Looking back at your life, what has been your best age?

The subject of the interview was a 65-year-old woman called Michelle Byars. A former elementary school teacher, she is now living with her daughter in California who also works as a teacher. Her husband died in 2014 due to a heart condition she did not disclose, and since then, due to loneliness, she decided to move in her sister's place, a decision she described as circumstantial. Byars revealed that because she was battling hypertension, it was imperative that she lived with someone who would provide her with the basic care she required. Her daughter has since employed a female house help who ensures that all her needs are taken care of. Byars is a strong Christians belonging to the Anglican Church. She holds deep religious views and believes that education today has critically treated religious studies with great contempt. She considers reading as a hobby and during the evening, she walks a lot as part of her fulfillment of the doctor's instructions to remain active. On the day of the interview, she was all alone in her living room, and we sat at the dining table. 

Looking back at your life, what has been your best age? 

It is tough for me to point out one particular age that stood out for me as the best. However, I have fond memories of my mid-20s, between 24 and 26 years of age. It was a time that I had already finished my college education, and I was looking forward to getting a job. Throughout my entire life, standing in front of a class giving instructions had been my dream. I got my first job when in 1977 when I was around 24 years. Things were a little bit different then because getting job was much easier than what it is today. I believe I enjoyed my first years of teaching more than any other thing because I had begun a new journey and of course, financial freedom. 

How satisfied are you with your life right now on a scale of 1 to 10? 

I would say 9/10. I have lived to achieve my dream and also lived up to the expectations that my family and the entire society had on me. As a teacher, my aim was always to see that a child who passed through my hands would not only go up to the university level but also develop into a responsible citizen of this great country. When I go back to New York where I started and ended my career, I won't walk for over 250 meters before somebody stopping me and say, "Hello teacher, you taught me in so and so year." It is just a nice feeling seeing that I had had such a significant impact on society in a way that I wouldn't have imaged when I started my career. However, my only regret is that I was so sentimentally attached the job of the day at the expense of career advancement. Had I thought outside the box maybe I would still be teaching in one of the colleges as a professor. 

What is the best part of being your age? 

Having to battle with hypertension and taking drugs (laughs heartily). Anyway, I enjoy doing other things like reading and walking without having to think so much about professional obligations. It gives you that chance to reflect and compare how much of an impact I have been to myself and society. 

What things have you had to stop doing or change how you do them because of your age? 

Part of the reason why I am battling hypertension was the obsession with junk food. We lived separately with my husband for a couple of years after I got transferred to a different school district. Since I stayed alone, cooking was a little bit difficult, and I resorted to junk. Today, I am living under a strict diet managed by my nutritionist. I have also stopped visiting friends because I feel that I need to focus on my recovery. 

Rate how comfortable you are with your body and the way you look on a scale of 1 to 10. Explain the reasons for this rating. 

Honestly, at 65, you expect me to be excessively tired. The health condition and the drugs have had such a significant toll on my body, and I do feel as good as I felt in my mid-40s. Overall I would say that I am at 4/10, but I am working hard to achieve a 6 any time soon. 

There have been many historical changes and new inventions. Please tell me how it was different when you were growing up v now. 

Looking at members of your generation today, I feel that you are so lucky to live in a world of internet, fast cars, and smartphones. As a teacher, I was trained that every possible question had its answers in the book. What is the case today? Google has turned out to the number one teacher. I a computer for the first time when I was about 30 years old when the headmistress' office was awarded for exemplary performance by the state government. During the 70s, the few televisions owned were analog and only showed two colors. I am surprised that a TV today uses the internet and is almost the size of a whole dining table! 

What kind of things and activities do you enjoy? 

I am a lover of reading and partly writing. Evening walks and meditations are also my things. 

