MOLINA, CHRISTINE JOY NCM 114A

BSN 3B

Before we look at the attitudes of others, it is important to examine our own attitudes, values,
and knowledge about aging. The three Critical Thinking boxes that follow are designed to help
you assess how you feel about aging.
After you have filled out these Critical Thinking boxes, look at the characteristics you described,
and think about the feelings you experienced as you considered these individuals. Do your feelings
correspond to your attitudes about aging? Were these three people’s

1. CRITICAL THING
Your current understanding about aging. Respond to the following questions to the best of your
knowledge.
• You are “old” at age beginning 60 based on science but it is still up to you if you consider
yourself as “old” at whatever age you would be.
• There are about 9.5 million age 60 and above older adults in the Philippines.
• Economically, older adults are having difficulties for continued income due to fewer options
because of their age.
• With regards to health, older adults are more susceptible to diseases due to the decline in their
immune systems.
• Mentally, older adults are at higher risk for developing mental illness such as anxiety and
depression especially during this pandemic.

2. CRITICAL THING
Your Views and Attitudes About Aging
• How many older adults do you know personally? If the basis of being an “older adult” would
be from the age 60, I know about four people.
• Do you think they are “old?” Do they consider themselves “old?” By age I consider them
as “old” but other than that I don’t think they are old. But I believe they consider themselves
as “old” based on what I heard from them saying that they are.
• How do you personally define “old?” If asked, I often refer someone as “old” based on age.
If someone is age 60 and above, I consider them as older adults.
• Why is aging an issue today? I think that because of the rapid increase in the population of
older adults, many issues have arisen. First is the decrease in the working-age population which
could lead to a shortage of qualified workers and therefore affecting the economy. And second,
there would be a need to increase the health care costs, which are worse by the fact that our
 climate is changing. And climate change gives rise to different diseases that could affect older
adults since their immune system is declining.
• Should Social Security laws be changed to reflect today’s longer life expectancy? I
personally think that it shouldn’t be changed in terms of what age older adults should be
receiving the benefits, just because today’s life expectancy has become longer. Social Security
benefits should still be given to older adults at age 60. And if there should be changed, it is the
increase in the benefits.

Please complete the following statements. Write as many applicable comments as you can. There
are no right or wrong answers.
• A person can be considered “old” when
➢ he/she reached the age of 60
➢ he/she has proven to him/herself that she has grown physically, mentally, and
spiritually.
• When I think about getting older, I
➢ smile because I know from that point on, I have accomplished almost everything
on my bucket list.
➢ feel less burdened because I know that at that time I have already paid back all the
sacrifices my family have given for me to be who I am today.
• Growing older means
➢ you are growing physically, mentally, and spiritually.
➢ continuously learning and developing in all aspects.
• When I get older, I will lose my
➢ teeth
➢ perfect vision
➢ firm skin
➢ perfect memory
• Seeing an older person makes me feel
➢ jealous because they have already lived quite a lot of years and here I am not even
sure of what is ahead for me.
• Older people always
➢ tend to say the right things before it has even happened.
➢ try to understand you even if other adults don’t.
➢ give you the right advice to the right situation.
• Older people never
➢ stop caring for their loved ones.
➢ fail to make me smile.
➢ get tired of understanding and giving advices.
• The best thing about aging is
➢ being able to experience quite a lot of things and situations that allowed you to
gain a lesson from each and then use as an example for younger people.
➢ you have outgrown all the impossible things you thought you couldn’t do.
• The worst thing about aging is
➢ you’ll probably lose some of the memories you have created.
• Looking back at the responses, I feel that aging is
➢ inevitable but a learning process. As we age, we for sure are learning and growing
in all aspects of life, may it be physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually.
Aging is in our nature, but as we pass this part of our life, we have unconsciously
surpassed and outgrown all the impossible thoughts we created for ourselves.
Which is why I am not worried of getting older and becoming an older adult.

3. CRITICAL THINKING
Your Values About Aging
Quickly name three older adults who have had impact on your life. List five characteristics that
you associate with each person. There are no right or wrong answers.

Person 1 Person 2 Person3

Name: Erlinda S. Molina Name: Leonila Salas Name: Luisa Almeniana
Relationship: Grandmother Relationship: Grand- Relationship: Family friend/
Aunt Neighbor

Characteristics Characteristics Characteristics

1. Caring 1. Resourceful 1. Understanding
2. Soft-spoken 2. Caring 2. God-fearing
3. Sweet 3. Fun to be with 3. Helpful
4. Great cook 4. Great cook 4. Rational
5. Understanding 5. Sweet 5. Caring