Risk Management among Older People Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Risk Management among Older People - Essay Example The intention of this study is the concept of risk. McDonald argues that risk is quite a serious societal issue as demonstrated by more emphasis being placed in distribution of risks than in distribution of wealth. McDonald then explores several perspectives of the definition/concept of risk in the society as it relates to social work, beginning with the widely accepted legal view that risk is the likelihood of an event occurring and the existence of a duty of care that is owed to those who might be affected (in this case the elderly) by reasonably foreseeable consequences of another party’s actions. Another perspective of risk is the actuarial notion, where it is the probability of occurrence of certain events based on statistical analyses of whole populations or subgroups, where in this case we have the older people sub-group. McDonald also discusses the social constructivist aspect of risk, where certain risks have been granted cultural acceptance based on different societa l dynamics. An example concerning older people is where certain risk-taking behaviours are out of question in a manner different to young people who may not be limited by such events. For instance, although the risk of injury from engaging in sport is present for all sub-groups, older people are more constrained from it differently from young people. Across all these concepts of risk, it is discernible that the shared characteristic is in the probability of an event occurring, and for the purposes of social work, an opportunity to pre-empt the event from occurring which forms a vital dimension of social work. The functional definition is that risk involves calculation of probability of and description of the likelihood of a future event given certain conditions, while at the same time recognising duty of care. Risk assessment is an issue related to the probabilistic aspect of the social workers knowledge base; hence it involves balancing out the outcomes for the service user in ques tion (Hawkes 2003, p. 6). The role of the social worker here is to assess the probability of significant harm occurring, or assess that which has already occurred in a bid to prevent further/future harm from occurring. Assessment of risk occupies a pivotal position in social work since it occurs at the initial point of contact between the service user and the social worker, and hence the effectiveness of intervention mechanisms depends to a large extent on the outcomes of the risk assessment. Social Worker Duty, Reasons for Risk Assessment and Obsession with Risk Assessment The reasons behind the obsession of social work with risk assessment can be traced from the trends in the wider society. McLauglin (2008, pp. 3-6) first establishes that there is an ongoing preoccupation with risk in the society and its minimisation, with the primary concern of the contemporary society shifting from being after something good to instead preventing the worst (tendency towards self-limitation as op posed to pursuing self realisation). This shift is being driven by a shift from natural hazards to man-made ones especially in the developed world, where for example an older person

Seeing Through the Illusions of the Sports Hero Essay

Seeing Through the Illusions of the Sports Hero - Essay Example The researcher states that many young children idolize professional athletes; that’s why they are easily influenced by these athletes whom they regard as their heroes. If, for instance, they see their hero athlete using steroids, they may think that using steroids is just okay. An athlete should really project an impeccable image to the society. However, parents should take the responsibility to teach their children and be their role models. Parents should be there for their children and guide them about which sports figures should be held in high esteem. But athletes, as public figures, should mind what they are showing to the public especially the athletes who are always followed by media. High profile athletes, by virtue of their celebrity, should act like paragons of virtue, even if they weren’t. According to the article â€Å"Seeing through the Illusions of the Sports Hero,† the author pointed out that these sports heroes are actually being just manipulated and most of them are not that perfect as role models. People like Martin Luther King Jr., who paid the ultimate cost for his devotion to justice with his life; Mother Theresa, who selflessly devoted herself to bring hope to others; and Muhammad Ali, who was willing to give up his title and risked being imprisoned for his religious objections to the Vietnam War. These are the people who should be considered as role models. The phrase â€Å"role model† should be a special title for people who exemplify the essence of civic responsibility.