Conclusion 

People are living at a time when the baby boomer population has tremendously increased. Overall, I formed a good rapport with my interviewee, and she was open enough to allow me to get the answers to all the questions that I had posed. It also enabled me to learn an essential concept regarding communication with the adults where one is required to exercise patience, compassion, and even respect. The first part of the interview illuminated the process of aging, a critical sociological perspective that social workers must understand. As human beings grow, they undergo a life course, and in each transition, they shed some roles and acquire the new ones. The changes that occur can be classified as biological, psychological, and social (Kaplan & Berkman, 2015). Going through the life of the interviewee, changes in life, especially on the biological and social front, become increasingly apparent. The primary concept that has also revealed itself in the interview regards the problems of aging. Part of the challenges that social workers must remain aware of is that of physical issues such as diseases like hypertension as seen in my interview. 

Interview Session 2 

Introduction 

The second session of my interview continued to illuminate on the family and work life of Michelle Byars. In a bid to have a picture of how she developed to her adulthood, I asked her for a photo album which she gladly provided. We now changed our setting from the living room to outside the house under a small tree. 

How do you think you have changed over time? Physically? Emotionally? Spiritually? 

From the pictures, you can see that I have shed off weight. When I was around 40 years, I weighed about 85 kg. I am much leaner now with an approximate weight of 70 kilograms thanks to my lifestyle changes. Physically, I was so strong to the point that I contemplated joining judo! Emotionally, I have become more tolerant and sensitive especially after the death of my husband. Spiritually, I have not changed much in terms of my religious practices other than the routine engagement in meditation. 

Describe your family life growing up. Unfortunately, I never got to see my father. After my birth, he was involved in a major road accident that led to his untimely death. I have a younger sister who grew up with under the guidance of our mother. Although it was difficult for my mother, she managed to engage in many menial jobs ensuring that we ate and went to school. Part of the reason I firmly believe in Christianity is that of her. My sister and I had to go through the Anglican doctrines; something that I have to accept has changed my life for the better. 

What did you observe about your parents growing older when you were young? What were your perceptions about aging as a child? 

My mother was this type of women you would never know if she was aging. At her prime 40s, many thought that she was in her early 30s. She managed to live a healthy life mainly because she was a former athlete who had participated in women soccer at different stages in her life. The only point when it was visibly apparent that she had started aging was in her mid-60s. She would not walk for long distances and had lost interest in social life. As a child, I viewed aging through the lenses of diseases, tiredness, lack of interest, and dependency. I perceived that nothing good actually came out of it. 

What has family life been from your time at work to your ultimate retirement? 

My husband and I were only blessed with one daughter, Casey. I enjoyed my marriage for the large part of my adult life until I was transferred to a different school district. It meant that we would no longer live together, but we maintained close contact. I gave birth to Casey when I was 33 years old, and I continue to regard her as a gift in my life. Together with my husband, we ensured that she received the best education possible that molded her to the person she is today. The only regret that I have is that we did not have so many years together with a whole family because of the untimely death to her father. However, since I had a stable job, I ensured that she finished her education and became independent. 

What is it like not to have grandchildren? 

It would be a big regret to retire having never had any grandchildren of my own. However, I believe that Casey, who is still 25 years old, will make me proud one day and give me a bouncing baby boy for a grandchild. I wouldn’t lie, but there is a certain feeling of emptiness knowing that you are 65 years old and you have not seen your children’s children. 

Describe your experience with work life. Did you enjoy your profession? 

As I mentioned it to you earlier on, teaching was always my passion, and I regarded it as a calling. I was entrusted with the future of many children, and I considered it my moral obligation to ensure that each and every one of them knew what was expected of them. I enjoyed my job, and it's something that I would have done without pay. 

What kind of things have helped you overcome problems and stresses in your life? 

I have been a victim of stress throughout my entire life especially with the death of my husband and the health condition. However, one thing that has always kept me stress-free was the Bible especially the story of Job which describes the need to remain resilient in the face of persecution. My daughter has always been an inspiration to me, and I knew that allowing stress to get the better of me would be detrimental to her well-being. 

What kinds of things do you do right now to keep mentally sharp and physically healthy? 

