Analysis of Home Safety of the Elderly Living in City and Rural Areas

Analysis of Home Safety of the Elderly Living in City and Rural Areas 1. Absract Physiological changes and chronic diseases arising during aging process increase risk of accident of the elderly, especially the elderly living alone at their homes. Home accidents are the most commonly health problem in the elderly. This study was carried out to describe home safety of the elderly living in a city or rural area using a home safety checklist. 512 living in Turkey (330 in city; 182 in rural area) were evaluated via face-to-face interview using a home safety checklist during a period between December and March in 2007. In addition to sociodemographics, a questionnaire including home characteristics and life style of participants was applied. To describe home safety level, Home Safety Checklist was used. 2-Introduction Aging, which is a part of life and a nonrecoverable process. Developments in the field of tecnology,health and nutrition increasing life expectancy in the general population has led to an increased incidence of elderly population. Especially in industrialized countries, this increase is faster. The increase in elderly population by bringing with it social problems, particularly affecting the family structure of the elderly living alone is cause Depending on the time during the aging process in human organism, physical, physiological and psychological changes are emerging. Decrease with aging occur in the physical abilities, to continue their activities of daily living and home-related poses an obstacle to the execution of work. Physiological changes and the age of progress emerged due to chronic diseases, especially those living alone at home often face with the risk of accidents . An important part of the problems faced by the elderly home accidents constituted. Physiological changes and dementia as well as some chronic diseases, norooftalmalojik findings, progressive hearing loss, posture, balance and gait disturbances and sensory changes, has led to increased risk of accidents. The elderly, the most important preventive safety applications, one of the age-related physiological deficiency in developing corrective to troubleshoot instruments (hearing aid, glasses, etc.. ) Usage as a domestic accident may lead to removal of conditions must be determined. Therefore, in recent years in elderly home safety and home safety inspection and control increased the importance of the list. In this context, is widely used in the field of health inspection and control lists, and application tools are the most important ergonomic evaluation. 3-Explict Statemnet Of The Study Objective Including Operational Definition: This study used a home safety check list and the elderly living at home in our country, the security situation in the house and emerged with aging in terms of accident risks in order to examine the status of housing are planned. Sample Groups: Sample 1:The elderly who is living in the city Sample 2:The elderly who is living in the rural areas Variables: Age This variables;the elderly who is living in the city Gender and the rural areas used to investigate the Education demograhic datas. Marriage Status Occupational Status House type This variables; the elderly who is living in the city Private roomsand the rural areas was used to examine the status of Domestic Availabilitytheir home. Satisfaction: Financial Status: Living Arrengement: This variables;the elderly who is living in the city and the Leisure Activities rural areas was used to examine the their life style. Security Score p: is degree of freedom: In statistics, the number of degrees of freedom is the number of values in the final calculation of a statistic that are free to vary 4-Methodology Section: This descriptive type of study,we selected 512 elder people with random sampling method. 30 of 512 elder person which we select in the city and 182 of 512 which we collect in the rurely areas among december to march 2007 in 7 geographical regions of Turkey in Denizli, Izmir, Ayd? n, Antalya, Mersin, Ankara, Konya, Istanbul, Diyarbakir, Trabzon, Sinop and Zonguldak provinces. In collection of data, as well as demographic information, household status and forms of life questionnaire stating where questions were administered. To determine the level of home security developed by the National Security Council, consisting of 65 questions, Home Security Checklist is used. National Security Council, the score at 1-7 in the perfect home for safety aspects, between 8-14 scores well; 15 and on the scores were assessed as dangerous. A questionnaire containing sociodemographic and National Security Council with the elderly living at home with the method to be verbatim comments will be reviewed their homes Pamukkale University School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation was completed by senior students. Chi-square test was used for evaluating data. 5-Data Analysis Section Pearson's chi-square (? ) test is the best-known of several chi square test – statistical procedures whose results are evaluated by reference