King Richard III by William Shakespeare Essay Example for Free

King Richard III by William Shakespeare Essay T he plays depict the collapse of English control over parts of France and the bitter and fierce internal struggles between the Houses of Lancaster and York in the fight to gain the crown of England. King Richard III is regarded (Hume 202) as a piece of prop aganda support ing the Tudor monarchs who succeeded Richard after he was killed in battle . This essay examine s how the theme of conscience is evidenced in Shakespeare’s play, and how the issues addressed are reflected in my daily life. (100 words) One prominent theme in the drama is the theme of conscience. Throughout the drama, Richard,  Duke of Gloucester, murders and betrays to gain the English crown. His conscience , however, is evident. In Act I scene iii, Margaret, an exiled former queen , has a special curse for Richard , who kille d her husband and her son (lines 224 9) : The worm of conscience still begnaw thy soul. Thy friends suspect for traitors while thou liv’st, And take deep traitors for thy dearest friends. No sleep close up that deadly eye of thine, Unless it be while some tormenting dream Affrights thee with a hell of ugly devils. Most of Margaret’s curses are fulfilled during the play. Richard struggles  with his heavy conscience. In Act IV scene I Lady An ne , his wife is distressed to learn that she is to be crowned his queen, and speaks of her unhappiness and his guilty conscience: For never yet one hour in his bed Have I enjoyd the golden dew of sleep, But have been waked by his timorous dreams. Spec tacularly, in the scene before the battle at Bosworth, King Richard is visited by the ghosts of h i s victims . His soliloquy in Act V scene iii suggests that he is overcome by a ‘coward conscience’ (lines 191 6) : O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me! The lights burn blue. It is now dead midnight. Cold fearful drops stand on my trembling flesh. 2 The theme is developed . Co nscience can be a manipulative tool used by cowards , Richard declares: Let not our babbling dreams affright our souls: Conscience is but a word that cowards use, Devised at first to keep the strong in awe: Our strong arms be our conscience, swords our law. I shall now consider how conscience relates to my daily life. It has often been remarked (e. g. G ui 203; Palfreyman 80) that Richard’s assertiveness, his strength and determination command a respect of their own, his crimes aside. Every day, I read in the papers that someone has exercised ruthless power over other people in some way, and so made ‘swords [their] law’ to wi n a contest, whether it be in the form of school bullying, or rise to political power as in this play. I am still unclear as to how far we should assert ourselves to gain things that we want at others’ expense like this. It frightens me that I can understa nd such tyrants and see them as essentially very human. Such things are an integral part of life and ourselves and will never go away. I believe, though, that  there is such a thing as conscience, yet whether it is only something we have been taught is har d to establish. It is possible to see Shakespeare’s play as an elaborate wish fulfillment or fantasy, therefore. In sum, Shakespeare directs us to focus , non simplistically, on tyranny and ruthlessness in our midst. In a sense , the portrayal of Richard as a man with a conscience and, at the same time, with astute manipulative powers gives the drama unresolved humanistic problems. We may need to ask ourselves how far we can go to attain our ends while still sleeping at night.

