Final Paper SOC326 Diversity & Aging

Final PaperThe Integrative Final Paper, 9-11 pages (exclusive of title and references pages), should demonstrate understanding of the reading assignments, class discussions, your own research and the application of new knowledge. It should consist of 6-8 resources including the textbook, three from ProQuest, and the remaining from scholarly or professional Internet sources. 

Select one of the following case studies:

Scenario One: Sachiko IkedaSachiko Ikeda is an 84 year old, Japanese-American woman who lives in a small rural community in Eastern Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Ikeda moved to the United States when Mrs. Ikeda was 30 years old. Mrs. Ikeda is a former elementary school teacher. She is widowed and lives alone in her house that has paid off. Mrs. Ikeda’s three children live in New York (approximately three hours away).  Mrs. Ikeda has a modest income; she receives support from her teacher’s pension and Social Security. Mrs. Ikeda’s health is generally very good; she does not have a primary care physician at this time. About 10 years ago, she was told that she has macular degeneration. Mrs. Ikeda enjoys visiting museums and going to the theater. She now takes the bus to and from these locations as her eyesight is not what it used to be.

Scenario Two: John HunterMr. Hunter is a 65 year Native American man who grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. There is extreme poverty on the reservation. Mr. Hunter has diabetes and in the past often had difficulty getting to his medical appointments. Mr. Hunter’s daughter drives him to more than 100 miles to Rapid City to see a specialist. Mr. Hunter’s primary income comes from his part-time work as a technician who services electrical appliances. The amount of support Mr. Hunter receives from Social Security is limited due to the types of work Mr. Hunter did over his life-time.

Scenario Three: Sam LevySam Levy is an 83 year old African American man who lives in rural South Carolina. Mr. Levy lives with his wife. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.  The Levy’s four children all live in the same community. The Levy’s live in a modest one bedroom home that is need of many repairs. Mr. Levy worked as a carpenter for 50 years before retiring at age 70. Their sole income is from Social Security. The Levy’s receive meals and some financial assistance for utilities from their local community center and their church congregation. Mr. Levy suffers from hypertension and diabetes and is not able to afford to take the medications as prescribed. He often skips medications to save money. Mrs. Levy suffers from Alzheimer’s. The Levy’s children take turns caring for Mr. and Mrs. Levy.

Scenario Four: Maria RuizMaria Ruiz is a 72 year old Mexican-American female living in a small Southwestern community. Ms. Ruiz and her partner recently celebrated their 25th anniversary. While Ms. Ruiz’s partner is employed full time, Ms. Ruiz is retired.  Ms. Ruiz worked as a nurse for over 30 years, receives a monthly pension in addition to the modest amount of money she set aside in her 401K account. Ms. Ruiz is growing increasingly dependent upon her partner for transportation to appointments, shopping, and managing finances. Ms. Ruiz is aware that she is becoming more forgetful and sometimes has trouble finding the right words to say. Ms. Ruiz knows that she will need more formal care in the future. Ms. Ruiz and her partner are concerned that they will not be able to find an assisted living community that will be supportive of their relationship and allow them to see one another.

After reading the case study and reviewing each chapter of the book, answer the following questions as they relate to the individual from your scenario:

1. How does race/ethnicity and gender affect the socioeconomic status of the person in your scenario?
2. What are cultural beliefs/practices related to aging? How might they affect the person in your scenario? 
3. How does socioeconomic status influence health behaviors and decisions related to health care for the person on your scenario?
4. What are the leading causes of death for older persons in the racial/ethnic group represented in this scenario? What role does this person’s gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status play?
5. What strengths does this person bring to their aging experience?
6. What challenges does this person face when considering their aging experience?
7. Develop three recommendations for improving this person’s aging experience. Explain your rationale for selecting these recommendations. Describe how following these recommendations will have a positive impact.

Writing the Final Paper

1. Must be 9 to 11 double-spaced pages in length, and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
2. Must include a title page with the following:
   • Title of paper
   • Student’s name
   • Course name and number
   • Instructor’s name
   • Date submitted
3. Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.
4. Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
5. Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
6. Must use at least 5 scholarly resources, including a minimum of 2 from the Ashford Online Library.
7. Must document all sources in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
8. Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.