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Ageing in Humans
Ageing in Humans
Introduction
Ageing is defined as the accumulation of changes that takes place in human over a period of time. It is considered as a multidimensional process of psychological, physical and social change. The dimensions that come with ageing either grow and multiply over time or decline. An example is with time most people gain wisdom and knowledge. In humans, ageing is an important part of the society since it reflects on biological changes that come with it. On the other hand, about one hundred and fifty people die of age related sickness or complications.
Age is measured by the number of years that an individual has lived. The celebration of one’s age is usually on their birthday and most people take the day to be a special day in their lives. There are various ways in which different groups, nations, non-government organization, and government classify the age of their population (Evered, Devid and Julie, 66). The increase in the number of older people in the society is known as population ageing and is caused by a number of issues such as long life expectancy, low birth rate, and migration.
The process of ageing affects the society in various ways. With the increase of young people and older tend to hold on to their jobs since they claim to be more experienced, the young people are left with no jobs and they end up committing crimes. Besides the crime, it is still the young people in the society that push for both social and political changes when the old seem to be less bothered by them. It is also the young people within the society that develop and easily adapt to new technology that the old enjoy. The society and the government require very little from the old as compared to the young. The paper will discuss ageing in human.
According to the scientists, there are various theories that explain the process of ageing though none of them satisfies the reader. Most theories used in the past to explain ageing were not genetically related. However, the modern theories used to explain the process of ageing are categories into two which are error and programmed theories.
According to the programmed theory, aging comes about as a biological timetable whereby one grows from being a child and later develops. The changes that take place in development depends on the changes that take place in gene expression which later affects the systems that are in charge of maintaining, repairing and defending the body (Holliday, 78). On the other hand, the error theory states that ageing is caused by environmental assaults that take place in humans. Moreover, the environmental assaults are the induce damages at different levels.
The programmed theory is further divided into three categories which are programmed longevity, endocrine, and immunology theory. Programmed longevity theory states that aging is caused by successive switching on and off of particular genes. The outcome of the process shows at a time when age related deficits are displayed. The endocrine theory states that biological clock controls the hormones which in turn controls the rate and pace at which people age (Holliday and Robin, 34).
Research shows that aging is regulated by hormones and a certain insulin IGF-1 plays a key role in regulating hormones responsible for ageing. According to the immunological theory, it is the immune system that has been set in such a way that it declines over time. This eventually leads to increased vulnerability to infectious diseases thus one age’s and then dies.
Research shows that the peak of one’s immune system is at puberty and it keeps going down as they grow old.
Damage theory is also further divided into other theories that explain is in the details. The wear and tear theory states that the tissues and cells have crucial parts that wear out with time leading to aging. Just like any machine that wears out body parts wear out due to over use and lack of proper care. At the end, we kill the body parts as well as the body itself. According to the rate of living theory, an individual life span is shortened by rate of oxygen basal metabolism. This theory does not explain an individual’s maximum life span.
The crossed linked theory states that aging is as a result of the accumulation of the cross linked proteins which damage both the tissues and cells. The damaged body then slows down in its processes thus leading to ageing.
Ageing is one of the things that cannot be avoided in life for human beings cannot live forever. They have to grow from babies to children, adults, and then grow old. As we age, there are a number of responsibilities that come with it. It is important that we prepare early enough for responsibilities to avoid some of the misfortunes that come with irresponsibility. It is also the duty of the government to ensure that its citizens are catered for depending on their age (Clare, Linda and Robert, 12). Most nations are not economically prepared to handle the youth and they end up breaking the law.
In most countries the youth end up doing drugs and commit crimes due to lack of employment. Most employers like to maintain older people since they believe that they are wise and they rarely make silly mistakes. This leaves the youth with no choice but fight to survive. On the other hand, the youth that is well trained to face the future with or without employment come up with new ideas that are used in the world today. Apart from the scientific theories that explain ageing, stress is another reason that causes people to grow old. Almost everyone understands the stress and gets stressed for one reason or another. However, very few people know that it causes a change in our bodies. The body is programmed to respond to stress so that it can save our life. Stress causes a number of hormones and chemicals to react which later affects the whole body. The society that we live in is full of stress as people try to make life better for them.