The Effects Of Music Videos On Children Young People Essay

The Effects Of Music Videos On Children Young People Essay Music wakes up in our minds in the morning to the point of making us want to dance and probably soothing us when we have sand feelings. From our childhood through teenage to adulthood, music becomes our integral part in our whole life. At teenage, music helps define the characteristics of an individual. Pediatricians have tried to specialize in adolescent medicine and also consider the power of music and how it affects their identity. The impact on the individuals cultural and social boundaries is highly attributed to the long average hours of listening to music. Despite the fact that there is extensive variety of genres of music, adults and children differ on how they select the content to listen to. With the ability to discern what is right and what is wrong, adults may not be highly affected by the current behavior or social ills. Children on the other hand are much prone to the attractive violent category of music; the music contains plots that draw adolescents and other minority. During the development stages in adolescent, children try to discover their own Hero and role models. This means that the environment in which these children spend and grow will give them the character they want as own hero. At this time, the most inspiring issue to the child is to get what she or he wants. Assuming that the child has personal problems o challenges that he or she wants to defeat, it would be easier to prefer violent characters on TV and then adopt their way of doing things. Most of the hip hop music for instance contains violent engagements, use of drugs, sexual situations as well as sexual violence. The child would then develop with the notion that he or she must be violent or arrogant to survive in life. Heavy metal music has extreme alienating effects on developing children which includes psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, sex-role stereotyping and suicide risk. If a child displays violent acts against other children, the parent or the teacher has to pay close attention the music being listened to by children (Kathy John). Most music videos may show half naked women which affect the mental health of a child. Due to the societal behavioral classification, this mode of dressing is not acceptable in public. Therefore children experience severe mental strain in deciding what to accept as a norm or evil. Depending on the exposure the child experiences, the child can develop in favor of the environment. A child can grow in a calm environment which may promote the wellbeing of the child. Calm videos can help the child admire to have the future he or she sees on the TV or such media. These groups of children prefer to stay in peaceful environment and mostly tend to be obedient and accepted in the society. On the other hand violent videos tend to portray that the world is much violent than the way it is. This makes children believe that their home is the only exemption that is safe. Children get deceived that their families must align with the society. Children do not have great exposure to the outer society due to their parental care. This leaves the children to understand the community to be home and TV or digital media. This means that if the parents do not stay at home for long hours, the child may end up adopting the media culture other than the home culture. The child advances in being violent and aggressive through the adolescent to early adulthood. The cognitive scripts developed by children are developed through imitating media heroes. Most of these are adopted from violent music videos and shows. As teenagers and children watch these violent acts, they are able to internalize these scripts and become effective in influencing the life of the individual (Mhhe.com). Fashion is one of the areas that teenagers and children want to feel like they rule. They always want to outdo others, either among themselves or when alone. Celebrities adopt specific fashion for different tracks and videos; this leaves the child in a much vulnerable and delicate situation of selecting the style they want. These fashion problems may become an issue to the family since they may not be acceptable to the parents and the general public. The tense can lead to family problems where parents engage in physical confrontation with the child. Children on the other hand are not in a position to argue with the situation in which case they may be drawn away from their family. Areas in which fashion affects girl child includes scanty dressing, improper make up usage and use of drugs to change their body contour to look attractive. Boys may not experience extensive effects since the society does not set what is morally incorrect for the boy child. The problem however may be pronoun ced in a Christian family setting. This means that children can negatively be affected by such fashion (Media Awareness Network). The other problem area that music videos affect children during development is the misuse and use of alcohol in children. Video show explicit situations where young people are using alcohol and drugs. The child thinks that such use of drugs and alcohol would make the known and respected in the society. Since the video may not be only one that show such behaviors, the child tend to think that use of drugs or alcohol does not have any consequences after all. Although they may see warning signs on billboards highlighting the negative effects of using drugs and alcohol in young age, they do not get convinced as they get while watching a video. Such a child faces the wrath of using such drugs and alcohol to a point of addiction. The problem with such addiction is that they would require the individual to get medical attention and rehabilitation to recover and have a normal life again. Before the child or a parent discovers this problem, the child would have wasted a lot of precious time t hat could be used to develop talents and discover his or her mission in life. As earlier said, children may not be in a position to determine their role model with a conscious mind; the prominent environment chooses for them (Media Awareness Network). Language is the other aspect of a child that is affected by these videos. A child would always want to develop his or her commanding ability especially among peers or to use when asking something from the parent. The process of developing such that he or she can command respect naturally can get interfered with through audio and visual media. When the child sees someone on video eliciting vulgar words to others and gets what he needs done, and then the child will find it easier and efficient. The fact that such language is common in hard music which happens to be wide spread, the child assumes that such language is allowed in the society. The child ends up adopting the vulgar language for use in the community. Such children get discriminated in a society that values respectful individuals (Media Awareness Network). Fear is the other effect the music videos can have on the children. Children always want to feel safe and secure; it may not be the case when they discover that the world is not as they take it. Guns and deaths seem exaggerated on videos such that the child feels that anyone can be killed anytime and the criminal goes scot-free. The child may develop fear that this may happen to him or her or even to one of the family members. This can result to negative development of such children. With advancement in video production technology, video animation has become much easier. Some videos contain pictures showing situations where human being are being traumatized by unknown creatures, such video can be a fear factor to a child who has not developed enough to understand that such images are human creations and fiction. Such videos that scare children can trigger suicidal or homicidal feelings in a child. Music videos show explicit motion pictures that promote sex in the society. It is clear that such pictures would be of much interest to children who have not yet tried to indulge in sex itself. They act as the base upon which they learn how sex takes place. The sexual consciousness of a child may be aroused through such videos. Children can then try among themselves what they observed happen. In the process of trying, careless adults may become attracted to such minors. This opens to the child many challenges in life including sexually transmitted infections or even AIDS. Such sexual experiences are hard for children to contain and control, making them much vulnerable to rapists and child sex (Aubrey Jennifer). In conclusion, music videos have highly affected the structure of our society due to the effectiveness audio visual media. The power of such media has numerous advantages that have benefited the society, but this does not happen without a variety of back draws. Through the same visual technology, our society has degraded to a point of snatching childrens mind; children cannot live any more without videos. Media has become much accessible to children and teens through internet. It is however the responsibility of the guardian to create conducive environment for the child to grow. This can be achieved through use of internet filter tools to lockout inappropriate media from streaming. The parent can also subscribe for family programs that have their content checked for general audience. It might be hard or the parent to control what the child watches when alone therefore, it is also the responsibility of the parent to advise his or her children on what is appropriate and what is not. Work cited Aubrey Jennifer. The impact of sexually objectifying media exposure on negative body motions and sexual self perceptions investigating the mediating role of body self consciousness 2007. May 3, 2010 Kathy Dix John Harris. Violence in Music May 3, 2010 Media Awareness Network. Inappropriate content in music negative effects May 3, 2010 Mhhe.com Does media violence promote violent behavior in young people? July 2001. May 3, 2010 http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/english/allwrite3/seyler/ssite/seyler/ se04/promote.pdf> Murray Jeannette. The Negative Effect of Music Videos, July 29, 2006. May 3, 2010

