How Society Impact Suicide in Advanced Age (Term Paper Sample)

Suicide among the Elderly in New York
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How New York society impacts suicide in advanced age
Introduction
Aging is a sequence of processes that start at birth and continues throughout the entire life cycle. Advanced age typically represents the closing period in the lifespan of an individual. For most people, this is often a reflection period, where they look back on their past accomplishments. At advanced age thoughts turn to satisfaction, and they gain confidence socially, emotionally and financially in the life events that are yet to unfold. However, for some elderly, such confidence and satisfaction are nonexistent and elusive. The elderly make up to close to 10% of the population in New York. The elderly who feel hopeless in the possibilities of a satisfying future decide to cut short their lives. The number of deaths has been on the increase despite suicide prevention being a major concern for the healthcare in New York. The issue of suicide in the advanced age has a remained an isolated topic of discussion getting little research attention.
However, in the recent past, the topic has gained little interest from few scholars. A research done by the American Association of suicidality in 2005 indicated that there were over 5,000 suicides in the U.S among individuals aged 70 and above (Bock & Webber, 2002). That meant that almost 15 suicides were committed each day by the elderly. Total suicides by the elderly account for almost 17% of all suicides deaths in New York. This is alarming since the elderly are the leading growing population segment thus making the issue a major public health concern. There are various reasons why the elderly chose to end their lives prematurely. The suicide could either be active or a silent suicide. A silent elderly suicide could be as a result of self-starvation, overdose, accidents or dehydration. Similarly, they could engage in active suicides by hanging themselves, using firearms or drowning themselves. On the same note, it has been noted that the more suicides involve partners or spouses. This research paper seeks to describe how the New York society impacts suicide in the advanced age.
Suicides rates among the elderly in New York
Before analyzing the impact of suicide in the elderly in New York, it is important to find out the suicidal rate among the elderly. Notably, men who are over 75 years of age have the leading rates of suicides in most countries across the world. CDC (center for disease control and prevention) collects information about the mortality rate including death caused by suicides in New York, indicated that over 40,000 people in 2013 succumbed due to suicide, making it the tenth leading killer of its population. The number of deaths has, however, reduced this year from 12.5 % to 10% (Bock & Webber, 2002). Suicidal behavior in the aged is treated with greater lethality and intent than in the younger age groups. A study done by the CDC further showed that the highest suicide rate was among people aged between 55 and 65. The second leading rate was in those of over 80 years of age. Children had the lowest rates of suicides followed by the teenagers and then the middle-aged adults. Similarly, the rate of suicides was highest in males. It rate is about four times highest in male than it is females. The statistics showed men had a suicidal rate of 20%, and the ladies had a rate of 5%. The findings also showed that, in New York City, the highest suicidal rate was among the whites than any other race in the city. They accounted for 75% of all elderly suicides (McIntosh, 2000).
The research further indicated that most of the suicides were caused by firearms. It accounted for nearly half of all elderly suicides. The other commonly used methods were hanging accounting for 24% and poisoning that accounted for 16%. Moreover, the finding showed that the economy was greatly impacted suicides. The cost of suicides in New York was estimated to be around $40 billion every year for medical care (McIntosh, 2000).
Causes of suicidal deaths among the elderly in New York City
Social factors: from the findings of interviews most elders in New York City relate social isolation to the high rates of suicides among the elderly. Social loneliness and isolation are some of the leading factors for elderly suicides. Typically, the elderly are rarely involved in social activities as compared to the younger generation and middle age groups. The elderly are associated with a lot of problems such as relationship and interpersonal problems, financial, physical illness, legal and occupational challenges. Bereavement also plays a substantial influence. Elderly men are more vulnerable, with a study indicating men who are widowed are more likely to commit suicide than married elderly men, and the same is true for women (Blumenthal & Kupfer, 2000). Loss of social relations leaves the elderly lonely and hopeless of the future that makes them commit suicide. A loss of a partner or a spouse worsens the situation. Based on the marital status the elderly who are single, divorced, or widowed are at a greater risk those in marriage lean on marriage as a protective factor.
Psychiatric illness: most studies show a high level of psychiatric disorder in most suicides and the aged is a no exception. The most prevalent cause of suicidal factor among the elderly is a depressive illness. Mood disorders such as depression to be a contributing factor. Approximately a third of people aged between 65 years and above experience some form of depression. Untreated depression is, therefore, a killer among the elderly. Depression in the elderly is as a result of chemical imbalance in their brain. Depression might be as a result of viral infections, strokes, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, tumors, thyroid disorders or Parkinson's disease (Moscicki, 2005). Consequently, steroids, arthritis medication, hormones and blood pressure medication may cause symptoms of depression. Most elderly people shy from their depression since they do not want to be perceived as crazy, weak or suffering from dementia. Depression among the elderly should also be accorded same significance as in the younger generations, and keen attention should be medical to person’s values and attitudes particularly in the face of the loss of events. Despite depression among the elderly, going undetected, introverted individuals display a higher possibility towards committing suicide.
Physical illness: most elderly persons are vulnerable to illness than the younger generation; this is because their immune system has grown weak and weary. Medical illness to a larger extent has directly or indirectly contributed to a relatively larger percentage of between 65 and 75% of elderly suicides. Physically ill male is more prone to suicides than in females.
Moreover, elders who are shy, timid and secluded towards hypochondriasis, rigid, hostile fiercely independent lifestyle. Elderly suicide is also linked to anger and frustration that leads to aggressive behavior towards his or herself. Frustrated psychological needs, psychological pain, and feelings of hopelessness or helplessness are other contributing elements to elderly suicides.
Furthermore, beliefs and attitudes can be substantial contributing elements in suicide, especially dignity, autonomy, and responsibility. We of drug substances such as alcohol also place the elderly at a higher risk for committing suicides. Most scholars argue that suicide among the aged is as a result of many suicidal factors working in combination. In rare occasion would a single factor result to suicide (Moscicki, 2005). Challenges and problems within the social, medical and psychological realms may result to thoughts of suicides in the elderly.
Also notably, most elders who have had a lot of problems and stressors throughout their entire lives may have got used to such stressful situation and learned coping mechanisms that enable them deal with burdensome situations. Whereas those who commit suicides have the inability to condone high level of psychological trauma and have a perception that there are no solutions to their life challenges and problems (Blumenthal & Kupfer, 2000). They view themselves as powerless to reverse their life circumstances. And therefore, they have a feeling that are simply a burden to others and find life having no meaning and may be resort to committing suicide.
Other major causes of suicides among the elderly could be as a result of bereavement, living alone, physical illness, and loss of interest in activities that most people found enjoyable. Breaking medial regimes, expressions of suicidal intent and certain remarks from people, for instance, remarks such as ‘this is the last time we are meeting’ should raise concern.
How New York impact suicide in advanced age
Society focus on youth, contributes to elderly suicides
The New York society’s focus on the younger generation and neglecting the elderly combined with other problems experienced by the elderly largely contribute to a higher suicidal rate among the elderly. Typically, people have little interest on the old since they are not good looking, and the perception that they are less productive greatly impacts on the elderly as they feel neglected and abandoned. New York City is product oriented and values the youth more than the elderly. The suicide rate in New York is highest amongst the elderly, with 20% of the total suicides being among people of over 65 years. The neglect of the elderly by the New York society results in their death but without clear intent. Most decide to commit suicide because they feel no minds about them, takes the time to find about their problem. To avert the situation the society should pay keen attention to the needs of the elderly because despite being old they can be ...