Interview Sunday September 2, 2012

Chuck at Planet fitness - 77 Year old male, divorced, two adult daughters, lives
alone, owns home with mortgage, Medicare (older) with health benefits from IBM
(retired). Diagnosed with high levels of LDL and triglycerides in 2001, since has
adjusted his exercise routine from every so often at lunch to every morning. He has
dropped his LDL to 140 and triglycerides to 61. Has routine physicals, including
colonoscopies, prostate checks. Since retiring as a physicist from IBM, he has a
lunch routine with former coworkers; he is a daily caregiver to a dog and cat for a
woman who works 12 to 15 hours a day. He is in the integrity stage of Ericksons
stages of development because even though he is divorced, his ex-wife and he are
proud of their two children who have grown into good people. He has a social
network daily in the gym with same age people, lunch time with former coworkers,
and with the single woman and her family on holidays and occasions along with his
daughters. He also has a cat and is an avid reader and researcher of many interests
like genealogy. He does not feel limited by his age nor does he feel that he is
treated differently. His only limitations would be controlling his eating habits and
staying on the treadmill for the whole time.

Feelings about the assignment: Interested to interview a well elderly person to

understand physiological and psychological changes as they aged.

I am more aware of this stage of the life cycle because the interview provided
additional clarification to the integrity part of Eriksons developmental stage. The
interviewee was comfortable with his life and his acceptance of how his role
influenced where he is today.

Some myths and stereotypes include old means dependent, too late to change
lifestyle, cant work, decrepit, sick.

I am more aware that it is not too late to change, life is dynamic, and living is
dynamic.

Physiological changes; less muscle mass, more body fat, organ systems and organ
functions diminish, maximum heart rate diminishes, immune system diminishes.

Developmental tasks, of the older adult; lived a fulfilled, meaningful life, made
contributions, gaining strength and wisdom.

Socio-environmental factor is loneliness, isolation.

As baby boomers age and retire, more nursing care will be needed. People are
living longer lives than 50 years ago. The lifespan of the human is increasing as
awareness on preventative health and mental wellbeing are becoming the forefront
of our actions.
Planned communication: I prepared a list of key words to guide the direction of the
questions. First introductory questions eg. Age, marital status, living environment.
Then fashioned others chronologically eg. work, retirement, social activities.
Encouraged sharing by active listening (re-stating or paraphrasing). Showed an
interest in the interviewees comments and statements.