Theories On Care for The Elderly

Theories On Care for The Elderly

Introduction

The older people experience both the positive and the adverse effects of the changing society. The kind of attention the aged received in the past years differs from the current one. In recent years, the aged had social value. Their relatives and the society members took care of them unconditionally. Nowadays, although they lack the love and attention they received from their closest families and friends, the aged still have privileges. The medical care, for instance, has dramatically improved. The current approaches to how people handle the elderly in society vary depending on several sociological theories.

The Functionalism Perspective

This perspective describes how a community operates to create an equilibrium. Each age group performs a role in society. The theory argues that active people with a lot of resources adapt better to old age (Grigoryeva,2019). The functionalism is subdivided into the disengagement theory, the activity theory, and the continuity theory.

The Disengagement Theory

In 1971, Hothschild came up with the disengagement theory. This theory explains that it is a natural phenomenon for older adults to withdraw from society. As people age, they enjoy more freedom from the needs of the community. They involve themselves in activities that divert their thoughts from their usual roles. These roles include marriage for women and work for men. However, although the senior people retire with age, hothschild (1975) criticized this theory because it does not account for the variation of people’s experiences as they age.

The Activity Theory

Havinghurst (1961) came up with the activity theory. He explains that social involvement and the activity level of the elderly is crucial in providing their happiness (Avalon & Romer 2018). Keeping older people active makes them happy. The older adults get satisfaction in replacing their usual roles with other activities. However, Lemo and Bengton (1972) criticized the theory because it does not apply anymore. Social activities are limited, and informal events such as hobbies provide a higher utility than regular activities.

The Continuity Theory

Atchley (1971) explains how the elderly make unique choices that maintain their consistency in their beliefs and character and their external relationships with people. They try to maintain a social balance in future decisions. This theory, however, has a flaw.it does not account for older adults suffering from chronic diseases. The model for the aging people hence fails to fit the ailing persons.

The Critical Or Conflict Perspective

This sociological perspective explains that older adults have to scramble for resources, just like the younger people. This struggle is because, in contemporary society, wealth belongs to a few influential people, while the rest of the people get marginalized during the wealth allocation. The elderly end up using the resources allocated for other population categories. For example, educational funds cater to the health bills for older people.

Modernization Theory

Formed by Cowgill and Holmes (1997), the modernization theory explains that the older adults have lost their power and status, unlike the past years., as a result, they have excluded themselves socially, due to modernization (Thompson, 2019). The extended families are not as active as they were.

Nuclear families have replaced them. People move away from their homes to work, leaving the care for the elderly a voluntary service. Individualism results in reduced energy to care for older people, who appear to be an economic burden.

Age Stratification Theory

Riley (1972) explains that people’s classifications vary depending on age, not achievements. The resources for the elderly reduce, making them depend more and submit the will of the society members. The society as well as dictates the character and behavioral norm. This theory, however, does not provide insight into other stratifications that intersect with age. Gender is a variable to understand aging. Women are affected by aging more than men since they have lesser financial resources and depend more on their physical attractiveness, unlike the men.

Conclusion

The changing times determine the quality of care people give to the aging members of society. Although the affection for the elderly seems to have reduced significantly, the elderly remains a vital part of a culture, which deserves all respect. The presence of older adults in a community is a reminder of people to appreciate these significant people in society.

References

Grigoryeva, A. (2017). Own Gender, Sibling’s Gender, Parent’s Gender: The Division of Elderly Parent Care among Adult Children. American Sociological Review, 82(1), 116–146. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122416686521

In Ayalon, L., & In Tesch-Römer, C. (2018).

Contemporary Perspectives on Ageism. Cham: Spring International Publishers.

In Peel, E., In Holland, C., & In Murray, M. (2018). Psychologies of aging: Theory, research, and practice. Cham, Switzerland Palgrave Macmillan

Thompson, W. E., Hickey, J. V., & Thompson, M. L. (2019). Society in focus: An introduction to sociology. Latnham Rowman and Littlefield.