Stress therefore causes people to grow old without their knowledge. Moreover, stress affects other body systems and that is why some people feel sick and even die. Some of the diseases that are as a result of too much stress include high blood pressure, low immunity, heart disease, fat accumulation, and muscle breakdown. It is therefore important to stay away from things that might cause them to get stressed (Schmitt, Freedman and Rayma, 23). It is also important that they find a solution to the problems that surround us in a better way so as to avoid damaging the cells and tissues. Apart from stress we have to take care of the body since we need it so as we can function.
Though ageing is one of the things that one cannot run away from, there are things that one can do in order to slow down the process. Younger people tend to look older that their age because of the things that they eat, lack of enough sleep and lack of exercise. Most children of today are not trained to work out, and they are fed on junk food. The food might be sweet but at the end the child gets to be obese. Obesity comes about with another disease such as high blood pressure, and heart attack.
Moreover obese brings about low self-esteem among children which at the end of the day brings about stress. When the child gets stressed, they tend to look older. It is therefore important to know the effects of the food that we eat since poor quality food end up causing inflammation. To avoid aging, it is important that one eats whole foods which are in their most natural state. Doctors do recommend that if possible one should avoid taking foods that have sugar since it reduces the lifespan in organisms. Besides eating the right foods one has a duty of exercising so as to get rid of toxins in their bodies.
Antioxidants are also good for the body since they protect the body from the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are made when the body changes food and oxygen into energy. Antioxidants can easily be added to the diet and are easily available in the market. Some of the well-known antioxidants are fruits and vegetables.
It is the duty of the government to advise its citizens on the things that they can do so as to avoid ageing fast. When the body becomes weak, it becomes hard for an individual to perform their duties. At the end of the day when the cells and tissues wear out an individual dies and this affects the life span (Mordini and Paul, 99). The government can ban the sale of certain things such as cigarettes or rather increase their prices so that few people can afford it. Cigarette is one of the things that not only makes one look older but destroy any of the body organs leading to early death. Not only does cigarette affect those who smoke it directly but it also affects the people who are close to the person smoking.
Research shows that the person closest to a smoker gets affected more. In such a case the government can then ban the public smoking of cigarette. The government should encourage people to eat healthy foods so that they can slow down the process of ageing. It should make life bearable for its citizen so that they can avoid stressful situation which leads to ageing.
Conclusions
Therefore all of us human race ought to be aware that aging is natural to every human being as well as many other creatures and plants, however living a healthy life through our lifetime contributes a lot to humans high production and making the world a better place for generations to come. The dimensions that come with ageing either grow and multiply over time or decline. An example is with time most people gain wisdom and knowledge. In humans, ageing is an important part of the society since it reflects on biological changes that come with it. On the other hand, about one hundred and fifty people die of age related sickness or complications that can easily be managed to have a healthier old generation.
Work cited
Evered, David, and Julie Whelan. Research and the Ageing Population. Chichester [England: Wiley, 1988. Internet resource.
Holliday, Robin. Understanding Ageing. Cambridge [u.a.: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1995. Print.
Clare, Linda, and Robert T. Woods. Handbook of the Clinical Psychology of Ageing. Chichester, West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons, 2008. Internet resource.
Schmitt, L H, L Freedman, and Rayma Pervan. Genes, Ethnicity, and Ageing. Nedlands, WA, Australia: Centre for Human Biology, University of Western Australia, 1995. Print.
Mordini, E, and Paul . Hert. Ageing and Invisibility. Amsterdam: IOS Press, 2010. Print.
Evaluating Human Services
Evaluating Human Services
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Abstract
A support group refers to an organization dedicated to help people deal with a particular problem or problems. Support groups help people deal with illness, job loss, and addiction. They provide information, comfort, teach coping skills, help reduce anxiety, and provide a place for people to share common concerns and emotional support with others.
