Health and Social Activity

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Activity 1 – Theories of Ageing Disengagement theory The disengagement theory is one of the first social theories of ageing developed by Cumming and Henry in 1961. It is the idea of which states older people begin to withdraw or disengage from their past roles in society due to the decrease of their physical, intellectual and emotional abilities and skills which they are unable to accommodate in their roles. Also, at this stage of life, the elderly will eventually begin to diminish interests in activities and hobbies. This leads to inactivity which will further affect physical and emotional development negatively. Society plays a big part of this theory as it contributes to the behaviour portrayed towards the elderly. The younger generation may look down the elderly, which has a major influence on the idea of society having adverse expectations and behaviours of the elderly due to the degrading health and disabilities. Instead, Cumming and Henry suggest that older people will prefer passive, solitary activities, and will be willingly give up traditional or normal ways of behaviour. Disengagement is socially constructed and a product of our cultural beliefs about the nature of ageing. What we define as being disengaged may, from the point of view of the elderly, be very engaged are spending time with grandchildren, travelling, volunteering, or even playing bingo passive and empty ways to spend time, or ways of engaging with others around common activities. This can lead to negative emotional development as a senior may feel that they are no longer have any value to roles in society because gradually, the power of older people will decrease and will be overtaken by the younger generation, which can lead to depression and isolation. Activity Theory Another theory proposed by Lemon, Bengston and Peterson in 1972 which has a more optimistic view of Ageing. It

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