1) How active are you in your community?Mary is a senior who lives in a Nursing home who took part in an interview regarding the lifestles of nursing homes. When asked if she felt a sense of community in the nursing home she replied, "In the nursing home, we take part in everything. And one day a week we have one of the people here they read the newspaper ..." After reading on about Mary's past life, I realized that everyone doesnt take part in everything. Just those who are interested. Mary was a house wife and took on a lot of responsibilities including taking care of her children while her husband was at work. She still enjoys interactions with people and agrees while being in a nursing home, her feelings of loneliness have reduced.
(Source)2) How do you feel internally on a daily basis?
Studies show that nursing homes are the last place that elderly want to live. When asked why, seniors replied "Although nursing homes can provide comfort, physical care, and reduce loneliness, they feel these homes are also a place of loss, both of privacy and independance.
(Source)3) How many old people live in poverty?
"Currently, 3.4 million seniors age 65 and older live below the poverty line. Millions more are barely making ends meet just above the poverty line." (2006):
(Source)4) How do old people view nursing homes?Most old people don't choose to go to a nursing home. In fact, most old people believe they won't end up in a nursing home. They view nursing homes as "places to help people who are unable to care for themseleves". Ofcourse they don't like to be told they can't take care of themselves.
(Source)5) What are your responsibilities? Studies have shown that the older you get, the less responsibilites you have. For those who live in a nursing home; they have almost none. But if it bothers them and they feel the need to get up and do things everyday, they can always help out with chores or volunteer to help set up games, organize activities, or even help clean up in the nursing home.
(Source)6) What are the leading causes of death for old people?1.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death among adults over the age of 60. Heart disease includes conditions such as heart failure, heart attack and heart arrhythmia that can cause the heart to beat ineffectively and impair circulation.
2.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death among seniors. It includes all cancers including, breast cancer, colon cancer, and skin cancer. Also included are the malignant blood and bone marrow diseases that cause leukemia.
3.
Cerebrovascular Disease. (More commonly know as stroke)
4.
COPD also known as chronic obstructive lung disease
5.
Pneumonia6.
Diabetes7.
Accidents8.
Septicemia refers to the presence of pathogenic bacteria in the blood.
9.
Nephritis (an inflammation of the kidney)
10.
Alzheimers(Source)7. Are old people sexually active?After an interview that examined more than 3,000 older men and women (the youngest in their late 50s; the oldest was 85), what they found is that most people — at least into their early 70s — are sexually active. Seventy-seven percent of older men said sex was important; 65 percent of women agreed. Most of those who reported being sexually active said they were having sex at least two or three times a month. That's about the same as what national surveys have found for younger people, ages 18 to 59. How often older people have sex doesn't change much from their 50s to their mid-70s. It also found that for varied reasons, women were significantly less likely than men to report being sexually active from age 57 on. Women were more often without a partner, for example, and were more likely to say they no longer derived much pleasure from sex. (
Source 1) (
Source 2)
8. How many older people live in nursing homes in the United States?
According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, slightly over 5 percent of the 65+ population occupy nursing homes, congregate care, assisted living, and board-and-care homes, and about 4.2 percent are in nursing homes at any given time. (
Source)
9. What percent of old people are widows?New study estimated that 80 percent of the elderly now living alone are women, and two-thirds of all elderly people living alone are widows. Among poor elderly people, 67 percent are widows. (
Source)
10. What are the main causes of suicides for old people?1. Presence of some mental illness like depression
2. Alcohol abuse
3. Presence of any long standing physical illnesses
4. Sudden loss of wealth or social standing
5. Feelings of social isolation from the death of a spouse
6. Availability of firearms in the house
(
Source)
11. What percent of the population is 65 and older?As of 2008 a little over 12 percent of the population in the United States is 65 or older. (
Source)
12. How expensive are nursing homes?In NYC, it costs about 340$ a day (that's if you're sharing a room with someone else) That's about 124,100$ a year. (
Source)
13. How long does the average person live?It greatly varies depending on country, sex, and life decisions (ovbviously those who drink, smoke, and/or work in hazardous places tend to live shorter than those who don't). In the U.S, woman usually live to about 77 and men about 76 (that's if they were healthy ..etc) (
Source)
After doing all this research I must say it really did open my eyes up a bit more about how old people live and affect our community. I also found out how the elderly people feel in their community whether it be at home, nursing home, jail, etc. The older people grow, the more 'unhappy' they get because they are no longer able to do the same things they used to do. Death is pretty much a closer welcoming and all in all the idea of growing older and becoming less 'able' is scary to them. You don't look the same nor do you have the same comfortablility in your own body. Everything's coming as a surprise. Some are in denial, some feel more depressed and some just can't wait for life to end because of all the depression. They are discriminated against and put in unfair stereotypes that aren't always true. In some cases they arn't the ones who make decisions for themselves (like when their own children decide whether or not to put them in a nursing home). They are most likely more prone to getting hurt and not being able to defend themselves (unless they're in good shape). They no longer have lots of choices therefore unable to make as much money and provide for themselves and possibly someone else. Their body is weaker and unable to fight off diseases or sicknesses that could possibly take their life. And last but not least, they feel 'out of touch' with the younger generation therefore a lot of them try to stay in touch by keeping up with technology, music, & their children/grandchildren. I think overall majority of them are unhappy with their lives but if given the choice or oppertunity would have it much different. I wouldn't say I sympathize with old people nor do I pity them but if in any way I can help them, I definately will. It sucks that people grow old without choice. To be honest if I had the choice I wouldn't want to grow old, especially not without a partner. I'd hate to feel internally lonely and be in denial.
