My Own Philosophy of Aging
I believe the onset of old age cannot be defined universally because it varies from one context to another. I think it is not enough to define old age by denoting the number of years that one has lied. Instead, I believe old age set in when a person is no longer able to perform the roles that they used to and therefore has to adopt new roles. So, in my opinion, a person is said to be old when they have lost functionality, and they are no longer able to make active contributions to society.
I think older people are in an infirm state that makes them very dependent. This is because aging comes along with a gradual decrease in the physical as well as mental capacities of the individual. Aging also increases the vulnerability of the individual to quite a number of diseases, which ultimately leads to death. Most older people are frail and require significant help from their caregivers. The other factors that render older people decrepit are the losses that are associated with aging. These losses include retirement, loss of friends, loss of spouses, and loss of property, among many other losses. It is, therefore, essential to consider approaches that ameliorate these losses to help older people cope with these losses.
Description of an Old Person that I know
Jane (not her real name) is a 70-year-old lady who started developing symptoms of depression due to being lonely at her home after the death of her husband. Her children work far from their home and are therefore not able to stay with her. She stays with a nanny who helps her with the house chores. Her daughter, therefore, recently hired an in-home caregiver for her mother because she knew leaving home for an elderly care facility would not be a good idea because she wanted her mother to age in place surrounded by her personal belongings and all other familiar places and things around their home. This is because she wanted her mother to obtain help in the safest and most comfortable way.