to the chi square distrubition. Its properties were first investigated by Karl Pearson. In contexts where it is important to make a distinction between the test statistic and its distribution, names similar to Pearson ? -squared test or statistic are used. It tests a null hypothesis stating that the frequency distrubition of certain events ob served in a sample is consistent with a particular theoretical distribution. The events considered must be mutually exclusive and have total probability 1. A common case for this is where the events each cover an outcome of a categorial variable. A simple example is the hypothesis that an ordinary six-sided dia is â€Å"fair†, i. e. , all six outcomes are equally likely to occur. Pearson's chi-square is the original and most widely-used chi-square test. Definition Pearson's chi-square is used to assess two types of comparison: tests of goodness of fit and tests of independence. A test of goodness of fit establishes whether or not an observed frequency distrubition differs from a theoretical distribution. A test of independence assesses whether paired observations on two variables, expressed in a contingency tables, are independent of each other – for example, whether people from different regions differ in the frequency with which they report that they support a political candidate. The first step in the chi-square test is to calculate the chi-square statistics. In order to avoid ambiguity, the value of the test-statistic is denoted by X2 rather than ? 2: this also serves as a reminder that the distribution of the test statistic is not exactly that of a chi-square random variable. However some authors do use the ? 2 notation for the test statistic. An exact test which does not rely on using the approximate ? 2 distribution is Fisher’s exact test ,this is significantly more accurate in evaluating the significance level of the test, especially with small numbers of observation. The chi-square statistic is calculated by finding the difference between each observed and theoretical frequency for each possible outcome, squaring them, dividing each by the theoretical frequency, and taking the sum of the results. A second important part of determining the test statistic is to define the degrees of freedom of the test: this is essentially the number of observed frequencies adjusted for the effect of using some of those observations to define the â€Å"theoretical frequencies†. Results: 11. 2% of the elderly living in the city , 14. 4% of the elderly living in rural areas whose age is 80 and over age in the range TABLE 1:Examination of demografic data for elderly people living in the city and in rural areas Variables | CITY | RURAL | | | | | |Age | | | |65-69 age | | | |70-79 age | | | |; 80 age | | | | | | | |Gender | | | | | n % | n % | | | | | | |171 51. 8 |78 42. 8 | | |122 36. 9 |78 42. | | |37 11. 2 |26 14. 3 | |Woman | 189 57. 3 |107 58. 8 | |Man |141 42. 7 |45 41. 2 | |EDUCATION | | | |Literacy does not know | 19. 1 19. 1 |61 33. | |Literate | | | |Primary School |37. 3 37. 3 |82 45. 1 | | |10. 3 10. 3 |9 4. 9 | |  Middle School |16. 7 16. 7 |16 8. 8 | | | | | |High school |9. 1 9. 1 |9 4. | |University |7. 6 7. 6 |5 2. 7 | |Marriage Status | | | |Single | 43 13 |18 9. 9 | |Married |249 75. 5 |150 82. 4 | | |38 11. 5 |14 7. | |  Divorced | | | |Occupational Status | | | | | | | |  Works |294 89 |154 84. 6 | | |36 11 |28 15. 4 | |Not working / Retired | | | TABLE 2: An analysis of the homes of elderly living in rural areas and in the city Variables | CITY | RURAL | | | | | | | |House type | | | | | | n % | n % | p | | | | | | |Detached | 128 36. 8 | 157 96. 3 | | | | | | | |  Apartment |202 61. 2 |25 13. 7 |0. 001 | | | | | | |Private rooms | | | | |Yes | 211 63. 9 |98 53. 8 | | |No |41 12. 4 |46 25. 3 | | |Have shared |78 33. 9 |38 20. 9 |0. 001 | |Domestic availability | | | | |Good | 218 66. 1 |106 58. | | |Bad |112 33. 9 |76 42. 7 |0. 05 | |Satisfaction | | | | |Satisfied | 233 71 |107 58. 8 | | | | | | | |  Not satisfied |97 29. 4 |75 41. 2 |0. 07 | | | | | | |Financial Situation | | | | |Self-sufficie nt | 257 77. 9 |109 59. 9 | | | | | | | |  Children looking |56 17 |52 28. 6 |0. 0001 | | |17 5. 1 |1 11. 5 | | |  Relatives looking | | | | Table 3 The examination of the life style of elderly living in rural areas and in the city |Variables | CITY | RURAL | | | | | | | |Living arrangement | | | | | | | | | |  Single | | | | | | | | |  With his wife | | | | | | | | | |  With relatives | | | | |Leisure activities | | | | | | n % | n % | p | | | | | | | | | | | | |59 17. 9 |30 16. 5 | | | | | |0. 5 | | |196 59. 4 |112 61. 5 | | | |75 22. 7 |40 22 | | | | | | | |  Participation is | 130 39. 4 | 48 26. 4 | | | |200 60. 6 |134 73. 4 |0. 03 | |  Accession No | | | | | | | | | |Security score | | | | |Excellent | 7 2. 1 | 0. 5 | | |  Ã‚  Well |76 23. 0 |27 14. 8 |0. 027 | |  Bad |247 74. 9 |154 84. 6 | | The information about situation of old peoples houses are presented in Table 2. About %59,4 percent of old people living in cities, and %61,5 percent of old people living in rural areas stated that they live with their husbands/wifes together. When results of Home Security and Control list are inspected; mean number of old people living in cities is 20. 