Reply to the following response with 200 words minimum. (please make response as if having a conversation, respond directly to some of the statements in below post. This is not providing an analysis of the original post. Respectfully address it and even ask clarifying or additional questions.)
1.
Of course, we know this terrible day to be tragic and frightening regardless of age or socioeconomic status. To be 85 years old and have this many ailments, the level of fear combined with the unknown fate would be amplified immensely. On average, 27 percent of people who are 85 years and older live alone, while it is highly likely that nursing home care is required (Psyc 200, n.d.). Regardless of whether I lived alone or was under the care of nursing home staff, knowing how expeditiously I was removed from harm depends on others, is rather terrifying. In cases like this, selfless acts can really go either way. Uncommon bravery could become customary or it could be every man for himself as their level of fear rises. One will really not know how they would react in such a situation. Speaking about the level of courage you have or would like to have, does not always pan out that way when the conflict arises.
It is highly likely that required medications would soon need to be taken and possibly filled, meals prepared and groceries would need to be shopped for, along with other errands. Clearly, I depend on someone to help me. I would be scared, worried and nervous. All of these feelings is excess could pose adverse effects on my old and frail body. That along with the probability of death increasing substantially with a lack of food, medication and proper care.
In reality, the level of chaos around the city and the help those in dire need required, the time it would take for someone to get to the home of each elderly person to administer the proper care would take a considerable amount longer than usual. Especially in this case, as people wait for the “all clear” there will be reluctance due to the severity of the incidents that took place.
Regardless, my mobility isn’t the best, but I would still make efforts to eat, use the restroom and get around the house accordingly. I would not try to leave or do anything outside my comfort zone in regard to my capabilities. In some cases, being calm and collected will prove to be advantageous. Having hope in this situation, is really what is going to get me through.
Reference
Psyc 200 Lifespan Psychology. Authored by: Laura Overstreet. Located at: http://opencourselibrary.org/econ-201/. License: CC BY: Attribution
2.
During September 11, 2001, there was a terrorist attack whereby 19 militants who are members of the extremist al-Qaeda group hijacked four airplanes and executed a suicide attack against the United States which was the main target. One of the challenges that I faced as a frail is that I experienced sadness and shock as a result of the incident (Sterns, & Bernard, 2009). Since I did not have a car, I would not be in a position to move out of the New York City to another place. The incidence thus had a great psychological impact on me. I experienced emotional trauma due to the disaster. As a result of the shock, I developed physical symptoms characterized by severe stomach and headache. I also experienced the feelings of sadness since I did not have a solution to the problem and I was not aware of how I could solve the issue.
The other challenge that I experienced on that day is the lack of appetite (Cefalu, 2014). This was due to the emotional as well as the mental disruption resulting from the terrorist attack. Being a frail elder, I have trouble walking around from one place to another. I experienced lots of tension as I glared at the screens watching on the updates on the issues that were taking place. Remaining calm and relaxed was difficult. Although I did not have a solution to the problem and I could not have taken any action to assist in this, I was stressed by the situation, and this resulted in the loss of appetite. The thought of this was sickening. I also experienced difficulties sleeping due to the fear of the unknown. I was also nervous , because my medications run out. I didn’t want to die. I didn’t have any food, nobody to help. I felt so lonely, but tried to keep calm and hopeful for the help to come soon. I used whatever I had in a house to survive.
Cefalu, C. (2014). Disaster preparedness for seniors : a comprehensive guide for healthcare professionals. New York, NY: Springer.
Sterns, H. & Bernard, M. (2009). Gerontological and geriatric education. New York: Springer.
3.
Hello class,
I actually lived in upstate New York in Fishkill during the September 11th, 2001 attacks, however, I was 12 years old. I have a lot of family who lives in the Bronx in the city especially my grandparents who didn’t drive or own a car but were not 85 at that time. They were in their 70s at that time and I will be using some of their experiences that they faced. If I were to imagine that I was 85 years old living in New York City who was frail and didn’t own a car my first concern would be worrying about my children or grandchildren if they lived in the city and traveled for work or school within the city by train or bus. Therefore, the stress of worrying about my family and myself can be a special challenge in itself because it can cause an increase in blood pressure. If I had high blood pressure problems which impact 17.1 percent of individuals over the age of 75 and rates higher in women then this can be an issue (“Module 10: Late”, 2017). Communication might have been difficult during that time as well making it harder to contact people, especially if I relied on my children or grandchildren for any of my special needs. Other issues I may face could be visual problems since I have current visual problems now it may be an issue for me later. According to our readings, the most common causes of vision loss in older adults can be due to glaucoma, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy (“Module 10: Late”, 2017). Some other challenges I could face is mobility issues such as having arthritis, if I needed to get out of the place I was living in it could be difficult. With arthritis impacting me which can cause swelling in the joints and connective tissues it can limit my movement (“Module 10: Late”, 2017). If I was living on my own perhaps, I would probably be living in a building and some of the older buildings may not have elevators so taking the stairs may be dangerous as well. Arthritis in late adulthood is most common in women than men that increases as the individual ages and about 19.3 percent of individuals over the age of 75 are disabled because of arthritis (“Module 10: Late”, 2017).
-Elena
References:
Module 10: Late Adulthood. (2017, October 18). Retrieved February 13, 2018, from https://apus.intelluslearning.com/lti/#/document/111087590/1/ae0ec0f6e82c176f92ecac1fa266e05e/724ade2e61677029d30a003819e11d57/browse_published_content/7796/22061/62253/1/lesson/lesson?hideClose=false&tagId=39759&external_course_id=366632&external_course_name=PSYC343%20B001%20Win%2018
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