Physical Characteristics Paper

Physical Characteristics
Kathleen is more fit today than five years ago. She lost weight when she was diagnosed pre-diabetic. Since then she has made an effort to increase her physical activities for improved health. Diabetes has been one of Kathleen’s biggest health concerns, so she has addressed it with her doctor and having an understanding of what she can do to prevent it from progressing. Kathleen is not alone in this concern. As we age, our body needs to produce more insulin to process the glucose in our bloodstream. This causes the blood sugar levels in middle adulthood to increase and lead to adult onset diabetes (Rathus, 2015, p. 315). Stress levels for Kathleen are not necessarily increased or decreased from young adulthood. Raising children is stressful and now her children are grown and out on their own. However, as time goes by, the stress is about losing her parents increases as this becomes closer to reality.
Up until a few years ago, Aurora walked several miles daily.
Although she does daily activity to keep some level of physical activity, it is not at the same level it was. Being 90 years old, she has several health concerns, currently about her hearing. Her most recent doctor visit found inconsistencies in her hearing tests, so the next step is a specialist. The biggest concerns she has about her health is about the cost should medical needs not be covered through medi-care. Fortunately for Aurora and our family, she is experiencing normal aging, compared to others that live in her community that are experiencing pathological aging (Rathus, 2015, p. 358). Living in a community of older adults, she observes others with chronic diseases and deaths and that provides reminders of her own mortality. What she has learned from these experiences is that she has her funeral arrangements made and lives with
necessities.
Cognitive Characteristics
Kathleen’s math has improved, but feels that with her memory lacking, it has a negative impact on her communication skills. This frustrates her because she feels it impacts her intellectual abilities in some ways in regards to her memory. However she still loves to learn new things. Kathleen feels that by staying generally healthy and engaging in hobbies, reading, and playing games that make her think, she will keep her crystalized intelligence increasing with age. Flower arrangement, paint classes, and solitaire are a few of her hobbies. As administrative assistant to the Associate Superintendent for El Dorado County Office of Education, her career also keeps her fully engaged in learning. Technology is a part of Kathleen’s daily life, although she will tell you that she doesn’t feel she has the time to learn as much as she would. New technology is difficult for her to retain, so more time to learn it slowly would be her preference. When discussing Heinz’s dilemma, Kathleen indicated that as she has aged, there has been a realization that not everything is black and white. There is more grey in her world, less judgement, and more tolerance. Each person needs to have their personal sense of right and wrong.
Aurora’s verbal skills are excellent, but she feels that her mathematical skills have declined since her youth. Technology is difficult for her to learn, but she enjoys watching others on computers and understands how important it is in today’s society. Aurora loves her IPhone that allows her to text her family and receive pictures from her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Living on her own, this allows her to feel connected to her family on a daily basis. She understands technology enough that she will say “check your phone to find out how to get there” or “can you order something for me so it will come in the mail?” Although she will say her memory function has decreased, I rarely hear that she has forgotten anything. During our conversations, she doesn’t often forget current or past events. Aurora still enjoys learning new things, but she likes to have someone teach slowly and give her time to try what she is learning. Morality views have changed for Aurora over the years, but not great changes. She has more tolerance for homosexuality, couples living together before getting married, and similar situations. However she believes in respect for the family and appreciates when children have conversations about these and similar topics prior to engaging. This allows for the family an opportunity to understand situations.
Social Characteristics
Kathleen is married and has twin daughters that are 25 year old. Her parents and four brothers all live close which allows her to spend time with her family. She enjoys small group time and although she has several friends, most of her time is spent with family. Kathleen feels she is in Erikson’s stage of generativity. Although she is no longer bearing or rearing children, she is ready for grandchildren and works for the County Office of Education with a focus on programs for students with special needs. Parenting has become easier now that they are grown, but she remains close to both of her daughters and still provides guidance when they need it. Experiencing the “sandwich generation” has been a part of her current life, not on a living with them both at that same time, but caring for her parents who live nearby. Midlife crisis is something Kathleen is currently experiencing. She has defined it for herself as the “realization of finiteness of life”. While she is currently working through this crisis, she is hopeful that it will not last too much longer. Prayer, exercise, and friends are what she uses to get through.