"Til Death Do us Part"
Growing old today does not mean the same thing as it did for our parents or grandparents. How we define our own aging may not even be the same as what our definition was when we were younger. As with anything else in our lives, the physical process of, and the attitudes toward growing older has changed with the times. It is because aging is inevitable factor in everyone's lives that the issues surrounding growing old are of major concern. Issues such as; changing health care needs for seniors; women's poverty; and the need to restructure the Canadian Pension Plan in order to successfully provide for future recipients are discussed frequently by our policy makers and by those in the media. There are many other issues that also deserve much attention and scrutiny by seniors and those who are responsible for making policies on the behalf of seniors. These include: workers in an aging work force, life in long term care institutions, ageism, abuse of the elderly and issues concerning the native elderly in Canada. While some of us dream about growing old with grace and
This is the key to continuity in Aboriginal communities"(National Advisory Council, 1994: 15). Most of today's Native seniors have experienced unhealthy living conditions for most of their lives: poor diet; inadequate housing, alcohol and tobacco abuse; familial instability; low self-esteem deriving from unemployment; family problems and stigmatized minority status; poor class resources; and lack of awareness of, or access to health services that focus primarily on the diagnosis and treatment of disease"(National Advisory Council , 1994: 41). With more people living into old age, the expectations of today's seniors are different from the expectations of seniors of 20 years ago. Elders today have problems finding suitable living arrangements because "there is no funding for senior citizens homes on reserve" (National Advisory Council, 1994:15) Seniors now have to live off-reserve in rundown homes or apartments, usually on welfare, receiving $159 every two weeks. Social Issues and Contradictions in Canadian Society. The elderly must be considered both consumers and partners in any action taken. However, it is important for a community to explore several factors and keep updated upon recent research. By contrasting elder abuse more closely to spousal abuse than child abuse, ageist attitudes can be avoided and can also ensure that seniors will be treated as independent adults. Senior men also have to contend with illnesses associated with the stress that they have been under as a result of many years of hard work. Research since then however, had shown that retirement has become a normal and expected life event that most people adjust to well. dignity, the realities of aging however, are often full of heartache, physical pain, and mental anguish. This situation does not, of course, describe the financial situation of all seniors.
Common topics in this essay:
World Book,
Advisory Council,
Seniors Canadian,
Elderly Growing,
Statistics Canada,
Institutions/Nursing Homes,
McDonald Hornick,
Pension Plan,
Financial Elderly,
Social Native,
health care,
elder abuse,
elderly women,
life expectancy,
advisory council,
world book,
native elderly,
abuse neglect,
national advisory council,
response 1993,
abuse elderly,
awareness response 1993,
community awareness response,
response 1993 11,
world book encyclopedia,
|
Acceptance Essays