Support groups may include education, behavioural training, and group interaction. Behavioural training could involve muscle relaxation or meditation to reduce stress or effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Family violence is defined as the infliction of physical injury by one family or household member on another. It is also a repeated / habitual pattern of such behaviour (Merriam-Webster dictionary).
Family violence also termed as domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviours by one partner towards the other in an intimate relationship such like marriage, dating, cohabitation or family. It could be in many forms, physical assault or other forms like sexual abuse, emotional abuse, stalking.
Most domestic violence victims need temporary and permanent safe housing, financial assistance, medical reimbursement, HYPERLINK “http://www.examiner.com/x-17770-Sacramento-Abusive-Relationships-Examiner~y2009m7d30-Privacy-101-Top-5-privacy-protection-tips-for-domestic-violence-and-stalking-victims” privacy protection and counseling. They too need access to social service support and advocacy, legal representation, vocational training and childcare. However, the needs of these victims do not stop there. Domestic violence victims’ who seek aid from government agencies and the courts end up creating technological trails of their private lives in government records and on-line databases thereby allowing for domestic abusers to become cyberstalkers with ease. Phone records, social security numbers, previous and current employment information, property records, credit information, medical records and more is available on-line today making a victims’ path to freedom more difficult than ever before. Therefore, there’s great need for privacy protection for most family violence victims in order for them to live comfortably in the society.
Family violence victims normally get traumatised for whatever form of violence they are exposed to. This leads them to live with fear. They therefore require either some temporary or permanent housing facility but which will put them away from their perpetrators. Trust especially in cases where the individuals involved are couples may have quickly faded. Coupled with fear, most victims will not agree to stay next to their perpetrators.
Many victims are at times left in a bad state. Violence associated with assault or sexual abuse results in horrible injuries. In turn, the victim may require financial assistance that will aid in settling medical bills, travel expenses to a safer region. This need is normally great especially for victims who do not or are not in a working condition to provide for themselves thereby requiring well wishers to help out.
Counselling is the other great need most victims require. They truly need to be taken through a counselling session to help revert the psychological conditions and trauma affected by the violence. In most instances, counselling does help but only when the victims decide to speak out what they went through. They are taken through a healing process that at the end of the day helps them live a normal life once again.
Domestic violence in this instance sexual abuse may start up when one partner feels that there is need to control and dominate the other. Abusers may get this need to control their partners as a result of low self-esteem, extreme jealousy, difficulties in regulating anger and other strong emotions, or when they feel inferior to the other partner in terms of education and socioeconomic backgrounds. Some men with very traditional beliefs may think they have the right to control HYPERLINK “http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/05/12/stress-triggers-depression-in-women-alcohol-craving-in-men/2266.html” o “women” women, and that women aren’t equal to men in society.
Sexual abuse may lead one being infected with diseases including HIV and AIDS. Out of all these, the trauma accompanied by the act is heavy to bear for most victims and may lead to suicidal cases. People feel they are not worthy living anymore after what they have been taken through. They may view life as a painful pill to swallow.
This domination then takes the form of emotional, physical or sexual abuse. Studies suggest violent behavior often mostly caused by an interaction of situational and individual factors. That means that abusers learn violent behavior from their family, people in their community and other cultural influences as they grow up. They may have seen violence often or may have been victims themselves.
Children who witness or are the victims of violence may learn to believe that violence is a reasonable way to resolve conflict between people. Boys who learn that women are not to be valued or respected and who see violence directed against women are more likely to abuse women when they grow up. Girls who witness domestic violence in their families of origin are more likely to be victimized by their own husbands.
Alcohol and other chemical substances or drug abuse contribute to violent behavior. A drunk or high person will be less likely to control his or her violent impulses. However, counseling for perpetrators too could be deployed and help change such individual behavior.
