Analysis of Life Course Approaches in Health, Social Care and Ageing

This essay delves into the life course approach within the context of health, social care, and ageing, focusing on how the representation and experience of old age vary across different cultures and throughout history. It explores the theory of social representations, life course epidemiology, and compares Eastern/Asian and Western cultures to highlight these differences. The essay also examines the challenges faced by ageing societies, such as increased healthcare costs and the need for brain health and care coordination. It emphasizes the economic and social implications of an ageing population, addressing issues like declining working-age populations and unsustainable pension commitments. Through this analysis, the essay provides a comprehensive understanding of the complexities and nuances of ageing in contemporary society.

Life Course Approaches
in Health, Social Care
and Ageing

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Main Body.......................................................................................................................................1
Representation and experience of old age differ across culture and history..........................1
Challenges faced in an ageing society....................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Life course approach for heath social care and ageing is mainly focused on rate of decline
in function of organ or other system that is mainly associated with attained earlier in life, and
ageing of an individual along with developmental processes and early environmental influences
(Oxlund, 2018). The current assignment and essay is based on the topic of Life Course
Approaches in Health, Social Care and Ageing and consist a description about the
Representation and experience of old age differ across culture and history. Thus, a description
about theory of social representations along with life course epidemiology and approach is
included in this assignment. Further, a comparison between Asian/ European and western culture
is made to evaluate about experience of old age differ across culture and history. At last, this
essay also includes a description about challenges faced in an ageing society.
Main Body
Representation and experience of old age differ across culture and history.
Life Course Approaches in Health, Social Care and Ageing are mainly the life concept
that aim at recognizing the opportunities to prevent and control diseases at beginning of key
stages of life that consists of infancy, childhood and adolescence and most crucially throughout
to adulthood (Wheaton, 2017). The perceptions of aging have significant influence on societal
behaviours and also create significant influence on expectations towards older along with well-
being of older adults while coping with and facing the aging process. A large number of
individuals have favoured perception of having different ageing process across different cultures
but it has been also observed that views of aging may also differ across cultures as well.
Further, According to theory of social representations it has been reviewed that the
views of aging that are held within a given culture are mainly a form of and related with shared
cultural representation. They constitute systems of ideas, values, and customs which are related
with aging and are mainly treated by individuals of the society (Chambers, 2018). Basically the
perceptions of aging are considered as multi-dimensional in nature and encompass positive as
well as negative characteristics and have a considerable difference as per the culture of society.
Further, social representation theory also reflects and associated with a mix between accurate
depictions and review of age-related changes in close relation with distorted views of older
people. It has been also clarified by social representation theory that the concept of healthy aging
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is basically and completely associated with predictable biological changes and mind set of a
society that lead to and create a systematic age differences in physical abilities as well as also
affects the cognitive performance of an individuals (Kiely, Brady and Byles, 2019). Thus, it can
be said that aging perceptions basically reflects such biologically based differences and other
diversification in functioning the is comparatively based on little and slight variation across
cultures. Further, it has been find out in the basis of social representations theory that age-related
and ageing changes mainly in socioemotional characteristics depend less on biology aspects of
an individual’s as compared to motivational priorities along with other societal roles. Thus, it has
been analysed with respect to social representations theory that perceptions of old age and other
heath and care issues are directly related with the changes in these social and culture
characteristics hence, shows a greater extent and changes on the basis of cross-cultural variation.
Beside all the discussion made above use of life course epidemiology and approach is
useful for current assignment in order to represent experience of old age and how it differ across
culture and history as life course epidemiology and approach helps in investigating and
evaluating long-term effects and representation of physical and social exposures and its impact
on gestation, childhood, adolescence, young adulthood and later adult life of an individual and
on their own health together with evolution of disease risk in later and old age life (Grenier,
Phillipson and Settersten Jr, 2020). Life course epidemiology and approach also encompasses
and focuses on the pathways that consist of biological, behavioural and psychosocial aspects that
have significant influencing power on the development of chronic diseases along with operating
and affecting life courses and action on an individuals during its ageing period and also effects
the experience of individuals.
Further, life course epidemiology also highlights a temporal and social perspective that
lead to better looking back to have better understanding about life experience and expectations of
an individual and facilities better understanding about the current patterns of health and disease
which reflects its health and expectation at old age on the basis of both past and present
experiences of an individual that basically get shaped and recognised by the wider social,
economic and cultural context of an individuals (Biggs, 2017). Beside this life course
epidemiology and approach has been also used and facilitates better understanding about chronic
disease epidemiology, that is mainly applicable within the context and in relation to infectious
diseases, general health and reproductive health along with overall well-being of an aged
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individuals. Thus, it can be evaluated that use of life course epidemiology and approach
provides a better link and collaboration between the two main aspects of social and medical
sciences which is mainly emphasized on life course epidemiology and is very crucial and
important for better understanding social patterning, culture, history and the etiological processes
of diseases (Giefing-Kröll and Grubeck-Loebenstein, 2019).
