International Approaches To Aging Includes The Cognitive

International Approaches To Agingaging Includes The Cognitive Physica

International Approaches To Aging Aging includes the cognitive, physical, and social-emotional changes that occur during late adulthood. Varying cultures take different approaches to aging. At the same time, individuals within these cultures and societies may have varied and distinctly personal views regarding aging. When addressing aging in late adulthood, one must also address death, dying, and bereavement. Religious and spiritual beliefs, gender, personality, and coping style can all impact an individual's responses to and beliefs about death (Berk, 2023).

Today, web-based virtual cemeteries are a new way for people to connect and grieve with each other, even when separated by distance. Nonetheless, varying cultures approach aging in many different ways. For this Discussion, you will examine how different countries approach aging. To prepare for this Discussion: Consider how different countries approach aging. As you consider different countries, think about the following: Do older adults live with their children, or are they more likely to live in a nursing home? Are older adults seen as wise individuals to be respected and revered, or are they a burden to their family and to society? Next, select two different countries and compare and contrast their approaches to aging. Post and identify each of the countries you selected. Then, explain two similarities and two differences in how the countries approach aging. Be specific and provide examples.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Understanding how different cultures approach aging provides valuable insights into societal values, family dynamics, and perceptions of aging and death. Cultural norms significantly influence whether older adults are integrated into the family or society, respected as wise elders, or marginalized as burdens. This paper explores the contrasting approaches to aging in Japan and Nigeria, two nations with distinctly different cultural perspectives on aging, while also identifying similarities that reflect universal themes in the experience of aging.

Approaches to Aging in Japan

Japan exemplifies a culture that reveres aging and venerates older adults. Traditionally, the elderly in Japan are respected for their wisdom and experience, often living with or near their children, maintaining close family bonds. In Japanese society, there is a deep-rooted respect for elders rooted in Confucian values, which emphasize filial piety and reverence for age and wisdom (North & Fiske, 2015). Many older adults continue to participate actively in community and family life, and it is common for families to care for aging members at home. Further, societal institutions support the elderly through policies and services designed to promote active aging and respect.

Approaches to Aging in Nigeria

Contrastingly, Nigeria's approach to aging is heavily influenced by communal and extended-family structures where older adults are respected as elders who hold authority and influence within their communities. However, due to modernization and urbanization, there is a growing tendency for older adults to live separately from their children, sometimes in elderly care facilities or independently, especially in urban areas (Berk, 2023). Older adults are still regarded with reverence, but economic challenges and changing family dynamics have begun to alter traditional practices, sometimes leading to their marginalization or social isolation.

Similarities Between Japan and Nigeria

One key similarity is the respect accorded to elders in both societies. In Japan and Nigeria, older adults are viewed as carriers of wisdom and experience, which grants them a high social status. Both cultures value the contributions of the elderly, whether through caregiving, decision-making, or maintaining cultural traditions. A second similarity is the extension of family-based caregiving, with traditional expectations that families will care for older relatives, emphasizing filial responsibility and community cohesion (North & Fiske, 2015).

Differences Between Japan and Nigeria

However, there are notable differences. The first involves living arrangements; Japanese elders predominantly live with or near their families, reflecting strong filial piety reinforced by cultural norms and government policies supporting family-based care. In contrast, Nigerian elders are more likely to live independently or in community settings, especially in urban areas, due to factors like migration and urbanization, which weaken extended-family bonds. The second difference pertains to societal perceptions: in Japan, aging is universally associated with respect and ongoing societal contribution, whereas in Nigeria, economic instability can sometimes diminish the elder's role, leading to perceptions of aging as a decline rather than a revered stage of life.

Conclusion

In summary, Japan and Nigeria demonstrate contrasting yet occasionally overlapping approaches to aging, shaped by cultural, economic, and societal factors. Japan's reverence for elders and support for active aging contrast with Nigeria's traditional respect intertwined with challenges posed by modernization. Understanding these differences and similarities enhances our appreciation of aging as a culturally embedded experience that varies globally but also shares common themes of respect and societal value.

References

• Berk, L. E. (2023). Development through the lifespan (7th ed.). Sage.
• North, M. S., & Fiske, S. T. (2015). Modern attitudes toward older adults in the aging world: A cross-cultural meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 141(5), 993–1021. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0039282