Functionality Paper
Clinically, functionality refers to the physiological superiority of the overall state of actual practicability (Alwin & Hofer, 2013). As an individual begins to age there are several fluctuations that are expected to develop without being escaped (Alwin & Hofer, 2013). Gaining is directly connected with the consistent deficiency of body functions which might include motor management, reasoning, remembrance, and responsiveness. The changes can start mainly with their general capabilities to practice cognitive tasks. Some of the cognitive function that might be altered include operative memory, thoughtfulness, insight and long run memory. An individual may establish that the aging person is not capable of recalling individual’s names at ease as before (Alwin & Hofer, 2013). Forgetting the actual directions to specific places which they wish to access is usually a common occurrence which is an impact that is fueled by cognitive functionality loss. The coordination between hands and eyes will start to lower as age progresses. The occurrence of these changes makes it particularly hard for an individual to take proper care of themselves which steal their independence. Once the changes begin the affected person might acquire the sensation that their life’s superiority is being withdrawn based on the changes (Alwin & Hofer, 2013). Despite the fact that having an extended life is pricey, possessing positive social relationships and support is essential given that it is the only thing that can offer the aging person happiness, individuality, and superiority of life.
According to Carter (2016), the loss of functionality in every day’s living can best be described as the incapability to perform a given function within the assortment that is accounted as standard in regard to independent existence. When an aging person begins to lose their independence characteristic this changes impact the general life’s quality and perception. Cognitive functions are described as every mental procedure that incorporates figurative procedures like memory, sensitivity, imaginings as well as reasoning. In other words, cognitive functions involve both judgment aptitude as well as awareness (Albert, 2004). Attention being one of the mental functions that are particularly altered by the aging process refers to the capability of an individual to focus on a single objective or thought. When the individual’s attention starts to decrease it is usually very challenging to focus on activities that were once well known to them. Attention procedures are usually made of divided, discriminating as well as continued attention. Selective attention, in this case, refers to the capability to process and respond to numerous distinctive actions that operate at the same period (Albert, 2004). On the other hand divided devotion is the general capability to focus on more than a single task in a given period. When an individual’s capability to focus on different tasks is affected it is usually hard for the aging adults to focus on different activities as they would when younger. This is especially obvious when there is high demand for two pressuring tasks. When older persons are gaining the allocation of responses to the given activities is not usually accurate. Sustained attention is also impacted which is the capability to focus on quantified activities for a longer period time (Albert, 2004).
When an individual’s operational remembrance deteriorates this affects other distinctive body systems like language, long run memory, judgment making and problem resolution (Alwin & Hofer, 2013). With the distortion of the memory, the capability to recall previous memories or events becomes particularly challenging. In that for the affected persons recalling faces, names and a different location is a major signal of the loss. The memory loss is bound to exist in a limited time period which re-originate afterward. In some cases, an individual might not recollect their remembrance given that the issue worsens with the progression of time. An additional signal of memory distortion is language decline where the individual’s speech becomes slur as well as the incapability to form different terms (Alwin & Hofer, 2013). Attention, information dispensation rate and rapidity as well as the incapability to obstruct inappropriate data are the essential functions for effective cognitive tasks enactment.
Perception is an additional function that declines with aging which is impacted in two distinct ways. For some individuals, their world’s perception is likely to rise given that they develop a more improved obligation of the surrounding (Carter, 2016). It is universally established that an older individual holds more enhanced appreciation in regard to life as compared to a younger person on the basis that they have observed and experienced different things in their extensive existence. This does not imply that life is not appreciated by younger persons rather with aging an individual begin to gain comfort with all that they own. An individual’s independence is severely impacted by the general elderly effects (Carter, 2016). As the individual’s remembrance, movement, and the general functional capability start to reduce their general capability to care appropriately for themselves begin to lower. For example, the aging persons are characterized by eyesight decline and in this case activities such as driving which requires proper sight are affected. This can develop to be a major issue thus affecting the caregivers because it means that they become significantly dependent on other persons to direct them or perform certain activities on their behalf (Carter, 2016).
