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Thursday, February 13, 1975
University Daily Kansan
Old age is misunderstood
By MARK EKLUND Kansan Staff Reporter
Despite the fact that all people age and eventually seectants and sociologists have grown, they are still not fully
The aging process is misunderstood because the subject of death traditionally has been considered taboo, Shirley Patty Carson professor of social welfare, said Tuesday.
"Many old people don't fear death itself," she said. "They fear the process of dying and the human suffering and degradation that might accompany their deaths."
The elderly also fear boredom, which often accompanies retirement. Patterson said. Because American society is geared toward productivity, the aged are often made to think they aren't useful to society after they have retired, she said.
Loss of productivity, decline of family contact, death of spouses and loss of meaningful roles in society add to the problems of aging, she said.
There are many myths about old age that contribute to society's misunderstanding of aging.
"As people grow older their basic personalities don't change," she said. "Younger people tend to wear masks, but they become more and more themselves."
Patterson said there also were myths about old people's sexual activity and induction.
Sexual needs don't necessarily diminish with age, and most old people remain sexually active throughout their lives, Patterson said.
Although old people sometimes lose their abilities to recall names, places and dates, they still are very smart.
MANY THEORIES HAVE been advanced to explain why women generally live longer
According to Gail Mayo, nutrition and recreation coordinator for the Planning Council on Services to the Aged, Inc., women have longer lifespans because men pressurize at work and tend to internalize their feelings more than women do.
"Men have just been subjected to more societal pressures than women," she said. "Since men have been working most of their lives, the freedom of retirement is something that's difficult for them to adjust to."
Mayo said another difficult adjustment for old people was caused by the loss of loved ones. Many old people find spiritual suffering and it can be to the difficulties of getting old, she said.
"I THINK PEOPLE generally begin to question their religious beliefs in middle age," she said. "And when they retire they suddenly find themselves with more time to do the things that they've always wanted to do, like attending church, praying regularly and thinking about why and how they've lived."
SenEx vetoes events in finals
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All-University events other than athletic contests can't be scheduled during the period of final examinations, SenEx ruled Wednesday.
William L. Kelley, associate dean of admissions and records, sent a letter to SenEx asking for its ruling on a request to the University to final examinations this spring. Rules and regulations of the University Senate state that there will be no events scheduled during final other than athletic conference games, and that aren't controlled by the University.
But one section of the Senate Rules states that exceptions to the restrictions on athletic events may be made with permission of the Calendar Committee. But University Events Committee members were unsure whether this exception applied to other athletic events or could be applied to other University activities as well.
"I've found that older people don't become religious to get ready for death," he said. "They become spiritually involved to do things we are more meaningful than a burrow retirement."
The Rev. Roy Benton Hanan, pastor of Hanan Church, said adjustment to retirement was an善意。
According to Howard Mossberg, dean of the School of Pharmacy, boredom certain is a factor that can contribute to biological processes of aging.
In A BOOKLET recently published by the School of Pharmacy, Mossberg cited a recent study by the National Institute of Health that said "many past 60 who have complex and variable lifestyle lives longer than others whose lives are simplified and routine."
Mossberg said that many scientific theories on what had been suggested, but which had not, had been tested.
He said the process of aging soon would be researched extensively as a threat to health.
"After a cure is found for stroke, cancer and heart disease, about the only symptom left to research is why people grow old and how to retard that process," he said.
"We can devise all kinds of methods so people can live longer," she said. "But if society continues to deny the aged an active life, these lives won't mean that much for most people."
Mayo said that although scientific discoveries to insure longevity were important, the quality of life also was an essential consideration.
The biological effects of aging are obvious. Mossberg said they included changes in the skin, skeleton, muscles and nervous system, and decreasing acuity of hearing, vision and other senses. Respiratory changes, digestive difficulties and changes in maintenance of body temperature also accompany old age, he said.
Although little progress has been made toward curing the effects of aging, Mossberg said, several tips can help people with dementia through old age. He said people should be
Maintain normal body weight.
- Maintain normal body weight.
- Watch their blood pressure.
- Have a medical check-ups.
- Never smoke.
- Exercise occasionally.
- Remain active sexually.
- Never fall into dull routines.
at John Haddock FORD
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P.O. Box 667
Lawrence, Ks.
Call 843-3500 insurance laws require you must be 21.
Make Daily Weekly Week-end Rates Monthly Rates Overtime
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MUSTAND TORINO $10.00 plus 104 per mile 960.00 plus 104 per mile 95.00 plus 104 per mile $1.50 per hour
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Above rates include insurance
Business Discount
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HILLCREST SHOPPING CENTER—9TH & IOWA
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843-6424
Books for children & adults
BOOK SALE
Hard covers & paperbacks
50-75% off
FRI. & SAT. 9-6 p.m.
THURS. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
ADVENTURE a bookstore
VOTE!!!
President and Vice-President of Student Senate Class Officers Student Senators
Voting Places ON CAMPUS: February 12 and 13----9:00-5:00
Wescoe Summerfield Union
OFF CAMPUS:
February 12 and 13—11:00-1:00; 4:00-7:00
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McCollum
Alpha Delta Pi
Lewis
Sigma Kappa
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Oliver—
February 12----11:00-1:00 February 13----4:00-7:00
Naismith— February 12----4:00-7:00 February 13----11:00-1:00
Watkins-
February 12----11:00-1:00 and 4:00-7:00
Pearson—
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