SOCW 6210 Week 8 discussion post responses. Respond to colleagues who addressed cultures that are different from the ones you addressed. Share an insight from reading your colleagues' postings. Describe how you might incorporate the cultural perspectives on aging described by your colleagues into your own social work practice. Be sure to support your responses with specific references to the resources. If you are using additional articles, be sure to provide full APA-formatted citations for your references. This is my discussion post: In the following paragraphs I will attempt to provide details concerning this week’s discussion topic of sociocultural differences with perspectives on aging. The following will include a comparison of American culture on aging against that of Japan and China. I will explain why differences exist and how the differing perspectives on aging my impact social work practice. Different cultures have different perspectives on aging. Americans have three perceptions on the elderly (60+ years old). The three perceptions are the capabilities, the role in the society and the culpabilities of the elderly. In relation to social work practice such as healthcare needs, Americans believe that the elderly experience a loss of control and deterioration which results in difficulties in meeting their needs. Even though this is the perception of the elderly, experts in America believe that the elderly are a source of social productivity. In Japan, this culture is different as the older adults are more productive thus have better personal growth compared to the older adults in America (Harding, 2015). The elderly in Japan are more salient in social policies compared to the U.S. The Chinese have a culture similar to the U.S one in which the elderly are seen as a burden to the society (Jin Yao, 2018). The elderly are discriminated as opposed to the Japanese culture which values the older adults. Tuckey-Seeley in his research about life course socioeconomic circumstances, he states that the elderly in the U.S manage multiple chronic diseases thus impacting on their socioeconomic statuses (Tucker-Seeley, 2011). Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman (2016) also discusses the psychological aspects in later adulthood states that when a person grows old, they are bound to have memory loss, their intellectual function also deteriorates, and there is decrease in mobility and thus a higher risk of getting diseases. This is due to the many changes that occur in the bodies where there is also reduction in brain size thus having an impact on the older adults (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2016). These effects on the elderly affect social work assessments and intervention methods. The elderly ultimately need the help of the society to help them carry out their day to day functions. References Zastrow, C. H., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2016). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. Chapter 15, "Psychologi.

1. SOCW 6210 Week 8 discussion post responses.
Respond to colleagues who addressed cultures that are different
from the ones you addressed. Share an insight from reading
your colleagues' postings. Describe how you might incorporate
the cultural perspectives on aging described by your colleagues
into your own social work practice.
Be sure to support your responses with specific references to
the resources. If you are using additional articles, be sure to
provide full APA-formatted citations for your references.
This is my discussion post:
In the following paragraphs I will attempt to provide details
concerning this week’s discussion topic of sociocultural
differences with perspectives on aging. The following will
include a comparison of American culture on aging against that
of Japan and China. I will explain why differences exist and
how the differing perspectives on aging my impact social work
practice.
Different cultures have different perspectives on aging.
Americans have three perceptions on the elderly (60+ years
old). The three perceptions are the capabilities, the role in the
society and the culpabilities of the elderly. In relation to social
work practice such as healthcare needs, Americans believe that
the elderly experience a loss of control and deterioration which
results in difficulties in meeting their needs. Even though this is
the perception of the elderly, experts in America believe that
the elderly are a source of social productivity. In Japan, this
culture is different as the older adults are more productive thus
have better personal growth compared to the older adults in
America (Harding, 2015). The elderly in Japan are more salient
in social policies compared to the U.S. The Chinese have a
culture similar to the U.S one in which the elderly are seen as a
burden to the society (Jin Yao, 2018). The elderly are

