrated a slight reference problem in her overall verbal expression. Though these slight differences were noticed, they could have also occurred due to other factors. This was the very first time that contact was made and could have increased the referent use of pronouns rather than proper nouns.
Prior to this interview, much of my experience with seniors extended from the contact with my grandparents.
After battling breast cancer in her late midlife, my grandmother is now once again healthy. My grandfather, however, experienced a downward digression of health due to a rare form of Parkinson's disease. Now at the age of 76, my grandmother continues to take art classes, attend frequent bible studies, and participate in various volunteer projects. She takes part in exercise activities such as Tai Chi, long brisk walks, and other basic stretches. Therefore, the expectations that I previously held were of a wide range. However Mrs. Shanks has extended my view of what a positive attitude, healthy diet, and plenty of lifelong exercise can accomplish. Despite these marginal declines in verbal expression and memory, Mrs. Shanks has demonstrated the ideal path to grow older and wiser. She constantly strives to better herself whether it is through consistent exercise to her body or brain. As an avid reader, she is constantly reading, doing jigsaw puzzles or playing games on her computer. Together, she and Mrs. Makai are now in their second round of a 10 week law class taken at the local community center, enabling them to ask questions and expand their knowledge of law. Able to break through the typical stereotypes of an old and decrepit senior, she claims she still feels like she is in her 40's and "can't wait to experience hopefully a couple
more.
It is evident that a healthy aging process must be an extension of a healthy lifestyle. This can be dependent on the stresses that are placed in life including career, nutritional diet, and healthy exercise. In order to achieve the ideal golden years, it is necessary to take these measures while we are still young and to make goals to utilize our bodies at a healthy rate. This extends to exercising our minds and continuing that process well into out 60's and 70's. Mrs. Shanks has taught us that it is possible to love and enjoy every life stage as it comes.