CHAPTER 3: The Social Consequences of physical aging

Age-related macular degeneration: loss of vision in the center of the visual field caused by insufficient oxygen reaching the macula. (Reference #8)

• Scholarly article about AMD can be found at-   http://www.eyeclectic.ca/resources/pdf/Nutrition-and-Age-Related-Mac-Degen.pdf

Diagram on changes that occur throughout aging

(Reference #1)

I chose to display this diagram as I feel that it has a very comprehensive outlook on various physiological changes that influence the physical aging that occurs throughout life.

Hearing loss and aging

(Reference #12)

I chose this video as the development of hearing loss for me, and likely many others, is something that is common-knowledge that it occurs, but perhaps not so much the actual process of the development of the issue.

Age-related cataracts: clouding of the lens of the eye, reducing sight and sometimes leading to blindness, requires surgical extraction of the lens. (Reference #8)

•   Internet site on the formation of age-related cataracts:  http://eyes.emedtv.com/cataracts/age-related-cataract-formation.html

Dementia: diminished ability to remember, make accurate judgments, etc. (Reference #8)

•    Internet site on aging and dementia:    http://www.aging-parents-and-eldercare.com/Pages/Age_Dementia_Symptoms.html

Poem by Unknown Author

May you find .....

May you find serenity and tranquility
in a world you may not always understand.
May you not become too concerned with material matters,
but instead place immeasurable value on the goodness in your heart.
Find time in each day to see beauty and love in the world around you.
Realize that what you feel you lack in one regard
you may be more than compensated for in another.
What you feel you lack in the present
may become one of your strengths in the future.
May you see your future
as one filled with promise and possibility.
Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience.
May you find enough inner strength
to determine your own worth by yourself,
and not be dependent
on another's judgment of your accomplishments.
(Reference #10)

I liked this poem because physical changes in aging, whether big or small, are inevitable to occur, but I think that it is important to take every change as an experience, and not dwell upon what you cannot do, but what you have done, what you can still do, and not what one views you as, but how you still value yourself.

if picture above does not show, the link to the crossword is: http://www.armoredpenguin.com/crossword/Data/2011.03/2319/23194732.162.pdf

I chose this chapter because the physical aspects of aging are something that I knew to be inevitable, but something that I did not know a great deal about. I knew that the typical changes can occur in loss of hearing to some degree, worsening of eye sight, and lessening in mobility, but I did not know any of the other common, or even uncommon, changes that can occur. I found this chapter to be very informational and learned a lot more about how eye site can deteriorate through things such as cataracts. I felt that the illustrations and videos included were valuable information on aspects of this process as well.