2. discriminated as opposed to the Japanese culture which values
the older adults.
Tuckey-Seeley in his research about life course socioeconomic
circumstances, he states that the elderly in the U.S manage
multiple chronic diseases thus impacting on their socioeconomic
statuses (Tucker-Seeley, 2011). Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman
(2016) also discusses the psychological aspects in later
adulthood states that when a person grows old, they are bound
to have memory loss, their intellectual function also
deteriorates, and there is decrease in mobility and thus a higher
risk of getting diseases. This is due to the many changes that
occur in the bodies where there is also reduction in brain size
thus having an impact on the older adults (Zastrow & Kirst-
Ashman, 2016). These effects on the elderly affect social work
assessments and intervention methods. The elderly ultimately
need the help of the society to help them carry out their day to
day functions.
References
Zastrow, C. H., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2016). Understanding
human behavior and the social environment (10th ed.). Boston,
MA: Cengage Learning. Chapter 15, "Psychological Aspects of
Later Adulthood" (pp. 685-714)
Harding, D. C. (2015). Three western myths about Japan,
retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34005681
Jin Yao, L. Y. (2018). Perceived discrimination and life
satisfaction of elderly Chinese People. Frontiers in Psychology.
Tucker-Seeley, G. S. (2011). Lifecourse socioeconomic
circumstances and multimorbidity. BMC public health.
Reply to the following Posts
AR’s post states the following:Top of Form
Compare your culture's perspective on aging to the perspectives
of the two cultures you researched.
Growing up in an African American culture, aging for elders in

3. my family meant "Independence" My grandmother for example,
although she is getting older and in our family we were taught
to take care of your elders and ensure they have the support
they need. My grandmother relies on her independence. She
wants to do everything for herself. In African American culture
there are components of aging that African Americans consider
which include social activity, a strong spiritual life, not taking
medications, and traveling (Sara J Corwin, 2019). African
Americans said aging well means being cognitively intact, free
of serious mobility impairment or other health problems (Sara J
Corwin, 2019).
Upon my research the perspective on aging African American
culture differs from Caucasian culture, this culture describes
aging well as living a long time, staying physically active,
maintaining a positive outlook on life, and having good
genes (Sara J Corwin, 2019).
The perception of aging and sense of well-being among Latino
elderly is influenced by the level and quality of social support,
cultural expectations, and having strong faith in God. These
factors influence sense of emotional well-being despite physical
functional capacity and chronic health conditions. They also
have a fear of loneliness and living in nursing homes (Beyene,
Becker, & Mayen, 2002).
Why you think these differences exist. Also, explain how
different perspectives on aging might impact social work
practice.
I believe these differences exist because of generational
experiences, every culture is not the same. We all were brought
up off of different values and beliefs; I can speak on the behalf
of my culture, being African American, I was always taught the
value of family. We were raised to always care for the elders
within our family, our family is very close knit. Now in other
cultures those values may not be the same and different
perspectives on aging might impact social work practice by
altering the way we come up with plans for individuals and their
families.

4. Reference
Beyene, Y., Becker, G. & Mayen, N. Journal of Cross-Cultural
Gerontology (2002) 17: 155.
https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015886816483
Sara J Corwin, R. (2019). Peer Reviewed: Attitudes on Aging
Well Among Older African Americans and
Whites in South Carolina. [online] PubMed Central (PMC).
Available at:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2774627
MMV’s Post states the following
Growing up in Venezuela we were taught to take care of our
elders my grandmother was cared for in later adulthood when
she was unable to care for herself. My aunt and I were there for
her and provided her with basic necessities, medical care, and
hospice services. Some cultures differ in the way they look at
the aging process because some look at it in a linear form,
which lines out the expectations for aging. Others look at it as
more of a cyclical process that covers different stages of living,
but regardless of choice, the people in later adulthood are
referred to as a population at risk. Older adults are a population
because of their vulnerable position in this stage in life. Older
people faced threats in the past because of scarce resources that
forced society into abandoning their elders. Eskimos, tribes in
Bolivia, and members in Uganda would leave the elders and
created a way for them to die away from the members of the
community (Zastrow, & Kirst-Ashman, 2016). In the present-
day, the mentality is somewhat the same, with the elderly
having to retire after a certain age, which in turn affects
negatively because, at times, they lose their power, status, and
income (Zastrow, & Kirst-Ashman, 2016). Most elderly live

