THEORY OF AGEING

PROCESS OF AGEING

Ageing is a natural process that begins at birth, or to be more precise, at conception, a process that progresses throughout one’s life and ends at death. It’s a constant, predictable process that involves growth and development of living organisms.

Ø Types Of Ageing

There are four types of ageing as listed below:

1.    Ageing : It is due to natural changes and the result of disease. Also known as “Primary Ageing”, it refers to the changes in human functional capacity due to changes in cells and tissues.

2.    Psychological Ageing : It refers to continues growth and change in cognition and personality. This change in cognition affects person’s ability to process the information and their susceptibility to Persuasion.

3.    Social Ageing : It refers to changes in social relationships that define social status within a society, power relationships  within social groups and various roles people are expected to play at various stages of life.

4.    Secondary Ageing : It results from negative environmental influences, poor diet and disease, lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, environmental pollution, stress and unhealthy activities like smoking and drinking, and exposure to hazardous materials.

Characteristics Associated With Successful Ageing

1.    Selective Optimization and Compensation : Is a strategy for improving health and well being in older adults and a model for successful ageing. It is recommended that seniors select and optimize their best abilities and most intact functions while compensating for declines and losses. For example: “an elderly person with fading eyesight who loves to sing could focus more time and attention on singing, perhaps by joining a new choir (group of singers), while cutting back on time spent reading. Overall, this model suggests that seniors take an active approach in their ageing process and set goals that are attainable and meaningful.

2.    Optimism: Optimism refers to the ability to preserve high level of performance by continued efforts and added experience. Maintaining an optimistic frame of mind is associated with higher levels of life satisfaction and lower levels of depressive symptoms in later life.

3.    Self Challenge: Seeking new challenge is a primary feature of successful adjustment at any age. The key challenge for older people is not to do loss but to do more of the things that matters most to them.