As I told you, I read a lot and exercise in the evening. I used to swim a couple of years ago, but I think am too old for that right now. 

Conclusion 

As we entered deep into the interview, our rapport and chemistry with the interviewee grew tremendously. She was increasingly patient and answered the questions even though most of them reminded her of a sad past. Most fundamentally, it was an interactive session that enabled me to understand how the old perceived their past and present lives. As such, this discussion also provided me with an opportunity to look at the life of the interview through the three theoretical lenses of functionalism, critical perspective, and symbolic interactionism. The functionalism perspective enables individuals to understand the elderly with regards to how their role contributes to the overall functioning of the society. The critical perspective argument delves into how the elderly are affected by power relationships within a society. The symbolic interactionism argument illuminates how the elders create their identities as they interact with people throughout their lives (Ferrante, 2012). The second important factor evident from the interview is the role that the family plays as one age. Sociologists believe that aging comes with a certain degree of loneliness that can severely impact the life of an individual. It is therefore imperative for the aged to achieve family support in a bid to mitigate this prospect. The last concept worth mentioning from the segment deals with the perception of aging. McInnis-Dittrich, (2009) asserted that many individuals regard aging as a negative process because old age comes with implications affecting the physical, psychological, social, and economic well-being of an individual. 

Interview section 3 

Introduction 

The third segment of the interview continued to feature Michelle Byars. My primary focus with this session was to understand her health, well-being, and how she planned for the future. For this part of the interview, we decided to have it while walking around the homestead. 

Tell me about your health. 

I have battled hypertension for ten years right now. I was once hospitalized for almost three months because my blood pressure had increased so much that I experienced constant syncope or what you would normally refer to as fainting. The doctors have continued to do many tests on me, and the prognosis has never been too encouraging. In one instance, I was told that my heart muscles were becoming weaker by the day and if this continued, heart failure would be a likely scenario. 

How did your illness first come to your attention? What made you seek help for the problem? How were you diagnosed with the illness? 

As I mentioned to you earlier, I led a sedentary life that was characterized by poor dietary choices. Within one year, I had gained over 30 kg. I became much slower and would sleep for long hours. At night, I would sweat and on occasions, I experienced a throbbing heartbeat. I suspected a high blood pressure because my mother suffered from the same condition. On visiting the local healthcare setting, my blood pressure measurement was taken, and without much surprise, I was diagnosed with hypertension. 

What were your initial feelings, thoughts, and reactions? 

I wasn’t really surprised by the diagnosis because I knew that gaining that amount of weight in a short period would land me into problems. I immediately decided that I was going to fight the disease and possibly overcome it. Also, I remained prayerful because I knew that everything was possible with God. 

How do you make “sense” of the illness? 

Although I am a layperson, I know that my heart is pumping much faster than it should and as a consequent, my blood is moving at a very high speed. I guess that’s it. 

Describe how you cope with the illness on a daily basis? 

I have a strict medication program. My doctor visits once or twice a month and conducts tests on me to determine if at all I need to change on my drugs. Similarly, I check on my diet which primarily is low on fat and carbohydrates. Slight exercises and evening workouts have also helped me to cope with the illness. 

What do you think is the impact of the illness (and related issues, i.e. the course of illness, treatment, etc.) on work and career plans, family life, social relationships? 

Not much. My family is my daughter, and she understands me quite well. However, since I started my recovery, I have kept to myself because and avoided social relationships because I need a certain degree of privacy while battling my condition. 

Do you believe your age has impacted your experiences with this illness? If so, how? 

Yes, age has negatively impacted my experiences with the illness. If somebody took me ten years behind, I wouldn't be suffering from this condition because my bones would have been much stronger to help me overcome my weight issues. 

Describe some of your experiences with the health care system, including specific interactions with health care providers. Do you believe you experienced ageism (racism, sexism) in any of the interactions? 

