Gerontology Write-up
Gerontology studies biological, sociological, and biopsychosocial issues related to old age. The film “On Golden Pond” is one of the films that has focused on gerontological old age problems. The story begins as an old couple arrives at a lakeside cottage where they have enjoyed their summer periods. Hepburn and Fonda know one another better. Fond is a former professor whose disguise covers shyness. Their daughter Jane, her fiancé and his son join them at the lakeside. As they spend time at the lakeside, they begin experiencing issues of conflict. Jane Fonda feels that the father has not given her what she needs. Jane wants to go to Europe with Coleman, but they wonder if it would be okay to leave their son at the lake with the older adults. An accident that occurs at the lake brings a new realization to old Fonda. She realizes how to communicate with their daughter and how to relate to the young boy.
The movie proceeds with a conversation existing between a forty-five years old man seek permission from an eighty-year-old man to sleep with his daughter in the same room. However, the older adult does take the question lightly and brings more issues that, however, lead to bringing some truth about family issues.
The society has developed stereotypical ideas against older adults in different circumstances and different ways. The society has identified some roles with specific people. Some of the roles in a social setup remain and continue to validate the existence of a person in society. Although people get old, they will continue to be parents, and they expect to get respect from their sons and daughters. Individuals can get old, stop working and retire, but their role as a parent will always remain the same. For example, in the movie “On Golden Pond,” Hepburn and Fonda continue to be parents of their daughter Jane. Jane’s fiancé has to ask for permission from the older adult to sleep in the same room with his daughter.
Other people believe that older adults cause conflicts among family members. They tend to disagree with some of the decisions that young people make. For example, in the film “On Golden Pond,” The old men could not agree on some issues and therefore had conflicts with the daughter and her fiancé (Thompson, 1979). Old Fonda did not trust her daughter and did not know how to communicate with the child. Additionally, a conflicting argument arose as the old was expected to give permission. With these examples, it is evident that older adults are associated with conflicts.
The society has also assumed that most older adults have various issues with their memory. They do not remember some things appropriately and sometimes confuse some of the issues they handle. In the film “On Golden Pond” when Norman arrives at the Golden pond, and they settle to their summer home, Norman develops memory problems. He finds it difficult to recognize some of the photos for the family (Thompson, 1979). He has to cope with the issue as he keeps talking about it with old age. It is not only the issue of memory that older adults have, but they also keep grumbling about death. Older adults have issues that affect them. However, society assumes that most older adults experience similar problems, which sometimes is not the case.
References
Thompson, E. (1979). On Golden Pond. Dramatists Play Service Inc.