Perceptions of Healthy Aging: An Interview Analysis

This assignment discusses the perceptions of healthy aging by an interviewee and analyzes them in detail. It explores the concept of healthy aging, the importance of functional ability, and the impact of lifestyle choices on physical and mental well-being. The assignment also highlights the need for person-centered assessments in healthcare practices.

Running head: ASSESSMENT TASK 2B
ASSESSMENT TASK 2B
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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ASSESSMENT TASK 2B
In the present generation, people are now living longer lives. It has been found from the
last data collected in the year 2016 that life expectancy of people in the nation had become 82.50
years. It had been found life expectancy of males in the nation is 80.4 years and that of the
females are 84.6 years (Nelson 2016). This had been found to have increased by 1.7 years for
males and 1.1 year by females from that of the data collected a decade ago. It had been found
that technological innovations and medical advancements had helped in achieving lengthier lives
of the people in the nation (Buckinx et al. 2015). However, it can be found that although people
are living longer, they are not living healthier lives with higher amount of physical suffering
from disorders or various kinds and even emotional issues due to loss, grief, loneliness,
depression, anxiety and others. Hence the concept of healthy again had emerged where
healthcare professionals of the nation are focusing on helping older cohorts of people to age
healthier and achieve their potentials. This assignment would be discussing perceptions of
healthy aging by an interviewee and this perception would be discussed and analyzed in details.
As per the definition provided by WHO, healthy aging is actually the procedure that
involve development and maintenance of the functional ability of people thereby enabling their
well-being in their older age. The term functional ability can be explained as harboring of the
capabilities which help people to be what they are and what they value in life (Kojima et al.
2016). This might be seen to include meeting their basic needs, learning to grow and making
decisions, being mobile, building and maintaining relationships and contributing to society.
Briggs et al. (2016) is of the opinion that healthy aging would enable older cohorts of people to
adopt healthy eating habits and behaviors, being involved in the society, proper utilization of the
preventive services, managing health conditions and understanding all medication in life. ()
opines that when older cohorts of people are well educated about the importance of healthy aging

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and follows the aspects required to age in a healthy manner, their remains lesser chance for being
affected by mental and physical disorders. With the advancement of age, changes in the bodies
and minds are noted for which specific preventive measures need to be taken to enable a smooth
transition through the aging phases of live (Vidan et al. 2016). From the interview conducted as
well as from the quiz that was taken, the first observation was that Mrs. Green was completely
unaware of the concept of healthy aging. It had been found that she had poor health literacy and
healthcare related knowledge. She had been found to be affected by a large number of chronic
health issues. One of the reasons that could be attributed to the development of such disorders is
the lack of health literacy and poor healthcare knowledge. This can be well-understood from her
comments where she stated that old age comes with disorders which need to be accepted. Hood
and Amir (2017) are of the opinion that it indeed becomes important for healthcare professionals
to educate and communicate importance of healthy behaviors, proper lifestyle choices and active
living and how they can prevent themselves from being affected by disorders through correct
actions. Absence of such knowledge and literacy in Lily could be a factor for her poor quality
health.
The second finding was the unhealthy food choices of Lily. Kim et al. (2015) opine that
living an active life through regular exercises along with the eating of the healthier foods
contributes to physical and mental well-being. Getting enough sleep and reduction of stress are
other effective ways that can enable people to age in a healthy manner (Spahillari et al. 2016).
Studies have also related not smoking and drinking alcohol in higher amount can also prevent
development of poor health conditions from chronic disorders (DeLabra et al. 2015). Mrs. Green
had been found to follow a diet which mostly comprises of fast foods although Layla prepares
home cooked foods sometimes. She rarely goes for walks which contribute to weight gain for the

