Applying Theory Essay

Healthy aging is positively correlated with continued psychological and social naval divisionicipation of of age(p) citizens with activities that may not be very analogous to those that they have been used to, but substitutes them to accommodate their age and limited capabilities. Building a senior citizens sum of coin would allow them to participate in special activities that they have pursued in middle age. The community would be creating a venue by which the old could get educational training, physical and leisure activities fit to their age to reduce boredom.The midpoint would encourage them to stay active, less depressed about aging. In the long-term, the midway would promote a positive well-being among the elderly. shift Theory Building a senior citizens spunk field would benefit the senior citizens in many ways but on the part of the community, the get off would have benefits as well as incur costs. A center would grant senior citizens a fecund means by which t o spend their seclusion years. It would make them more active and social than they would if they simply spend most of their time at home or a retirement home.On the part of the community, the monetary cost of the project might make it impractical if the amount could be better spent in a much more undeniable community project. Then again, the elderly is as much a part of the community as much as the jr. members and constructing a center would provide a psychological benefit for both age groups. To the elderly, a center is a reassurance that the community values them in spite their old age. To the younger generation, the center equally reassures them that they are doing something right for the elderly.Functionalism Every age group needs to belong to an institution which would foster a moxie of their membership in the large community. Furthermore, to survive as a whole, all members should work together and slip into roles aimed towards fulfilling the needs of society. A senior citi zens center would make the retirees a sense of belonging in the community as it would serve as their institution now that they have lost membership in their former workplaces. They would form into a social group which could organize activities to benefit the entire community.It would make the cohesion of the community stronger as an organized group of senior citizens means that even the elderly are contributing towards the stability and constant activity of the community, factors which characterize a healthy, working community. Continuity Theory Senior citizens would continue to seek for the same activities, relationships and lifestyles they had in younger years. A senior citizens center would be a good way by which the elderly members of society can organize, assemble and socializejust like when they were younger.Since they all belong to the same age group, members would develop a distinct culture and this would break-dance everyone a sense of stability and animation system. A ce nter with activities and programs geared for the elderly would help ease the difficulties of adjusting to old age. The community, in turn, would have less of the stereotyped bitter and bad-tempered elderly members because it has a place which helps the elderly experience aging as a positive, supportive and gently-sloping experience.Theories that would argue against the senior citizens center. Conflict Theory Building a senior citizens center would benefit the elderly, however it would acknowledge their continued worth in society and their influence in terms of policy-making. The senior citizens have passed their prime, and the younger generation controls public administration including the budget and planning. The latter would disapprove the outgo of $3M for a center that would not be paying to the community.The community could maximize its spending by allocating the budget for other projects and simply put the care of the elderly under their respective families or elderly homes. This way the family or home would be spending only for the necessary expenses to support the survival needs of the elderly without funneling the communitys financial resources. Political economy of aging The corporate entertain precedes personal interest of the market. A senior citizens center would surely not justify the $3M that the community would be spending towards constructing and running it.A center for the elderly would simply be a place for them to engage in pursuits like physical activities, entertainment, seminars conducted by volunteers and other non-profitable, self-serving endeavors. If the aim is to spend the money in a project that would benefit the aging population, a wiser idea would be to revert the funds towards the construction of a managed care institution. To be profitable in the long run, this institution could give the elderly the same services and activities as the proposed center, but at certain prices.Recreation for the elderly should be a privilege inst ead of a charitable act. Disengagement theory The elderly and society engage in mutual separation. A senior citizens center is impractical because it would mean integrating the elderly into the community when they should realize that they have to withdraw from social activities they have been used to prior to retirement. A center would give the elderly a false sense of importance regarding their role in the community.It would pose a burden to the community which has to constantly bear with the expenses incurred by the center and its useless programs. The elderly cannot anymore contribute to society and compete with its standards of excellence therefore, for the benefit of society, they should interact with the community and with each other less. Social Competence/ dislocation Theory Building a senior citizens center would create greater dependency on the part of the already vulnerable senior citizens.If the center is realized the elderly would feel self-important, ask for extra serv ices and special privileges. If the demands are refused, it would cause emotional distress. To show sensitivity to the elderly, they should be allowed to face the challenges in life, without spending $3M to build a center especially for them. They should not be doled out with charity. They should be left to find the means to be happy and productive in their late years. The community would be doing them well if they are made to feel like they have worked hard to accomplish something.