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The transparency of aging.

Jeanne M Sorrell¹

¹School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA. jsorrell@gmu.edu

Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services

|April 3, 2007

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This article challenges healthcare professionals to reconsider assumptions about aging adults' quality of life. Listening to their life stories is crucial for understanding ethical personhood and providing meaningful care.

Area of Science:

Gerontology
Bioethics
Sociology

Background:

Healthcare professionals often overlook the subjective experiences of aging adults.
Current definitions of quality of life may not fully encompass the personhood of older individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

To provoke critical thinking about the ethical personhood of aging adults.
To encourage a reevaluation of assumptions regarding quality of life in aging.
To highlight the importance of listening to life stories.

Main Methods:

Philosophical inquiry and ethical reflection.
Analysis of assumptions in healthcare practices concerning aging.
Emphasis on qualitative data from life stories.

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Main Results:

The "cloak of transparency" may obscure valuable insights from aging adults' narratives.
Rethinking quality of life requires acknowledging the depth of individual life experiences.
Listening to life stories is essential for ethical care.

Conclusions:

Healthcare professionals have a moral imperative to listen to and learn from the life stories of aging individuals.
Understanding ethical personhood necessitates valuing the lived experiences and narratives of older adults.
This approach can lead to a more authentic and meaningful definition of quality of life in aging.