Activities which in the previous were primary routines like dressing, cooking, eating as well as cleaning becomes almost unbearable to be conducted without help. A single type of routine that in most cases are alters their independence is movement (Colón-Emeric et al, 2013). In other words, this implies that with declining movement coordination and poor sight this necessitates an individual to depend on others support as a means of survival (Colón-Emeric et al, 2013). This can be a major issue especially if there are not offered any kind of help or those that are close are unwilling to offer the needed assistance. In this context, most of them are faced with the likelihood of getting into long run care facilities. For most of these individuals, the transition that occurs from independence to dependency is usually challenging which might result in consistent stress or depression due to the development of a negative perception in regard to their existence. Independence refers to the general capability to accomplish tasks that one wishes to achieve without any given assistance (Colón-Emeric et al, 2013).
Based on Dias & Couceiro (2017) life’s quality is a dynamic concept that normally incorporates subjective analysis of both the desirable and the negative characteristics in life (Dias & Couceiro, 2017). In relation to health life’s quality can impact an individual’s health which might be physical or reasoning capabilities. Some elder persons are bound to experience desirable experiences that are mainly fueled by the provided care (Dias & Couceiro, 2017). In addition, this can be derived from their capability to move or accomplish certain routine activities. The selfless activities which mainly involves assisting others are bound to create a special sensation to the affected persons by improving their lives in general. When no effort is made in offering the required assistance the aging person might feel as if they do not matter based on the lack of adequate care which forces them to end in the care facilities. There is a possibility that in such cases individuals will develop a sense of loss thus getting into depression given that their existence turns to be stressful (Power, Dalton and Rice, 2013). As individuals age, they grow to be particularly sensitive to all issues that are associated with the physical and mental impairment. This leads to the general development of downward spiral thus affecting their lives. The recognition of such losses might create anxiety thus causing them to respond negative such as crying and screaming. In the quest of enhancing their physical and cognitive capabilities, it is good to create a comfortable surrounding that promotes independence (Power, Dalton, and Rice, 2013).
In summing up, the general aging reality is a thing that is likely to be faced by every individual. Based on medical advancement, the general existence is prolonged and of high quality but this does not imply that the aging person’s functionality changes should be underrated. In that, these people are emotionally affected by the functionality transition and in order to improve their lives physical, monetary and emotional assistance is necessary. Regardless of how well an individual handles themselves, the effects of aging cannot be evicted given that there are apparent likelihoods of reduced cognitive function. Life’s quality, perception, and remembrance are bound to be altered with aging progression (Dias & Couceiro, 2017). The changes affect the physiological performance which mainly results in the loss of important functionality abilities such as judgment, reasoning, and problem resolution. In this scenario, the most important aspect is offering support in accomplishing the needed activities which result in happy existence thus lowering issues such as resistance.
References
Albert, S. M. (2004). Public health and aging: An introduction to maximizing function and well-being. New York: Springer Pub.
Alwin, D. F., & Hofer, S. M. (2013). Handbook of cognitive aging: Interdisciplinary perspectives. Los Angeles [Calif.: Sage Publications.
Carter, K. E. N. N. E. T. H. E. P. H. D. (2016). Learn Psychology. Place of Publication Not Identified: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Cathleen S. Colón-Emeric, Heather E. Whitson, Juliessa Pavon And Helen Hoenig, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina. (2013). Am Fam Physician. 2013 Sep 15; 88(6):388-394.
Dias, G. N. F., & Couceiro, M. S. (2017). Active ageing and physical activity: Guidelines, functional exercises and recommendations. Springer.
Geoffrey A. Power, Brian H. Dalton and Charles L. Rice. (2013). Human Neuromuscular Structure and Function in Old Age: A Brief Review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2013.07.001.