5. well below the poverty line, and this issue poses an impact on
social work. The elderly may require social services to
accommodate them in achieving a better quality of life. Placing
the elderly at a nursing home when they are no longer able to
care for themselves provides them with a better quality of
life. Additional assistance can be delivered to them with
counseling to help them deal with the transition of this stage in
later adulthood.
Adulthood in India may be difficult for the elderly because of
the caste system in place and how people with disabilities are
viewed (because stigma related to them are less desirable
(Kayama, Johnstone, & Limaye, 2019). India's elderly have a
restricted social life 20 percent of them fall under this category.
13 percent of them are abused or mentally tortured, and roughly
13 percent of the elderly are denied basic needs (Goswami,
2016). The attitude of the elderly differs in Greece as opposed
to the western lifestyle, which looks at aging in a negative light
from the culture of looking young and removing the elderly to
nursing homes and isolating them from society. In Greece, old
age is celebrated and put in the center of the family, and in
China and Korea, the elderly is care for by their families
(Huffpost, 2017).
References
Goswami, S. (2016). The ugly truth about old age in India.
Retrieved from
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/The-ugly-truth-
about-old-age-in-India/article14423922.ece
Huffpost. (2017). 7 Cultures Where 'Old' Isn't A Bad Word.
Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-other-
cultures-can-teach_n_4834228
Kayama, M., Johnstone, C., & Limaye, S. (2019). Adjusting the

6. “self” in social interaction: Disability and stigmatization in
India. Children & Youth Services Review, 96, 463–474.
https://doi-
org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.11.047
Zastrow, C. H., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2016). Understanding
human behavior and the social environment (10th ed.). Boston,
MA: Cengage Learning.
SR’s post states the following:
I am a caucasian agnostic raised in a Baptist culture. I will
compare my personal culture to that of the Lao and African
American cultures in relation to perspective on aging.
In Lao means that the main house at the center of a group of
related women almost always contains a stem family. The oldest
daughter and her husband move out after the marriage of the
next daughter but try to live nearby or in the same compound.
The main house usually is inherited by the youngest daughter,
who is responsible for the care of aging parents (Countries,
2019). In the Laotion culture, family stays close to each other.
Many follow tradition even today. I myself have witnessed how
those in this culture keep tradition and family close to them. A
friend’s father passed and as the oldest male, he had to take a
vow of silence and live in a monastery for a time of reflection
and respect. In my own culture, the family is spread out and we
do not have the same religious beliefs as each other. When my
grandfather passed my grandmother took care of him and his
needs. At the end of her life, she stayed in a nursing home and
we were with her at the very end in the home. The impact on
social work in this situation would be the necessity to evolve
the family in the care plan. However, it can also cause difficulty

7. with patient confidentiality in the family when the client wants
something different than the family.
The family has been the bedrock of African American culture
from times of slavery through the tumultuous days of mandated
racial segregation. in the company of elders, it felt less
intimidating and essential for family unity to face some of the
issues that have challenged and disrupted the African American
family in modern times. Elders’ wisdom projected safety and
provided a comforting sense of security (McCoy, 2019). In
African American culture, their elderly are a big part of
understanding their history. Family is a big part of their life and
the elderly are respected. In my experiance when a family is
unable to care physically for the elderly help is saught, but they
are there in numbers day after day. In comparison to my own
culture, we are also respectful of our grandparents and what
they had to teach us but with our mother it is more of equals.
We still take care of each other and know our end wishes.
However, we do not talk to each other every day as adults.
Different perspectives on aging might impact social work
practice here because in a family who sees their family daily
may not want to explain their issues to them. They could be
embarrassed or not want to be seen as vulnerable. This could
lead to a lack of resources or client depression.
References
Countries and Their Cultures (2019). Laos. Retrieved
from https://www.everyculture.com/Ja-
Ma/Laos.html#ixzz62NCTzQEp
McCoy, Renee (2019). African American Elders, Cultural
Traditions, and the Family Reunion. Retrieved
from https://www.asaging.org/blog/african-american-elders-
cultural-traditions-and-family-reunion