chapter 4 review

This reader learned that the aging process does not cause poor health in old age but it is due to other contributors such as a poor diet, lack of exercise and stress.  What was found interesting in this chapter was The Power 9 Pyramid on pg. 97.  A study was done of centenarians on why they thought they have lived so long.  The nine points can help the micro, mezzo and macro levels of social work.  Our book says that “much of the disability and death currently associated with chronic disease is avoidable through prevention measures and lifestyle choices” (p. 96).  If the nine points in the pyramid can help prevent disability and early death then it can affect not only individual clients but also families, neighborhoods and entire communities.  How this relates to future professional goals is undecided.  If a client has an obesity problem then this chapter will be useful.  Perhaps the most controversial part of the chapter was that the oldest of the centenarians ate big breakfasts which included high intakes of saturated fats and had lifelong patterns of eating pastries and whole milk (p. 114).  Health articles tell us to avoid these things but centenarians show us that this may not be as big of a deal as people think it is.   But that does not mean that people should eat whatever they want.  This chapter was very useful in identifying the many factors that go into being healthy and increasing a person’s longevity and the health issues that can occur during aging.