Class/section:

Name:
Assignment:

FHS 1500-004
Jessica Lynch
Observation #5

Background Information
Age:
75
Fictitious name:
Sam
Location:
Sams living room
Brief Description: We sat in Toms living room with his wife. They were both in Lazy Boy rocking
chairs and I sat on the couch directly across from them.
Physical Development
I had so much fun learning about the life of Sam. Hearing the history of how he grew up was so
exciting to me. Sam is a mostly healthy and competent 75 year old man who walked to the door to let us
in with a slight limp and tilt to one side. He was not frail, and was very independent. As I asked him a
few questions, he relaxed in his lazy boy chair and every once in a while uncrossing his leg from one and
crossing over the other. We started off talking about what he was like when he was younger. I asked him
about his chores and responsibilities that he had as a child. He talked about how when he was younger,
he grew up on a farm with his two older brothers in Paiona Colorado. While his older brothers were
around, they all split the chores up, and his chore as the youngest brother was to bring in wood and coal
from outside so they had heat for their home and stove. If he didnt do this daily, when his dad would
wake up the next morning at 400 to start the heat and this wasnt there, he would get woken up and
have to do that chore. He said he milked cows, had horses chickens and pigs that he had to take care of.
He use to run miles every day, and wishes he could do that still, but his knees dont work like they use
to. He still goes for walks does all of his duties around his home now, mowing lawn, planting gardens,
and playing with his cats. He takes 13 medications daily to make his body work correctly. His advice to
me for right now was very close to what the readings state to prevent frailty (pg. 563) exercise, work
out, eat right, watch your portions in order to stay healthy, because its a lot harder to get there when
you are old.
Intellection/Cognitive Development
When Sam was talking about his younger ages, growing up going to a school with only two
rooms in it. One room for the 1-4th graders, and one room for the 5-8th graders, he talked about how he
was not a very good reader growing up, and still has issues reading out loud. He said he still reads books
every day out loud to himself but struggles with it. He talked about how growing up he had a job at the
service station, that we know as a gas station. When he wanted to get a real job he applied for an
office job but didnt get it because he never was able to take a typing class growing up. He worked in
Sheet Metal from when he was out of school until when he retired at 62 years old. He wishes he would
have gone to college to learn a lot of other skills, but now all he knows how to do is fix things. He has a
compulsive hoarding problem (pg. 537), as we went to his garage and saw every tool that he has ever
owned I bins or hanging up all over his garage. He said he cant get rid of them.
Social/Emotional Development
Sam has been married for 55 years to his wife. When they got married, they loved everything
the same. They did everything together. As they have grown older, he said their interests have

changed. We dont like the same things anymore like we use to. So now we sit in our chairs together and
do nothing. However, since he retired at 62 years old, his father has died and left him money, he and
his wife have been able to go camping, go on 2 cruises, and have added on to their home. Sam said that
his social life now is his family that comes to visit. And every once in a while, he will do side jobs of
putting in furnaces or replacing air conditioners. He will also go play the piano at the old folks home.
He taught himself how to play piano by ear. He never had one lesson but plays beautifully. Sam
remembers positive things more often, and thrives off of the positivity of others, rather than the
negative things, called positivity effect (pg 538). He said positivity rubs off much easier than negativity
does.
Reference List
Berger, K. S. (2014). Invitation to the life span (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.