Freedom is Over-rated :: essays papers

Freedom is Over-rated The word freedom can technically be defined as the quality or state of being free. However, this definition leaves enormous room for every interpretation imaginable. I live in the â€Å"land of the free†, also known as America. But every country, free or not, has its obvious restrictions, such as laws, society, and government. Someone’s age, race, sex, height, or weight can restrict people in society. In my personal opinion, nothing is truly or completely free. To be free no definite barriers can exist physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. Most people tend to think of birds when referring to freedom, even more specifically the eagle. Coincidentally, the eagle is the symbol for freedom in America. Eagles fly in the sky, and the sky has no barriers or restrictions existing to the human eye. I believe this is why people think of eagles as images to represent freedom. However, are birds truly free? Birds can not fly without the worry of being killed by a shotgun. Birds do not control their own habitat. If someone wants to chop down a bird’s home, the bird can not stop the person. In closure, birds are not completely free. In the movie, Hurricane, most of Rubin Carter’s life was based upon the judgments people plagued upon him, distinctly because of his race. Rubin had to free his mind in order to grasp and hold onto the little freedom he had in prison. Carter overcame his mind by blocking out distinct hallucinations of the violent and sensitive sides of his personality. But still Rubin Cater was not free. He almost gave up on his life if it was not for his friends in Canada. Those friends in Canada were the critical factor for Rubin Carter’s release from jail. Society and government withhold people from reaching infinite freedom. This is just a plain fact and almost self-explanatory. People in society are not free wherever they go. Society afflicts this description on how people should act, or how people should talk. Society even insists on controlling our thoughts. The United States’ government gives people the right to vote. But is it the popular vote the determining factor in deciding the future president? I think not.

Facing Death Again :: Graduate College Admissions Essays

Facing Death Again I've been having adventures this summer. In July I cranked my new new car up to 110 mph and flew alone for two days in the desert, saw a dead polar bear in a coffee shop, marched in a parade, and scattered Dad's ashes in an open meadow. For the most part, though, my adventures have been internal. I am making a feeble attempt at a teenage life crisis, but so far it hasn't amounted to much - just a lot of pacing, brooding, and long, exhausting mental hikes down roads not taken. My mom has been patient throughout. One of my melancholy realizations is that my remarkable network of teenage friends, once so closely-knit, are now scattered to the wind and so deeply entangled in their own lives that I have very few people left to talk to. At school I have a first-rate cadre of friends, and long lunches every day, but we keep each other, always, at a certain distance. Other old friends are reachable by phone, and I've reached, but there are always parties or impatient girlfriends in the background. It takes great resourcefulness, and much juggling of schedules, to pry loose a few precious minutes on the phone, and in those minutes there are bridges to be built and private languages to be rediscovered before any real conversation can take place. And my dearest friend, is off somewhere in the easternmost Alps, drinking Viennese coffee and nibbling on Viennese pastries, as far away as she could possibly be. "Midway this way of life we're bound upon, I woke to find myself in a dark wood, Where the right road was wholly lost and gone." My own attempt at a teenage life crisis is not near so dark or fraught with peril as was Dante's. In fact it's all so by-the-book and so perfectly on schedule as to be dreary: I turn eighteen, my father dies, and I'm on my way. With my father's death I now advance to the plate. I am up next. It is now officially my turn to face the reaper. Being the morbid, romantic fellow I am, I actually faced (embraced!) all this mortality business long ago. As a young lad I used to write "Respice Finem" on snowbanks and dusty windowshields: "Consider Your End." Death itself hasn't bothered me for a long time, and I'm old enough now to understand what Mark Twain said about death, that it becomes our best friend. Facing Death Again :: Graduate College Admissions Essays Facing Death Again I've been having adventures this summer. In July I cranked my new new car up to 110 mph and flew alone for two days in the desert, saw a dead polar bear in a coffee shop, marched in a parade, and scattered Dad's ashes in an open meadow. For the most part, though, my adventures have been internal. I am making a feeble attempt at a teenage life crisis, but so far it hasn't amounted to much - just a lot of pacing, brooding, and long, exhausting mental hikes down roads not taken. My mom has been patient throughout. One of my melancholy realizations is that my remarkable network of teenage friends, once so closely-knit, are now scattered to the wind and so deeply entangled in their own lives that I have very few people left to talk to. At school I have a first-rate cadre of friends, and long lunches every day, but we keep each other, always, at a certain distance. Other old friends are reachable by phone, and I've reached, but there are always parties or impatient girlfriends in the background. It takes great resourcefulness, and much juggling of schedules, to pry loose a few precious minutes on the phone, and in those minutes there are bridges to be built and private languages to be rediscovered before any real conversation can take place. And my dearest friend, is off somewhere in the easternmost Alps, drinking Viennese coffee and nibbling on Viennese pastries, as far away as she could possibly be. "Midway this way of life we're bound upon, I woke to find myself in a dark wood, Where the right road was wholly lost and gone." My own attempt at a teenage life crisis is not near so dark or fraught with peril as was Dante's. In fact it's all so by-the-book and so perfectly on schedule as to be dreary: I turn eighteen, my father dies, and I'm on my way. With my father's death I now advance to the plate. I am up next. It is now officially my turn to face the reaper. Being the morbid, romantic fellow I am, I actually faced (embraced!) all this mortality business long ago. As a young lad I used to write "Respice Finem" on snowbanks and dusty windowshields: "Consider Your End." Death itself hasn't bothered me for a long time, and I'm old enough now to understand what Mark Twain said about death, that it becomes our best friend.