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lack of burning of calories consumed through food. However, the third finding was that she
remains cognitively active as she participates in reading books, plays her violin, doing
crosswords, playing games with the children and others. Hence, she is not seen to face any
cognitive issues. She is well supported by her families and friends that help her to get over the
stress created by pain and suffering from chronic health issues. Hence, it can be found that she is
having mental, cognitive and social stability but she is suffering from physical ailments that is
impacting her potential. These aspects must be addressed.
Clinicians, researchers as well as other professionals often need to use person-centered
assessments in their work practices so that they can increase the power of the patient voice in the
clinical acre and also helps in strengthening the research quality (Molony et al. 2018). This can
take place in various way like face to face, supported self-assessment completed by patient
himself, online or phone assessment, joint assessment (conducted my health agencies along with
patient and caregiver) and combined assessment (both by adults and child) (Thórarinsdóttir et al.
2019). I had mainly taken the approach of face to face approach where I conducted a quiz and
also an interview with the patient to gather information about her perception of health aging. The
most important criteria that I had been very careful about were respecting the autonomy and
dignity of the patient. Studies opine that respecting autonomy and dignity of patient in person
centered assessment and acre increase their participation since the patient feel comfortable and
respected by the professional’s. I discussed my rationale with the patient about taking the
interview and asked for her permission first so that she feels respected. After she provided the
permission, I tried to develop proper rapport with her through informal discussions.
Development of rapport helps in making patients develop trust on the interviewer and makes the
patient comfortable in revealing the required information in deals (Hanga et al. 2017). It helps in

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removing apprehensive and ambivalence from the patient in revealing herself to the interviewee.
Through effective communication, empathy and compassion, I gained her trust and got all
required information. I ensured complete freedom to the patient in the interview process and
prevented myself from any judgmental behaviors and communication. In this way, I was able to
ensure following principles of person centered care successfully.

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References:
Briggs, A.M., Cross, M.J., Hoy, D.G., Sanchez-Riera, L., Blyth, F.M., Woolf, A.D. and March,
L., 2016. Musculoskeletal health conditions represent a global threat to healthy aging: a report
for the 2015 World Health Organization world report on ageing and health. The
Gerontologist, 56(suppl_2), pp.S243-S255.
Buckinx, F., Rolland, Y., Reginster, J.Y., Ricour, C., Petermans, J. and Bruyère, O., 2015.
Burden of frailty in the elderly population: perspectives for a public health challenge. Archives of
Public Health, 73(1), p.19.
de Labra, C., Guimaraes-Pinheiro, C., Maseda, A., Lorenzo, T. and Millán-Calenti, J.C., 2015.
Effects of physical exercise interventions in frail older adults: a systematic review of randomized
controlled trials. BMC geriatrics, 15(1), p.154.
Hanga, K., DiNitto, D.M., Wilken, J.P. and Leppik, L., 2017. A person-centered approach in
initial rehabilitation needs assessment: Experiences of persons with disabilities. Alter, 11(4),
pp.251-266.
Hood, S. and Amir, S., 2017. The aging clock: circadian rhythms and later life. The Journal of
clinical investigation, 127(2), pp.437-446.
Kim, S. and Jazwinski, S.M., 2015. Quantitative measures of healthy aging and biological age. Healthy aging
research, 4.
Kojima, G., Iliffe, S., Jivraj, S. and Walters, K., 2016. Association between frailty and quality of
life among community-dwelling older people: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J
Epidemiol Community Health, 70(7), pp.716-721.

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Molony, S.L., Kolanowski, A., Van Haitsma, K. and Rooney, K.E., 2018. Person-centered
assessment and care planning. The Gerontologist, 58(suppl_1), pp.S32-S47.
Nelson, T.D., 2016. Promoting healthy aging by confronting ageism. American
Psychologist, 71(4), p.276.
Spahillari, A., Mukamal, K.J., DeFilippi, C., Kizer, J.R., Gottdiener, J.S., Djoussé, L., Lyles,
M.F., Bartz, T.M., Murthy, V.L. and Shah, R.V., 2016. The association of lean and fat mass with
all-cause mortality in older adults: The Cardiovascular Health Study. Nutrition, metabolism and
cardiovascular diseases, 26(11), pp.1039-1047.
Thórarinsdóttir, K., Kristjánsson, K., Gunnarsdóttir, T.J. and Björnsdóttir, K., 2019. Facilitation
of a person-centered approach in health assessment of patients with chronic pain: an
ethnographic study. Qualitative health research, 29(4), pp.471-483.
Vidán, M.T., Blaya‐Novakova, V., Sánchez, E., Ortiz, J., Serra‐Rexach, J.A. and Bueno, H.,
2016. Prevalence and prognostic impact of frailty and its components in non‐dependent elderly
patients with heart failure. European journal of heart failure, 18(7), pp.869-875.