The aging process: what makes it successful?

Introduction

There are many reasons why an individual may or may not be successful in the aging process. But one thing is certain: The differences between a successful and an unsuccessful process are perceived in nearly every aspect of a person's life. The aging process begins the day of birth; and each person will experience biological, physiological, and social changes throughout life. Life experiences drastically affect how well one adjusts to the aging process.

In this article, two very similar individuals in terms of life history are compared. Both women-white, Anglo-Saxon Protestants-reside in a private, skilled nursing home, which manifests a very structured living arrangement.

Case history one

Mrs. Rider is an 88-year-old woman who has not adjusted well to old age. She has a very negative attitude toward life-living and aging. Her father died when she was 16 months old, and her mother could not support the family; as a result, Mrs. Rider and her sister, her only sibling, lived with various relatives throughout their childhood. Mrs. Rider has never recovered from the anger, bitterness, resentment, and feeling of rejection she developed at an early age. Her sister and she joined their mother when their mother remarried, and Mrs. Rider resided with her mother until her own marriage at age 30. Mrs. Rider was married for 57 years, but her husband and she had very little other than money to show for the marriage; she was a stenogapher, he was a printer. They worked hard and saved money, but they never traveled or bought anything other than necessities. They had no children.

Mrs. Rider insists upon staying in a private room in the nursing home, where she has been a resident for two years. Her husband, who entered the home with her, died a short time after admission. Mrs. Rider is suffering from arthritis and poor vision. Her meals are served in her room, and she associates only with nursing home staff, her sister, who visits occasionally (but who would visit more often if Mrs. Rider did not find fault with all family members and act depress ed during each visit), and her legal guardian who visits once a week. She refuses to leave her room for any reason, but appears to enjoy efforts by staff to read to her or just sit and talk. She is very demanding and difficult to please, and she has high expectations of all staff, including immediate response to her every request. Mrs. Rider states, "I can't understand why the devil is torturing me. I wish to die, and I have nothing to live for." On the surface, it appears that Mrs. Rider really does not have any purpose to her life.

Case history two