Ageing Phase of Life

 Last Name 1
First Name Last Name
Professor
English
Date
Ageing Phase of Life
Though ageing is an inevitable process, it is still surrounded by misconceptions
(Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2011) and, often, by the negative attitude (Lee, et. al., 2007).
Age-related changes are, primarily, associated with biological changes, changes in intelligence
(Stuart-Hamilton, 2007), and social changes. Gerontologists and psychologists pay much
attention to psychical and psychological changes in ageing people (Craik & Salthouse, 2008;
Binstock & George, 2006), as their understanding is an important prerequisite for successful
integration of ageing people in social life. Specialists agree that creating a positive image of
ageing is a pivot step to establishing communication between the generations and creating
harmonious community, so, it should be understood as an opportunity (Hilts, 1999), rather than a
test.
It is obvious that understanding the phenomenon of a “smash ageing” is about the
introduction of an open dialogue between psychologists and ageing people, which results in
building a body of theoretical and practical knowledge important for entering “happy ageing”
and establishing harmonious relations between the generations. The majority of specialists agree
that the notion “successful ageing” implies avoidance of disease or disability, maintenance of
physical and cognitive functions, and the active involvement in social life and interpersonal
activities (Luszcz, 2004). 
Last Name 2
The objective of this paper is to trace physical, social, and psychological changes which
occur in the life of the three individuals in their young-old and old-old phases of life; and to
explore their experience of the “successful ageing”. The paper is structured the way so to present
demographic information about the interviewees; physical, social, and psychological changes
which occur in their lives; and brief analysis of these changes. The letter is important for
“showing the formula” of “successful ageing” – the efficient integration of an ageing individual
in social and cultural life of his/her community.
Interviewees
 The following research covers the experience of the three interviewees in their youngold and old-old phases of life. All the interviewees consented to share their life-experience and
feelings with the interviewer. The interviews were conducted at the interviewees’ places, in the
calm relaxed atmosphere. Before the interview, all the participants were informed about the
objectives of the research and the further utilization of its results. Below, is the brief
demographic information about each participant.
1. N., 62-years-old, single female. The interviewee has a higher education and has been
working as a teacher in the boarding school for 35 years. Currently, the interviewee is retired.
She lives in her house alone and keeps in touch with her relatives on the phone. N. has an adult
son and two grandchildren. She visits them regularly, generally, once a month. Her son and his
family visits N. several times a year.
2. A., 78-years-old married male. The interviewee has a secondary education and has
been working as a railroad worker for 40 years. The interviewee is retired and lives in his house
in the country. He has two adult daughters who live separately. His elder daughter lives abroad, 
Last Name 3
and they keep in touch on the phone; while his younger daughter lives in the neighboring town,
and they get together twice a month.
3. L., 75-years-old widowed female. The interviewee has a secondary education and has
been working in the construction sector for 35 years. The interviewee is retired and lives alone;
she has no children or grandchildren. Currently, the interviewee keeps in touch with her relatives
on the phone; she visits her siblings living close to her place several times a month.
Ageing. Physical Dimension
 The process of ageing is primarily associated with physical changes in a body. Starting
at a cellular level, these changes affect almost all the human tissues and organs (Stuart-Hamilton,
2007). Cardiovascular diseases and respiratory problems can become constant companions of an
ageing individual. For example, according to the data of the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention (2007), in America, nearly one-fifth of people in young-old and old-old phases live
with coronary diseases, while 60% of women aged 70 and older have osteoporosis. In Australia,
older people often have diabetes and coronary diseases; depression is another constant
companion of an ageing individual.
The physical decline is often explained by the changes on molecular level and, so, is an
inevitable process. The experience, however, shows that these changes are individual
(Sawchuk, 2009) and their negative effect can be reduced to minimum. Analyzing the factors
accelerating the ageing process, specialists agree that physical activity and adequate diet (Perls &
S