My goal for enrolling in this class was to gain new insights on aging that I can incorporate into my volunteer work and I am happy to say that I have accomplished this! I have been volunteering with two organizations that serve older folks with mental and physical disabilities. With that being said, I have observed clients experience various adversities related to aging and the toll it can take on an individual’s well-being. Upon reflection, I tend to remember the negatives and it shaped my view of the aging process. The readings, lectures, and discussions in this class have changed my perspective! One thing that has stood out to me has been reading John Leland’s book, Happiness is a Choice You Make, where he gives us a candid glimpse into the lives of six seniors. Leland details the challenges the seniors were currently facing, many of which were similar to my clients’ (e.g., mobility issues, loneliness, and the grief that comes with facing mortality). What was meaningful to me was learning about what made these seniors happy despite these hardships. I also thought about a phenomenon we learned in our lecturette, the Paradox of Aging, which posits that despite physical decline, happiness and life satisfaction increases in older age. These materials motivated me to think of the happy moments I shared and observed with my clients. I thought about the client who experiences depression due to his stroke, but has the biggest smile when talking about his grandkids and the biggest laugh when sharing jokes his youngest tells him. I thought about my hospice patient whose mood brightens when she remembers going horseback riding with her sister as teenagers. I thought about the energy that fills the room when we have dance parties and fashion shows at the adult day center. I thought about all these joyous moments that I glanced over because I was so focused on the negatives. With this new awareness, I am more motivated than ever to elicit happiness in my clients. I’m looking forward to chatting about what makes them happy, playing games, and dancing with them! Leland highlighted the strength of older adults - they have endured so much throughout their lifetime and may currently be experiencing difficulties and yet, they persist and continue to find joy in their everyday life.
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Jillian AbastaJillian is a Clinical Psychology major and Human Developmental Science minor from Oceanside, CA. Archives
March 2023
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