tegrity and despair. Ego integrity involved being able to find meaning in oneÆs life and the acceptance of oneÆs faults as well as oneÆs virtues. Despair occurs when one is unable to find meaning in life and feels that there is not enough time left to alter this disturbing revelation (pp.115-117). While EriksonÆs theory does have some merit, it is shortsighted to believe that lifeÆs stages are insular and different.
In other more inclusive cultures, it is well understood that lifeÆs journey is circular in motion. Issues that have been dealt with in the past continually re-emerge, and the most important issue of all is that of relationships. Because human beings are above all social animals, the society one depends on is by far the most important aspect of aging. This concept is well understood in Asia and in South America, but apparently it is not as paramount in the United States. 1995 census figures show that 32 percent of Americans over the age of 65 live alone (Census Bureau, 1995, p.30). This sobering statistic is unheard of in other societies. In Latino families, it is the norm to find grandparents living with their childrenÆs family and forging a close inter-generational bond
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