61 ±8. 18, while mean number of old people living in rural areas is 25,16 ±9,59. About %74,9 percentage of houses of people living in cities are detected bad in security criterion, %23 are considered good and %2,1 are perfect. In rural areas however, %84,6 are detected bad, %14,8 are good and %0,5 are perfect. (Table 3) Debate: Every year, many old people get injured by an accident in their own houses, or near it. Most of injuries are caused by preventable dangers. Using house security and control list with regular periods, gives chance to value condition again, which leads possibility to make those dangers and risks obsolote. In our study, old people living in city and rural areas are found similiar by means of age and gender. This result shows that,HSCL results are not affected this two factors. Educational status of these two groups were examined, the higher the educational level of those living in cities and thus are better home security scores were observed. In our study, 86. 3% of those living in rural areas' reputation continued living in their houses   and 53. 8%of living in rural areas whose have a special room ,we have been identified. Proportion of people living in houses in the city (38. 8%) lower than those living in rural areas, although the cities have the people in the private room rate is higher (69. 9%). We think that it is significant to consider this situation, while arranging house by means of security. According to home safety checklist,reaching domestic usability for both elderly groups have similiar charecteristics,the average score was not effective on. However, a higher proportion of elderly living in rural areas in the (41. 2%) stated that they are not satisfied with our home security-related problems that indicate a large size. 40. 1% of those living in rural areas in need of financial support to someone else, in protection from danger at home to prevent the necessary ergonomic regulations is an important financial problem. In our study, we have control in the city (74. 9%) and of the houses in rural areas (84. %) a large proportion of unsafe and risky as to fall hazard was observed. For those living in the city, to live in the apartment, the financial situation is good to be home and satisfied with the condition are important factors in domestic security. For old people li ving in rural areas however, having poor education, living in a private house and being financially dependent raises the security score, and leads danger for security of people. Our results are also compatible with literature The surver used in our study, includes the different characteristics of house and different activities made in house, which allows to evaluate and be prepared against accident risks under each sub-topic. For old people living in rural areas however, having poor education, living in a private house and being financially dependent raises the security score, and leads danger for security of people. Our results are also compatible with literature . The surver used in our study, includes the different characteristics of house and different activities made in house, which allows to evaluate and be prepared against accident risks under each sub-topic. (1,2) %74. 9 percent of people living in cities and %86 percent of people living in rural areas have bad security score, which shows they are unprotected agains various accidents and falls. Those risks are similiar, both for old people living in apartments and private houses. Of each chapter house in terms of accident risk assessment and risk profile will reveal its relation with problems which occur with aging also are thought to be investigated. Moreover, determining the injury accident record form is important for audit and control systems. In light of all these records and data will be at home with ergonomic regulations reduce the risk of accidents increasing aging, the elderly and more healthy life with a higher level of quality of life can continue to take appropriate measures are required. 6-Ethical Consideration and Limitations: While we are doing a research on the elderly to learn their life,we respect their private life. So, we take care of shouldn’t be revealed their names and other personel information. 7-Research Results and Recommendations: In line with the results of our study, home security, the importance of quality of life is emphasized once again. Ergonomic and architectural creation of suitable habitat many risk eliminating the factors, will reduce the risk of injury. In this context, the health staff by producing a joint project with the architects of the houses in the community who live a healthy life, suitable for all individuals, especially the elderly are thought to be present. Also in this issue of local government, civil society organizations and government to develop policies and strategic plans are required. 8-Reference: www. korhek. org http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Pearson's_chi-square_test