Nature in Frankenstein Essay

Within Frankenstein, Shelley uses nature as a corrective agent for Victor Frankenstein, one of the main characters. While he is in bereavement by the murders of his friends and family members, he frequently seeks nature for relaxation and help to guide him to victory. To start with Shelley uses natural metaphors to describe Victor’s childhood. â€Å"I find it arise, like a mountain river, from ignoble and almost forgotten sources†. The use of Mountain River to describe feelings that victor holds is the beginning of a theme that is continued throughout the book. This introduction to nature and human feeling’s, shows how Shelley would rather use metaphors of a natural setting rather than other descriptions. Instead of relating Victor’s feelings to other characters, Shelley chooses the more ‘romantic’ image of a ‘Mountain River’. As the book progresses, nature become Victors personal therapy when he undergoes torment or stress and Sh elley creates a connection between Victor and nature. Shelley describes Victor’s recovery from his grave illness through his connection with nature. Although he is nursed by his closest friend, it is the breathing of the air that finally gives him strength. â€Å"†¦My health and spirits had long been restores, and they gained additional strength from the salubrious air I breathed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Here Victor is so taken in with this he actually gains strength from the air that he didn’t have before. The use of the word ‘salubrious’ which means to bring health reinforces the idea that the air has saved him, and that nature is restorative. Throughout Frankenstein it is nature that keeps Victor healthy enough to continue on his journey. â€Å"I remained two days at Lausanne, in this painful state of mind. I contemplated the lake: the waters were placid; all around was calm, and the snowy mountains, the places of nature, were not changed. By degrees the calm and heavenly scene restored me, and I continued my j ourney towards Geneva† â€Å"†¦bright summit of Mont Blanc. I wept like a child: â€Å"Dear Mountains! My own beautiful lake! How do you welcome your wanderer? Your summits are clear; the sky and lake are blue and placid. Is this to prognosticate peace or to mock at my unhappiness?† Victor’s reaction to nature and Mont Blanc provides evidence that only nature can restore Victor to health. As he gets closer to being with his family, Victor’s mood doesn’t change. His enthusiasms to the mountains are more passionate than his attitude to his family. It shows that his relationship with nature goes beyond any relationship he could have with his family or any human being. Victor is embracing nature for comfort rather than his family. He is â€Å"particularly agreeable† in moving as he cannot escape his family in Geneva who are â€Å"irksome†. He makes it clear that he would rather row a boat on a lake than be with people. His use of the word â€Å"free† implies that he is only free when he is with one with nature. Rather than being forced to be with his family, he sees this as imprisonment more than anything. This provides evidence that he can only find peace by taking a boat onto the water so he can be alone with nature. Another character that results to nature is Elizabeth. She is a close family friend and she and Victor get married as Victor’s father thinks this would be the best thing to do in these circumstances. On their wedding night Victor is in such a foul mood that, Elizabeth resorts to nature in an attempt to cheer him. â€Å"Observe how fast we move along, and how the clouds which sometimes obscure, and sometimes rise above the dome of Mont Blanc, render this scene of beauty still more interesting†. Her use of nature demonstrates her understanding that Victor has rejected humanity and adopted nature. However her attempt is too late as Victor has sunk too deep in despair to be cheered up even by nature Nature is far more important to Victor’s health than any other agent in the story, and the image of natural settings become excessive as Frankenstein unfolds. While Victor claims to be destroyed by the monster’s murdering of his friends and family, he seems to be drawn to nature for support, and not his friends or family. His obsession with nature seems more and more constant as he hides from humanity. Shelley makes extensive use of nature as the source of stability for Victor in a world that he has himself undone.