To get better understanding about the Representation and experience of old age differ
across culture and history a comparisons between Eastern/Asian and Western is made. It has
been find out that the Asian societies are mainly influenced by Confucian values of filial piety
that mainly central to the Confucian role ethics and may consists of physical care along with
love, respect and obedience for all which is vital part of Asian societies (Wadsworth and Kuh,
2016). Further, it has been also enabled that the individuals in Asian countries are basically the
practice of ancestor worship thus, the old age of Asian culture and societies are having positive
thoughts and positive attitude and views towards aging along with high esteem for older. On
Contrary, in Western societies and culture it has been seen that they are more youth-oriented
thus, represent and holds a more negative and adverse attitude and view point towards aging
process and the elderly individuals. Thus, it can be evaluated that Representation and experience
of old age differ across culture and history as in the later Asian culture and societies a more
positive attitude and behaviour is seen towards aging and old age people as compared to modern
western culture who are mainly youth oriented as having narrative and less epical view points
towards ageing experience (Ni Leime and Street, 2017).
Beside this it has also seemed that better socioeconomic development and diversified
cultural beliefs and values are also the main aspects that lead to cross-cultural differences in
aging attitudes and create significant influence over experience of old age people who belongs to
diversified culture. Apart from changed attitude towards representation and experience of old age
differ across culture and history of Asian and western courtiers this difference in attitude is also
seen between Eastern and Western countries. It has been evaluated from various approaches
and research that Eastern cultures are seemed to be less ageist as compared with Western
cultures (Walker, 2019). The main reason behind this fact is that eastern cultural values mainly
dictate and have a better focus towards leading a higher esteem for older people as compared to
western societies. Thus, on the basis of this statement it can be evicted that the Representation
and experience of old age at western countries and culture is far more different that eastern
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countries as in western society and culture a high esteem is offered and placed towards old age
where as western cultures are seemed more youth oriented with generally less esteem and respect
towards aged people. A comparison between culture and history of UK and Taiwan makes it
more clear as their cultural and values different, but are almost similar in regard to their level of
socio‐economic development but still the aging experience of two countries are far more
different as one is more positive and high esteem for aging while other seems more youth
oriented thus, the socio‐economic context is also related to ageing (Phillipson, 2017).
Further, it has been also find out that the history and culture of eastern countries promotes
and support positive attitude and experience towards ageing and motivates and teaches its
younger society and individuals to respect, care and obey their elderly and aged people and also
have much more feeling of respect towards there ancestors and aged people. Further the Eastern
Culture also emphasis more and higher on Schwartz' embeddedness value orientation that lead to
more emphasis and positive experience for elderly people through assessing the how important
and crucial it is to honour and give respect to elders and aged people (Plyushteva and Schwanen,
2018). Further, Eastern culture also seemed more collectivistic‐oriented and interdependent that
place more emphasis and importance for relational harmony thus provide better experience and
health benefits for elderly people the society and culture of eastern countries believes that taking
care of older people is there duty and ethical and social responsibility. On the other hand, the
western societies and countries put greater emphasis on personal control, Interdependence and
innovation thus western culture are less compatible and respectful with older people who seemed
as symbol of stability and tradition (Şoitu, 2020). Thus, it can be said that the normative climate
and culture of Eastern and western countries offers a sustainability different experience and
representation for old age and elderly people on the basis of their cultural believes and attitude
where eastern countries are having collectivistic‐oriented culture and respect for old age people
while western countries seemed more youth orientated and modern.
Challenges faced in an ageing society
The economic and social implications associated with rapidly aging population are
becoming more apparent for all industrialized and other nations all around the globe (Lenstra,
2019). The main issues and challenges that are encountered by society and nation because of
aging society and increase in population of elderly and old age people are mainly associated with
a decline in the working-age population along with increased health care costs and unsustainable
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pension commitments. Further, the ageing society is also creating a change demand drivers of
economy and also emphasis more on health and social care services and products (8 significant
challenges—and opportunities—of an aging population, 2018). The main issues and challenges
that are encountered by individuals and nation because of ageing society and more number of
elderly people are discussed below:
Increase in Health Care Costs- The biggest issue and challenge encountered due to
ageing society is associated with increase in health care costs. It has been evaluated that ageing
society has made it compulsory and essential for nation to spend more in there heath care system
and it form a large part if their GDP. Further, advanced economies who are having larger number
of aged people faces the issues of labour and skills shortages including an increase in the demand
for home care and other health supportive system which limit the in new technologies (Oxlund,
2018) . Further, ageing society has also made it more difficult for existing health care systems to
handle and invest more on prevention and cure of prevalence of chronic diseases as they need to
emphasis and give first priority to health care and betterment of their large and growing senior
populations.