REFERENCES
http://www.examiner.com/article/domestic-violence-victims-needs-the-21st-century
Evaluating HR Systems
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Evaluating HR Systems
According to the authors, human resources most distinguishing virtue entails the ability to thoughtfully challenge and be able to refocus unfounded conceptualizations of behavior, irrespective of the organizational status of the speaker and the apparent conviction behind his or her words. I agree with the author in this regard because of the fact that human resource in such instances has the required skills, capacities and knowledge regarding sustainable decision making. Their professional experiences expose them to a wide range of challenging scenarios and impart viable skills with which they are able to mold respectable and beneficial organizational culture.
They are in the best position to understand the behavioral functioning of the organization, besides being able to cite any weaknesses whenever they arise. In other words, human resources provide useful insights with which an organization can be able to align its decisions and behavior to the established organizational norm. Of great importance is the recognition that relative skills and knowledge enable the human resource to provide the management and other disciplines with credible information that then ensures that all decisions made at different levels are based on informed thought.
In their review, Barney and Wright (1998) contend that in some instances, the top management or other organizational disciplines tend to make unfounded assumptions that compromise the organizational culture as well as its performance. Such decisions are usually influenced by the presumed important role that relative disciplines play in the wellbeing of organizations. Besides undermining the performance of the organization, playing along demeans the role and importance of human resources management. To counter this, human resources need to be more aggressive and pursue their primal role of shaping organizational culture and behavior. This can be attained by use of positive and well thought out processes to nurture the organizational decision making to maturity.
Essentially, metrics are employed in human resource to not only measure performance but also identify non performing areas for relevant action. In addition, human resource metrics are imperative in formulating sustainable benchmarks that can be employed in regulating human resources behavior in future. Ultimately, Ulrich (1997) indicates that these measures seek to improve the holistic performance of the organization. Further, human resource metrics provide relevant guidance to the management that can be employed in enabling the same to meet its goals and objectives.
Examples of metrics that are employed in human resources include cost per hire, interviews per offer ratio and turnover ratio. There are also other human resource metrics that seek to determine the level to which programs as well as people related activities affect the productivity and costs of the organization. Examples of these entail the relationship between the practice of employee selection and relative performance and the relationship between the attitudes of the employee, absenteeism levels and the related costs. Essentially, the effectiveness of the human resource metrics is based on its ability to not only report relevant results with regard to performance but to also cite the cause effect relationship between different factors. This enables the management to employ sustainable approaches that would resolve the emergent issues effectively. In the long run, this enables the organization to save resources that can otherwise be employed in other development sectors.
Besides human resource metrics, customer surveys and performance appraisals can effectively be employed in measuring the performance and productivity of human resources. With regard to customer surveys, Ulrich (1997) ascertains that customers can provide credible feedback with regard to the performance of human resources. This is possible because they (customers) tend to be directly affected by the human resource services. Questionnaires and interview schedules can be employed in getting the feedback from the customers on various activities and practices of the human resources.
In order to attain optimal results in this regard, one needs to make a credible decision with respect to the aspects of the human resources that need to be evaluated at a given time. In most instances, emphasis is placed on the evaluation of human resources services like training development and staffing. This is because the relative activities are integral in not only developing skilled persons but also motivating the workforce and ensuring that it remains committed to its respective professions. This can be employed together with an external audit hat would accredit the results.
Seemingly, performance appraisals can also be instrumental in determining the performance of the human resource. These enable the human resources to learn about their performance and identify the weak areas that require their review (Ulrich, 1998). Being informed about these weak performance areas enables the organization to adopt accurate measures towards improvement. In addition, human resources employing this tend to be well informed about their progress and they use the relative feedback to make major improvements. Finally, clarification of the relationships between the employee goals and performance is imperative in development of viable performance strategies in future.
References
Barney, J. & Wright, P. (1998). On Becoming a Strategic Partner: The Role of Human Resources in Gaining Competitive Advantage. Human Resource Management, 37 (1), 31-46.
Ulrich, D. (1997). Measuring Human Resources: An Overview of Practice and Prescription of Results. Human Resource Management, 36 (3), 302-20.
Ulrich, D. (1998). Human Resource Champions. Harvard: University Press.