Missions and Omissions

Missions and Omissions Missions and Omissions Missions and Omissions By Mark Nichol The words listed and defined in this post all stem from the Latin verb mittere, which means â€Å"send.† They have in common the element mit (or miss). To admit (literally, â€Å"send to†), for example, is to allow something to enter or be sent in, though the word also pertains to acknowledging or conceding something. Such a concession is also referred to as an admission, while in addition, admission is the process or state of allowing entrance or the fee paid for entrance, and admissible means â€Å"able to be admitted† (usually in a legal context). To commit (â€Å"send with†) is to obligate or pledge oneself or another to a task, to entrust for safekeeping, or to promise resources; it also applies to carrying out a crime or to placing someone in a mental hospital or in prison. An obligation or pledge, or an act of entrusting or placing, is a commitment, while the enactment of a crime is a commission. That word also pertains to a group of people convened to accomplish a task (a commissioner is an individual given such a charge); committee is a cognate synonym. Commission also applies to a fee paid to an agent or an employee for selling something and to an authorization given to someone, as in the conferral of military authority and rank. As a verb, it applies to making an assignment or order or preparing a vessel for operation. Emit (â€Å"send out†) usually is employed in the context of giving out energy such as light or heat, or a scent. In addition, one may emit a sound, and something officially issued may be emitted. On who does so is an emitter, and an emission is something sent out; the term usually applies to exhaust fumes from a vehicle. To omit (â€Å"send out,† from the notion of sending it so that it is not included) is to leave out; something excluded is an omission. To permit (â€Å"send forward†) is to allow, and the word serves as a noun describing documentation allowing something to be done or to happen, while the authority granted to do something is permission. Remit (â€Å"send back†) pertains to sending something (such as money) or to canceling a debt or other obligation. The word is also a noun referring to an area of authority or responsibility, while the noun remission not only refers to canceling or reducing something but also to an improvement of health. (In this case, a patient is said to be in remission.) Submit (â€Å"send under†) means â€Å"place under control of another† or â€Å"refer to another for consideration†; the act of doing so in either sense is submission. (That word also pertains in the second sense to the thing submitted.) Transmit (â€Å"send across†) pertains to conveying something (such as a disease) or conducting energy or sending a message in the form of electric signals. In addition to serving as the noun form for these senses, transmission pertains to the system of parts that conveys power to a vehicle. (Informally, car mechanics and enthusiasts use the nickname tranny in this sense, though the word is also a sometimes pejorative truncation of the word transvestite.) Definitions for less common descendants of mittere follow: To demit (â€Å"send down†) is to resign or to withdraw from membership or office, to intermit (â€Å"send between†) is to discontinue, to manumit (â€Å"send from one’s hand†) is to release from slavery, and to pretermit (â€Å"send past†) is to let pass, neglect, or suspend. Demit has no forms in other parts of speech, but intermittent means â€Å"at intervals† or â€Å"seasonally,† an intermission is an interruption (usually, a scheduled break in the midst of a live performance or a film screening), and manumission is a synonym for emancipation (which shares an element meaning â€Å"hand†), or freeing from slavery. Pretermission is synonymous with omission. A subsequent post will detail members of the mittere family in which the root is disguised. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Dialogue Dos and Don'ts"Owing to" vs "Due to"10 Terms for the Common People