Brain Health and Care Coordination- Brain health and diseases like dementia and
Alzheimer’s disease which are commonly seen in old age people who are over 85 years old is
also enhancing challenge created by fastest-growing segment of the population and ageing
society. Alzheimer’s disease is still not having any cure and needed much more awareness and
effective tools for early prediction and diagnosis of these brain and health diseases commonly
seen in the ageing society that lead to optimize cognitive fitness, slow cognitive decline and
support caregivers (Wheaton, 2017). Further, the care coordination and health care journey that
could be complex and very challenging and fragmented for older adults. With increasing ageing
society the expenses of health insurance and spent for managing chronic conditions are also
increasing for many families that is also a big issue and challenge.
Decline in Working-Age Population and reduction in productivity- The another issue
and challenge lead by ageing society is associated with continuous decline in working age
population that ultimately lead to a challenge of supply shortage and lack of energetic and
qualified workers that makes it more difficult for nation and business organisation to fill in-
demand roles (Chambers, 2018). Thus, the ageing society lead to reduction in overall
productivity and efficiency of a society or nation as it lead to many consequences like higher
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labour cost, difficulty in business expansion together with reduce international competitiveness
along with hampering productivity and overall performance and efficiency. In longer term,
ageing society create and lead to situation of shortage of workforce and higher labour cost that
can lead to situation of wage inflation that creates a vicious cycle of price/wage spiral that is
challenging for any society.
Increase in Dependency Ratio- The another challenge that is associated with ageing
society is associated with increase in dependent population who retrieves and live on the fixed
income and other benefits provided by government (Kiely, Brady and Byles, 2019). Thus, ageing
society creates increase pressure on nation of pension and other cost of managing and
maintaining health care facility of aged society along with higher health cost and smaller pool for
collection of taxes. Thus, it can be evaluated that the main issue and challenge lead by ageing
society is associated with lower tax revenue along with higher spending and expense on health
care of aged people in form of pension and other benefits that create a big concern and
challenges for advanced industrialized nations and society (Grenier, Phillipson and Settersten Jr,
2020).
CONCLUSION
On the basis of above essay and assignment it can be concluded that representation and
experience of old age differ across culture and history. Use of theory of social representations is
effective approaches to evaluate about the concept of aging that are held within a given culture
are mainly a form of and related with shared cultural representation. Further, it can also be
concluded that use of life course epidemiology and approach is effective in for better
representation of physical and social exposures of an individuals along with its impact on
gestation, childhood, adolescence, young adulthood. Further, it also ensures a better evaluation
of experience of an individual and its impact on health together with evolution of disease risk in
later and old age life. It has been also summarised that a difference in representation and
expectation is seen on experience of old age on the basis of diversified culture. At last, it can be
summarised that many Challenges are faced because of an ageing society that consists of
increase in Health Care Costs along with Decline in Working-Age Population and reduction in
productivity.
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REFERENCES
Books and journal
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of care. Advances in Life Course Research. 38. pp.72-79.
Wheaton, B., 2017. Surfing through the life-course: Silver surfers’ negotiation of ageing. Annals
of leisure research, 20(1), pp.96-116.
Chambers, P., 2018. Older widows and the life course: Multiple narratives of hidden lives.
Routledge.
Kiely, K. M., Brady, B. and Byles, J., 2019. Gender, mental health and ageing. Maturitas.
Grenier, A., Phillipson, C. and Settersten Jr, R. A., 2020. Precarity and ageing: new perspectives
for social gerontology. Precarity and Ageing: Understanding Insecurity and Risk in Later
Life, p.1.
Biggs, S., 2017. Negotiating ageing: Cultural adaptation to the prospect of a long life.
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course approach could improve health and well-being in old Age. In The Future of
Ageing in Europe (pp. 177-215). Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore.
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mobility biographies with gender, care and the household. Geoforum. 97. pp.131-141.
Şoitu, D. T., 2020. Researching Ageing by the Life Course Perspective. In Qualitative and
Quantitative Models in Socio-Economic Systems and Social Work (pp. 83-88). Springer,
Cham.
Lenstra, N., 2019. Designing for the Informatics Lifecourse and Ageing in Place. In Perspectives
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Online:
8 significant challenges—and opportunities—of an aging population. 2018. [Online] Available
Through:<https://www.marketwatch.com/story/8-significant-challenges-of-an-aging-
population-2018-05-23>.
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