What struck me as interesting was an article that stated that moderately consuming alcohol helps in reducing risks for older adults in terms of developing a physical disability. Even research was done which proved that older adults who drank alcohol moderately were better in active performances when it came to daily activities such as walking. However, the “twist” is that the older adults already had to have relatively good health to allow alcohol to work positively.
This information was attention-grabbing due to the fact that (and I was being naïve) I never really pictured older adults (age 60+) consuming alcohol. I suddenly realized I am in the wrong because I was stereotyping seniors as human beings who always need to be dependent on younger adults and who have trouble performing tasks due to their age. I forgot that we all are “social animals” (Mullaly 2007, p. 123) in this world and seniors do not just “do nothing” in their house.
People seem to treat seniors and people with physical disabilities similarly because of the fact that based on appearances; we think that they are always dependent on someone else. For example on the bus, when we sit in the very front it’s a norm that we should get out of our seat when a senior or a person with a physical disability comes on, or when a senior or persons with physical disability crosses a busy street we have that uneasy feeling that they need us for assistance. Whenever a visible obstacle is seen we simply jump to conclusions. A professor once said that we seem to treat older adults as if they were children. A common stereotype is that seniors are incapable of performing some tasks adequately. Believing that is inappropriate because of the fact that it belittles them and their capabilities. Having a physical disability or being of a certain older age is difficult because they are being limited and knowing that you are limited causes oppression; emotionally and socially. Someday we will be seniors and we too will face stereotypes and stigmas.
- Kristal
Mullaly, B. (2007). The New Structural Social Work (3rd ed.). Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford University Press Canada.
Peregrin, T. (2009). Drinking May Aid Senior's Mobility. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Vol. 109(4). Retrieved from <http://www.sciencedirect.com.proxy2.lib.umanitoba.ca/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B758G-4VXMFT2-6-1&_cdi=12926&_user=1068138&_pii=S0002822309002569&_origin=search&_coverDate=04%2F30%2F2009&_sk=998909995&view=c&wchp=dGLbVlz-zSkWA&md5=0cac4133ec2e6428a4233b41fc7d42b0&ie=/sdarticle.pdf>
Karlamangla, A. (2008). Light to Moderate Alcohol Consumption and Disability: Variable Benefits by Health Status. American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 169(1). Retrieved from <http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/169/1/96.full.pdf+html>
Shewchuk, R., & Rivera, P. (2004). Using Cognitive Mapping to Understand Problems Experienced by Family Caregivers of Persons With Severe Physical Disabilities. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, Vol. 11(3). Retrieved from <http://www.springerlink.com.proxy1.lib.umanitoba.ca/content/q37t875270826623/fulltext.pdf>
That was really interesting Kristal! My grandpa always use to say “a beer a day keeps me feeling okay.” I agree with you that we as a younger population tend to treat older persons as children. Just the other day I was in the grocery store and an older gentleman was walking around with who I assumed to be his daughter. She was constantly checking on him asking if he really needed the item that he had chosen, and really treating him like a 6 year old having to get permission to put something in the cart. It was really seeing this, and I wondered how it made the man feel. I mean at one time he was the one questioning his daughter about the things that she would put into the cart. Awesome topic!
ReplyDeleteAlyssa
Alyssa, what you said is very true! I always tease my mom saying one day I will be the one telling her what she can and can't do! For some people this is a reality, but not everyone requires assistance and to be treated like they are not able to make decisions.
ReplyDeleteMy mom loves wine, but she also runs everyday and eats healthy. I too have seen articles about alcohol being good for you (all those antioxidants!) but it is very important the stress that was put on drinking it in moderation and while staying active.