Conflict Perspectives on Aging
Conflict theorists view aging as especially problematic in contemporary capitalistic societies. As people grow older, their power ends to diminish unless they are able to maintain wealth. Consequently, those who have been disadvantaged in their younger ears become even more so in late adulthood. Women age 75
Getting Behind the Wheel to Help Older People: Meals on Wheels
this Is A wonderful thing you all do. It’s Great for me because it it gives me someone to talk to during the day… , I’m blessed that know people like you. Thank )vJ. -Beverly Gilbert an elderly resident of Pennsville Towers In New Jersey,expressing her thanks to Meals On Wheels Volunteers who have delivered a hot meal to her home and visited with her for a number of years (qtd. in nahan, 2007)
Like Beverly Gilbert thousands of women and men across the United States who are elderly, home bound, disabled, or frail have nutritious meals delivered to their residence by volunteers from Meals On Wheels, an organization that asks recipients to contribute what they can toward the cost of their meals but relies primarily on donations of time and money to cover the cost of he service that it provides. Although the majority of Meals On Wheels recipients are over age sixty, some younger disabled or II persons also benefit from this service. What do ‘Wheels” volunteers do? On their designated service days, volunteers pick up prepared meals packed In Insulated carriers at a neighborhood meal site and deliver the food to the people on their “route; which usually serves about ten people and takes no more than about an hour, even allowing’for time to visit briefly with each food recipient. Along with delivering food to people’s homes, Meals on Wheels volunteers also provide recipients with a warm mile and a caring attitude. Volunteers serve as a safety check to ensure that the older person is doing all right. In orientation sessions. volunteers learn what to do if they get to a residence and find that a person Is In need of assistance (MOWAA, 2007). What does it take to become a Meals on Wheels volunteer? “Wheels’ volunteers must have a valid driver’s license and proof f insurance.They Must be eighteen years of age
or older, or if they are younger, they must be accompanied by a person over age eighteen who meets the licensing and insurance requirements. Meals On Wheels organizations in various communities have different guidelines on how frequently they want volunteers to work, but a minimum of two days per month is a general requirement Obviously, many local”Wheels’organizations would like for volunteers to work more often than that and attempt to assign volunteers to an area near their own home or workplace In order to make it easier to meet that goal (GAMOW 2.007). What can you do to help provide food for elderly, home bound residents? Providing A little of our time and for some financial support (even a small donation) greatly helps programs such as Meals on Wheels. Although the Meals on Wheels Association of America is a national organization that works with affiliate programs and member groups across the nation, Meals On Wheels Is Largely a grassroots operation that relies on local volunteers to provide time and money to help make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable individuals in their community. t is estimated that as many as 40 percent of Meals On Wheels programs across the country have waiting lists because they lack adequate funds to meet the needs of every person who applies for meal services.A Number of programs have been especially hard it by a dramatic increase in the number of older residents in their area and the rising price of gasoline (GAMOW 2.007.007). If You are interested in helping ensure that older people in your community have nutritious food to eat, contact your local Meals on Wheels organization or visit the website of the Meal son Wheels Association of for additional formation. Can you think of additional ways In which you might help older individuals in your community or in your own family receive food or other services they may need? and over are among the most disadvantaged because they they often must rely solely n social Security. having outlived their spouses and sometimes their children (Harrington Meyer. 1990). Underlying the capitalist stem is an ideology which assumes that all people have equal access to the means of gaining wealth and that poverty results ROM individual weakness. When older people are in need. they may be viewed as not having worked hard enough or planned adequately for their retirement. The family and the private sector are seen as the “proper” agents to respond to their needs. To minimize the demand for governmental assistance. these services are made punitive and stigmatizing to those who need them (Latchkey and Barusch, 2004). Class-based theories of inequality assert that government programs for older persons stratify society on the basis of class. Feminist approaches claim that these programs perpetuate inequalities on the basis of gender and race in addition to class (Harrington Meyer. 1994). Conflict analysis draws attention to the diversity in the older population. itterences ill social class, gender. and race ethnicity divide older people just as they do everyone else. Wealth cannot forestall going ·indefinitely. ut it can soften the economic hardships faced in later years. The conflict perspective adds to our understanding