Prime Minister of Canada - Role and Duties

Prime Minister of Canada - Role and Duties The prime minister is the head of government in Canada. The Canadian prime minister is usually the leader of the political party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons in a general election. The prime minister may lead a majority government or a minority government. Although the role of prime minister in Canada is not defined by any law or constitutional document, it is the most powerful role in Canadian politics. Head of Government The prime minister of Canada is head of the executive branch of the Canadian federal government. The Canadian prime minister provides leadership and direction to the government with the support of a cabinet, which the prime minister chooses, the prime ministers office (PMO) of political staff, and the privy council office (PCO) of non-partisan public servants who provide a focal point for the Canadian public service. Cabinet Chair The cabinet is a key decision-making forum in the Canadian government. The Canadian prime minister decides on the size of the cabinet and selects cabinet ministers- usually members of parliament and sometimes a senator- and assigns their department responsibilities and portfolios. In selecting the members of the cabinet, the prime minister tries to balance Canadian regional interests, ensures an appropriate mix of anglophones and francophones, and makes sure that women and ethnic minorities are represented. The prime minister chairs cabinet meetings and controls the agenda. Party Leader Since the source of power of the prime minister in Canada is as leader of a federal political party, the prime minister must always be sensitive to the national and regional executives of their party as well as to the grassroots supporters of the party. As party leader, the prime minister must be able to explain party policies and programs  and be able to put them into action. In elections in Canada, voters increasingly define the policies of a political party by their perceptions of the party leader, so the prime minister must continuously attempt to appeal to a large number of voters. Political appointments- such as senators, judges, ambassadors, commission members and crown corporation executives- are often used by Canadian prime ministers to reward the party faithful. Role in Parliament The prime minister and cabinet members have seats in Parliament (with occasional exceptions) and lead and direct Parliaments activities and its legislative agenda. The prime minister in Canada must retain the confidence of the majority of the members in the House of Commons or resign and seek a dissolution of Parliament to have the conflict resolved by an election. Due to time constraints, the prime minister participates in only the most important debates in the House of Commons, such as the debate on the Speech from the Throne and debates on contentious legislation. However, the prime minister does defend the government and its policies in the daily Question Period in the House of Commons. The Canadian prime minister must also fulfill their responsibilities as a member of Parliament in representing the constituents in their riding, or electoral district.

Green Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Green Power - Essay Example Furthermore Green Power is associated with a cleaner environment devoid of pollution. The Green energy sources include wind, solar, biomass and water. Renewable energy plants can provide a constant flow of power which can be the greatest realization for humanity. Presently this is not the case. There is a clarion call across the world for the adoption of Green energy in a bid to conserve Mother Nature. Indeed, the call for these safer and non-pollutant forms of energy cannot really be emphasized. Several researches have demonstrated the great harm done across the world through the usage of oil and other forms of energy not classified under this category. In few countries across the world, Green Power contributes substantially toward the total national grid. However, in most countries, the consumption of green energy is still very limited to the extent of 2 to 5% for most developed countries. Such a trend worries considering that the world’s oil resources are running out at amazing rates. It certainly calls for alternative measures to be put in place in order to address the situation before issues go haywire. The greatest challenge facing the consumption of Green Power across the world is the already established infrastructure that serves the consumers. The incorporation of green energy into such infrastructures is normally a difficult affair. The centralized nature of most electricity grids in the world means that purchasing the Green energy from the producers becomes difficult. In the Netherlands, electricity companies are compelled to buy a given amount of the Green energy to supplement the national output and to serve clients who specifically opt for the green energy sources. The Green Power affair has become an important program across the world and people are called upon to join the bandwagon. Policy makers are giving many reasons on why such renewable sources of energy should greatly be adopted across the world. The amount of carbon

