In general terms, environmental press refers to the various demands that both social and physical environments make on an individual to adapt, respond or change. The intensity of these demands varies and so does their influence on the process of optimal aging. Studies have shown that environmental press and optimal aging are not mutually exclusive as there is a heavy dependency between the two. Since environmental change is an inevitable feature, old people must devise effective means and ways of dealing with environmental press issues if they are to achieve optimal aging. In this particular case study, Julio, a Brazilian who makes a transition an environmental transition experiences a host of these issues as will be seen below.
The first environmental press issue that Julio will confront relates to his family situation. Being a widower, we expect Julio to be suffering from such a devastating state of loneliness. Emotional loneliness is one of the most strength –sapping factors in life. Unlike other emotions such as anger, it is very hard to show loneliness. We have many times heard of a phenomenon whereby an individual is lonely or alone in a crowd. Unquestionably, Julio is a victim of “loneliness in a crowd”. Loss of a spouse can be very debilitating .Burying a partner is forever hurting for the surviving spouse. Some of the changes that Julio is adapting to include; attending to some of the chores that his wife had been doing and obviously adapting to a life without an emotional partner. Inability to deal with loneliness and stresses associated with a lonely life is one of the biggest threats of optimal aging. If Julio allows loneliness to eat him up, he will soon develop health complications such as depression and ulcers among others. Therefore, Julio should deal with his road to recovery as a way of increasing chances of enjoying life at old age. Loneliness does not only drain one the energy to take on that extra day but also arrests the mind and detains it in a state of hopelessness which bars one from bringing out the best of them. This is a big blockage to optimal aging.
Spending time in a crowd, as attested by psychologists can be therapeutic. Julio should thus go to zoos or malls where people are congregated in order to pin down this feeling of loneliness. Human beings have an aura about them that is augmented when they come together. Alternatively, Julio can utilize his new social circle to curb loneliness. He should make his daughter and grandchildren his closest friends and by so doing, he will get revitalized.
Reading books concerning grief or joining social groups such as widower groups has been described by psychologists as one of the vital tools to fight loneliness. Knowing that there are people undergoing similar situation as you can be stress –relieving.
A successful battle with loneliness and the stress that accompanies loss of a companion is a big step towards achieving a healthy state of mind and body and consequently optimal aging.
The other environmental press issue is the switch from a rural countryside setting to an urban setting. Julio having to migrate from country side Brazil to Barrie to live with his daughter must have had undergone an enormous amount of persuasion to come around and embrace the idea. At 65, Julio can be considered not to be frailly old and as such can perform most of life’s basic urges (activities of daily living) such toileting, bathing and the like. It is also safe to assume that at that age he would be in a fairly good position to manage quite a few instrumental activities of daily living, (IADLs) such as shopping, paying bills making meals and doing house work. Moving in to his daughter’s house implies that he has got no reliable source of support back home. Taken that he has no physical or health problems, a person of Julio’s age would be perfectly able of taking care of himself. In everyone’s pursuit to age optimally, Julio is in pursuit of an innate human urge to seek comfort. At an age such as his, Julio is certainly able to blend and assist in ways he can. And as such be of assistance to himself and those around him.
However, his move presents him with unique challenges. A person so much acclimatized to the peaceful Brazilian countryside, he would find it much harder to adjust to the patterns of life in a big busy city such as Barrie. This is an environmental pressing issue that requires him to change his life patterns and daily activities. For instance if he was accustomed to an afternoon walk into the wild grasslands, change into a new activity such as playing with the children which might be really new to him. In addition he might also find it hard to acclimatize to the markedly noisy environment that the town presents him with. His daughter being the productive member of the family, he may be required to take care of the children from time to time so as to avail his daughter for work. This may be quite a new experience to him and might have to adapt in order to accommodate the children. For instance he might have to learn to be patient with children in their emotional outbursts. Julio in order to achieve optimal ageing, will have to adapt to spending more time indoors and help out with the children, this helps him in keeping alert and avoiding loneliness thus being actively social. It would also help him if he took up some of the instrumental activities of daily life such as shopping so as to change scenery and keep himself excited by nature. This should be implemented in a regular rhythmic pattern so as match his former routine and accentuate the optimal ageing process.
The other environmental press issue that Julio will most probably confront is the transition from a predominantly Hispanic culture to a multicultural setting in the urban centre. There is no doubt that this social environmental change will place a demand on Julio to adapt, respond or change. For a person of Julio’s age, this might prove to be overwhelming especially when it comes to language matters. For instance, most Canadians converse in English, and Julio being a Hispanic may not be fluent in the language and this is likely to be a very detrimental barrier. The effect of this on optimal aging is most likely to be felt in the cognitive functioning element where Julio may have trouble perceiving or synthesizing or generally being aware of things.
Experiencing this environmental press issue does not however; mean that Julio is incapable of achieving optimal aging. One positive way of dealing with this issue and adapting to its potential implications is by developing a positive attitude towards the new social environment change and adopting a sequential approach in adapting to the new culture. For example, about the language issue, Julio can start taking English classes or even ask his daughter and grandchildren to teach him the language. In terms of other cultural issues, the most advisable thing for Julio would be to take his time to understand the elements of the new culture that are different from his own and then try to assimilate them little by little. This will help Julio move towards optimal aging where his cognitive, emotional, physical and social functioning will remain intact.
References
Aldwin, C.M. & Gilmer D.F. (2004). What is optimal aging? In Health, illness and optimal aging: Biological and psychosocial perspectives (pp. 303-321).Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
