Oral History Paper
Introduction
Virginia is an eighty-five-year women whom I met while doing my internship with the Alzheimer's association this summer. We both share the same ambition about getting the word out about Alzheimer's. She has been a volunteer with the association since 2003. Virginia takes life day by day and believes that in order to age successfully you need to stay active in the things you love and to also learn new things. Virginia was born and raised in downtown Chicago, a few blocks from Wrigley Field. She and her family would try to go too at least one game a year. She is one of three children, being the middle child. She has a younger sister and an older sister which she is very close to both of them. Both of her parents have passed away leaving her and her siblings the only ones left. She isn’t one much on saving for the future, she believes that you have only one life and you should do whatever you want in life and enjoy it to the fullest. When I asked her what brought her life satisfaction, she said it was being able to stay active in her community with family, friends and several organizations. She loves to travel and take classes at the Center for Learning.
Concepts and Theory Some of the concepts that I have chosen to incorporate into the paper are adaptation, adult care, daily activities, retirement and I have chosen to incorporate the activity theory. I believe that these concepts and theory best fit Virginia’s busy life. The activity theory of aging was constructed on the basis of an individual’s life satisfaction directly related to his or her level of social interaction and/or the level of the activity. The activity theory states that people develop ideas about themselves based on their daily activities and the rolls that they play in life. According to the theory many people give up roles as they age. Many often move into roles that makes them question their self identity such as; retirement, becoming a widow or widower. And because
Virginia is an eighty-five-year women whom I met while doing my internship with the Alzheimer's association this summer. We both share the same ambition about getting the word out about Alzheimer's. She has been a volunteer with the association since 2003. Virginia takes life day by day and believes that in order to age successfully you need to stay active in the things you love and to also learn new things. Virginia was born and raised in downtown Chicago, a few blocks from Wrigley Field. She and her family would try to go too at least one game a year. She is one of three children, being the middle child. She has a younger sister and an older sister which she is very close to both of them. Both of her parents have passed away leaving her and her siblings the only ones left. She isn’t one much on saving for the future, she believes that you have only one life and you should do whatever you want in life and enjoy it to the fullest. When I asked her what brought her life satisfaction, she said it was being able to stay active in her community with family, friends and several organizations. She loves to travel and take classes at the Center for Learning.
Concepts and Theory Some of the concepts that I have chosen to incorporate into the paper are adaptation, adult care, daily activities, retirement and I have chosen to incorporate the activity theory. I believe that these concepts and theory best fit Virginia’s busy life. The activity theory of aging was constructed on the basis of an individual’s life satisfaction directly related to his or her level of social interaction and/or the level of the activity. The activity theory states that people develop ideas about themselves based on their daily activities and the rolls that they play in life. According to the theory many people give up roles as they age. Many often move into roles that makes them question their self identity such as; retirement, becoming a widow or widower. And because