The Theory: Concepts

GRACEFUL AGING by Letty Kuan

Major Concepts

Person

(Elderly) -  is a classification of age group to any person reaching the mid 70‟s up to the80‟s

(Gerone) - given to people who are old but gracefully able to function as useful citizens at

home and in the community and an exemplar in fidelity to prayer life

Nursing – is preparing the person to have fulfillment in their retirement years, and assisting them in their elderly years in leaving a legacy

(“...To serve a people who are retired, retirement and needs to retired, how many are happy, how many served to retired depending of what you have acquired.”

“...sharing, you are trying to understand...”)

Environment

Health -  is defined as aging. It is a slow process of growth towards maturity of mind, body and spirit. Growing old is reaching a “happy plateau” but one must understand and accept what is aging. It brings a decreasing amount of energy over long periods of activities; hence slowing down and moderation in our activity involvement is one reality of aging we all must realize and accept it is a fact to reckon with that what is desirable is to feel comfortable with one’s age and never should one aspire to become caricatures of either age or youth . Aging is a reality and must be accepted as a process towards fulfilment of a total self. Developing positive attitudes towards aging while still young contributes a great deal to feeling comfortable while growing old.

Graceful aging leads the person in leaving a legacy. Legacy is influenced by element's of life early imprints and the factors of the aging process. Surviving the the struggles and crisis in life enables the person to leave a legacy.

(“...legacy that you are going to give...”

“...acquisition, good training, good formation. A good training, education, good childhood will lead early entry of legacy...”

“Hindi sila madamot, hindi masyadong maingay. May mga demanding because they have been very sad, traumatic or wala silang acquisition.”

“...dependent on  what you have acquired, very nice childhood ,recognition appraisal...”

“...equipped  you when struggle or crises will come  in ,you are able to survive ,to overgo then you enter to a Life of Legacy...”

“...Legacy is sharing, kindness, people will see that you have something, meron kang legacy to give ,you have knowledge to share. Kaya earned talaga yan, what to acquire.” )

Key Concepts:

Nursing is preparing the person to have fulfillment in their retirement years, and assisting them in their elderly years in leaving a legacy. The nurse helps the person survive the struggles and crisis in life to lead the person in attaining graceful aging.

Aging Process is Dependent upon Many Factors:

1. Healthy genetic background

2. Happy, fulfilled, childhood foundation

3. Successful middle aged life experience

4. Healthy surroundings

5. Relaxation

6. Recreation and nutrition

7. Had been recipient of being recognized, appreciated and honored with love

8. Has attained a mastery of knowing oneself and a mastery of a skill, in any category so long as

the person feels recognized and appreciated for the contribution done to self, family, community

and society.

9. Grows closer to divine worship regardless of religious affiliation; the person is attuned to God

who is all goodness, kindness, humility and love.

10. Connectedness with others, it is a big social support that makes life worth living for.

Elements of Life’s Early Imprints:

1. Importance of Love

2. The hug-factor

3. Good parental and sibling modeling roles

4. The sense of humor and relaxation

5. The value of work and prayer life, growing closer to God who loves us tremendously.

Determinants:

1.      Health Status - refer to physiological and mental state of therespondents, classified as either sickly or healthy.

2.      Income - (economic level refers to the financial affluence of therespondent which can be classified as poor, moderate or rich.

3.      Work Status

4.      Family Constellation - means the type of familycomposition described either close knit or extended family wherethree more generations of family members live under one roof; ordistanced family, whose member live in separate dwelling units; ornuclear type of family where only husband, wife and children livetogether

5.    Self-preparation

Application: Clinical Perspective

After establishing nurse-patient relationship, we need to assess their health status, economic level, work status, family constellation, and self-preparation. We gather information of their developmental stages of life such as childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and their present state. We facilitate them in identifying their needs that influence the factors in the aging process. Once they identified their needs and are motivated to survive their struggles and crisis in life, we work with them towards their goal to attain graceful aging that makes them a useful citizen in the home and community leaving legacy.

Source:

-        transcription 1 from interview

-        understanding Aging PDF by Letty Kuan

-        http://www.scribd.com/doc/98418043/Sister-Letty-Kuan-2

Collated by: Selah Dove H. Senina