Page 88 - IJPS-8-2

International Journal of
Population Studies Resources for healthy aging in community

which yielded mixed feelings among responses. Some 3.2.1. Health influence
participants noted the amazement of what younger Health-related responses influenced other categories
generations can do with technology and socialization. as well. For this reason, personal health was the most
Others remarked on how technology and the abundance of referenced thematic code from all respondents. The ability
its use distanced the younger generation from each other to participate in events was impacted by health-related
and limited their ability to be social. events such as attending frequent doctors’ appointments

3.1.2. Accessing socialization or planning their schedule to suit upcoming procedures.
When asked for advice to future generations, remaining
Transportation abilities were expressed in several areas of physically and mentally healthy were expressed in almost
responses from participants which reflected limitations in every response. The responses suggest that your physical
social networking. Commonly, barriers for aging adults and mental health is a high priority for successful aging.
were indicated by transportation being a limiting factor
to get to events and meet up with others. It was openly 3.2.2. Health activity
expressed that services are needed to maintain active Exercise was indicative of retaining health status and ability
living among those AIC so that they can remain active to participate in events. Participant responses signaled
in daily tasks. A common notion was the need to keep that a status of aging and being labeled as “old” was highly
moving to avoid the status of being “old.” When asked if the reflective of physical abilities. Responses indicated that
participants consider themselves old, a common response when you are no longer active, you have progressed to
was that being old was a state of mind and that they keep status that they would consider “old.” Additional limitation
pushing the concept of being old further away as they age. of physical ability was in reference to ambulation or ability
The defining moment of being old for those participants to climb stairs. Respondents also indicated that weight loss
was when a person stops doing things. “…if you let yourself plays a part in addressing physical limitation, noting that
get old then you are going to be old. You’re just going to previous weight loss had a positive effect on their ability
stop. Once you sit down then that’s it. You’ve got to keep
moving and keep going and try to stay sharp…” expressed to be self-ambulatory, or the need to lose weight could
increase physical abilities.
the participant. The theme of being active and part of
activities requires transportation to prevent this limitation Additional dialog reflected the need for increased
from occurring. However, in general, the interactions maintenance services for aging adults. While this is both
remarked on the need to retain socialization as a form or physical and financial, respondents did not remark on
retaining quality of life. the price of maintenance being an impact, but that it
was needed to remain at their current level of living. The
3.2. Health respondents indicated the need of maintenance as a service
When discussing matters that impact the daily lives of the for aging within their home/community in the form of
respondents, the most frequent remark was that of health, retaining a healthy environment. This suggests that the
health care, mental health, and maintaining a healthy need for maintenance has physical limitations for an aging
lifestyle. The importance of health maintenance and individual and impacts their environmental health.
having an early start on healthy lifestyles was emphasized
as a driving force of daily life and daily planning. One 3.3. Financial conditions
participant stated, “You have to do stuff actively to give Responses in which financial resources were noted had the
yourself the best chance to remain physically healthy and most detail among the thematic codes collected. Finances
intellectually stimulated.” Another respondent stated, “Be were discussed frequently among responses as areas of
open to new experiences, take care of your health, and limitation, need of support, desire for improvement, desire
get exercise.” While other responses did not directly state for education, and suggestions for future generations.
that health was the factor, they did indicate by exemplar Participants remarked that they were subject to daily
that health plays an important role in aging such as the limitations because of funding. Multiple participants
statement “enjoy life and especially for my grandkids who mentioned that finances directly impacted the integrity
are young, enjoy being a kid now cause you’re a kid for of the programs because it could exclude less financially
like maybe 12 – 13 years that you’re actually a kid. That stable members. They stated that membership fees, cost of
you can run and do somersaults and act goofy. Enjoy it activities during events, and cost of transportation could
now cause it’s gonna be gone and you’re gonna wish you be a limiting factor for members to become part of their
could go back cause sometimes I wish I could relive when social network, thus limiting their engagement with other
I was younger.” members of the community. In addition, participants from

Volume 8 Issue 2 (2022) 82 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.v8i2.303