10.3: Phases of Aging
In modern U.S. society, appearance is not a reliable indicator of age. Hair dyes, Botox, and the like make traditional signs of aging increasingly unreliable. While enhancing our appearance can be personally rewarding for lots of reasons and is a very personal choice, how many older people try to look younger in order to feel more accepted in society? Why do we, as a society, shame the aging process and make attempts to hide the fact that we age? An old saying goes like this: "Do not complain about getting old. Some people are denied the privilege."
The Young-Old, Middle-Old, and Old-Old
In the United States, all people over eighteen years old are considered adults, but there is a large difference between a person who is 21 years old and a person who is 45 years old. More specific breakdowns, such as “young adult” and “middle-aged adult,” are helpful. In the same way, groupings are helpful in understanding older adults who are often lumped together to include everyone over the age of 65. But a 65 year old’s experience of life is much different from a 90 year old’s.
The United States’ older adult population can thus, be divided into three life-stage subgroups: the young-old (approximately 65 to 74 years old), the middle-old (ages 75 to 84 years old), and the old-old (over age 85). Today’s young-old age group is generally happier, healthier, and financially better off than the young-old of previous generations.
In the United States, people are better able to prepare for aging because resources are more widely available. Many people are making proactive quality-of-life decisions about their old age while they are still young. In the past, family members made care decisions when an elderly person reached a health crisis, often leaving the elderly person with little choice about what would happen. Older adults are now better able to choose housing, for example, that allows them some independence while still providing care when it is needed. Living wills, retirement planning, and medical power of attorney are other concerns that are increasingly handled in advance.
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10.3: 衰老的階段
在現代美國社會,外表並不是年齡的可靠指標。染髮劑、肉毒桿菌毒素等使傳統的衰老跡象越來越不可靠。雖然出於多種原因,改善我們的外表可以對個人有所回報,並且是一個非常個人的選擇,但有多少老年人試圖看起來更年輕,以便感覺自己在社會上更容易被接受?為什麼作為一個社會,我們為衰老過程感到羞恥,並試圖掩蓋我們衰老的事實?有句老話是這樣說的:“不要抱怨變老。有些人被剝奪了特權。“
年輕-老年、中年-老年、和 老年-老年
在美國,所有18歲以上的人都被認為是成年人,但21歲的人和45歲的人之間存在很大差異。更具體的拆分,例如「年輕人」和「中年人」,會有所幫助。同樣,分組有助於理解老年人,他們經常被混為一談,包括65歲以上的每個人。但65歲的人生經歷與90歲的人生經歷大不相同。
因此,美國的老年人口可以分為三個生命階段的群組:年輕老年人(大約 65 至 74 歲)、中年老年人(75 至 84 歲)和老年老年人(85 歲以上)。今天的年輕人通常比前幾代人更快樂、更健康、經濟狀況更好。
在美國,人們能夠更好地為老齡化做準備,因為資源更廣泛地可用。許多人在年輕時就對自己的老年做出積極的生活質量決定。過去,當老年人遇到健康危機時,家庭成員會做出護理決定,這往往讓老年人對會發生什麼幾乎沒有選擇。例如,老年人現在能夠更好地選擇住房,使他們能夠在一定程度上獨立,同時在需要時仍能提供護理。生前遺囑、退休計劃和醫療授權書是越來越多地提前處理的其他問題。