A majority of the health professionals that I have contacted were good on me. I don’t remember meeting any form of discrimination except for a physiotherapist who once said that it would be difficult for me to exercise because of my age. I took issue with that because I felt it was close to an ageism slur. He did not have the right to despise my abilities to engage in exercise activities. 

What were health services most useful? 

In my situation, drugs have been the primary medical service provided, and I believe they have done a tremendous job in as far as healing is concerned. The fainting episodes that I had before are now over thanks to the medication. 

Looking into the future, how do you perceive aging as you cope with the disease? 

It is a battle. Aging is one problem, and the disease is another. However, I am determined to put a spirited fight to ensure that I live longer and die a peaceful death. 

Is there anything that you think you could have done when you were younger to improve your health now? Probably checking my diet and exercising more. 

What are your plans for future care if you are unable to take care of yourself and/or live independently? Will you choose long-term care? 

Long-term care is something that I have given consideration. However, my daughter has essentially made this place a nursing home because I have my doctor who checks in regularly and house helps who ensure that I adhere to my strict diet and medication. At the moment, I am feeling good, and I don't want to imagine about going to the nursing home or hospice institutions. However, no one knows the future. 

Do you have an advance directive? If not, have you thought about doing an advance directive or living will? Currently no, but I am working on it. Everything that I do in that regard will center on my daughter. I will provide her with all the autonomy and power to decide on the course of my health if it will require so. 

Have you ever been a caregiver for someone with a chronic/terminal illness? 

No, I have never acted in any capacity as a caregiver. However, it remains my deep conviction that caregivers dealing with chronic illnesses must show compassion, sympathy, and empathy to the patients. It is really painful for someone to live with a condition knowing that it will lead them to death. Therefore, these professionals must remain free from any prejudice that might result from ageism. 

What are your views on becoming older? 

It is all about experiencing more challenges and finding ways to overcome them. Since life is a learning experience, I believe that getting older is also about accumulating more wisdom. 

What is some “wisdom” about living life that you want to share with me? 

One thing you should remain aware of is never to fear to make mistakes. They are part of normal life and make you stronger. I have made many mistakes in my life, but my success wouldn't have been possible if I refused to learn from them. 

Is there anything you would like to add? 

Also, don't fear the prospect of aging. The only thing you need to do is to live your life, accomplish your dreams, and live the rest to God. 

Conclusion 

From the interview, I was able to identify some of the concepts relating to aging especially with regards to health. First, it remains crucial to appreciate that the perception of the health of these individuals has a close relationship with objective outcomes such as mortality (Kaplan & Berkman, 2015). Also, old age is a period of intense emotions which tend to increase as the person continues to age. The second major tenet evident from the interview is how the aged develop coping mechanisms. Baars & Dohmen, (2013) noted that older people use various means of coping with stressful events in their lives. One of the tools used in this endeavor is known as the emotion-focused coping characterized by a passive rather than a confrontational model aimed at altering the stressful events. Lastly, the biological and physical aspects of aging have also become apparent in this interview especially with regards to chronic illnesses. 

In general, the interview session was a major success because I got to understand the aging process and the perception that characterizes it. I learned that we are similar to the older adults in that out our respective ages, we are both determined to achieve our goals and experience self-actualization. The experiencing of growing older is not as pleasant as I thought mainly because of the prospect of diseases and inabilities. The only regret I have to delve so much into her darkest pasts including her loneliness and illnesses. However, the most important thing I learned is that talking to these people should take an interaction model as opposed to a question and answer structure. 

References 

Baars, J., & Dohmen, J. (Eds.). (2013). Ageing, meaning and social structure: Connecting critical and humanistic gerontology. Policy Press. 

Ferrante, J. (2012). Sociology: A global perspective. Nelson Education. 

Kaplan, D., & Berkman, B. (Eds.). (2015). The Oxford handbook of social work in health and aging. Oxford University Press, USA. 

McInnis-Dittrich, K. (2009). Social work with older adults. Allyn and Bacon.4th Edition. Pearson. ISBN-10: 0205096727