Controls Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Controls - Essay Example There are certain risks, threats and challenges that a company may be faced with and becomes very difficult to evade or run away from( Wilsonart, 2008). This company not being exceptional, there are certain risks or threats that they few may arise if the weight of the boxes are not analyzed and proper results given or tabled. The key threat of this company, which is pegged on the weight of the boxes and a report, is therefore given below. The Weight of the boxes cannot be controlled, as reduction would lead to the production or poor quality products. The set weight of the cereal boxes cannot be controlled even by through packaging as the weight lies within the main commodities and not the boxes. The only reductions can be made is in the weight of the boxes but not the commodity (Munteanu, 2010). This clearly shows that no solution to the company’s threat as the solution lies with them. Actually, it is the duty of the company to increase its sales performance. This will help in bridging the gap that brought about by the weight of the boxes. As it can be seen from the chart or graph, is becomes very difficult to control the weight of the boxes as they run in a set range of units that cannot be altered with and if altered, then the company can experience poor quality goods hence leading to the drastic fall in the company’s performance. The only ways deal with this is to increase the rate of profitability and supplies. With high rate accumulation of profits, the company can fix the problem as a certain amount of profits received will go

Law Enforcement's use of public surveys Research Paper

Law Enforcement's use of public surveys - Research Paper Example With this kind of understanding, this paper precisely investigates homicide of a mayor. Inclusively in the paper is an in depth description of the roles played in the investigation, the purpose and use of a psychological autopsy, the various steps undertaken in carrying out psychological autopsy, and recognition of the psychological issues experienced by the officers and families. Roles Played in the Investigation. The carrying out of the investigation will be made possible with the help of a police psychologist. In this sense, as a police psychologist there are several roles which need to be accomplished accordingly with immediate effect. It should be noted that, the police psychology is always concerned with solving issues particularly concerning to public safety in order to facilitate peaceful coexistence (Brian, 2006). Various roles played by the police psychologists in the investigation will involve the recognition of deception, undercover interviewing, behavioral analyses of th e scene, and report analyses. In order to come up with clear information concerning the death of the mayor, it will be important to recognize the deception involved following his death. This will in turn call for the undercover consultation which will be aimed towards facilitating the necessary and required information for the success of the investigation (Weiss, 2010). ... It is evident that, the whole investigation will rely on police psychologist who will be responsible for the bringing together of the aspects based on the investigative information (Cox, 2004). The roles of the police psychologists will therefore be based on presumptions and the manner in which rule enforcement executive can be sustained through scientific investigate. The Function and Use of a Psychological Autopsy Psychological autopsy simply refers to the process for examining an individual death through reconstructing what the individual â€Å"thought, felt, and did prior his death.† The process of reconstruction will be linked in the lead of the information collected from police reports, personal documents, head to head interviews with families and friends, and any person who had contact with the mayor before his death (Jack, 2011). In our case, psychological autopsy will rely on these facts in order to be in position to identify the gunshot wound on the head which could be the reason for the death of the mayor. As it comes from the denotation, the major function of psychological autopsy therefore is to appraise more exactly the death procedure of the decedent and therefore elucidate the concluding categorization of the demise manner in the death official document. In this sense, the process functions in determining the reason for the death by investigating the bodily condition of the deceased (Weiss, 2010). In instances where the way of death is unsolved and unclear, psychological autopsy helps the medical expert in clearing up the secrecy. The gathered information indicates that, before becoming the mayor he was a chief and hence was very close to several officers and administrators.

The Handmaids Tale Essay Example for Free

The Handmaids Tale Essay She wonders if women everywhere get issued exactly the same sheets and curtains, which underlines the idea that the room is like a government ordered prison, government issue? Furthermore the regime continues as we see the main character starting to rebel against this isolation and confinement in which they wish to get rid of. Thinking can hurt your chances and I intend to last, implies that she is stubborn and determined. She also realises that most of the women who she is with are all lucky to be there seeing as not many always survived the prisoned lifestyle as she bitterly quotes, for those who still have circumstances. Apparently there are no mirrors also, indicating identity as a whole for the handmaids and getting rid of vanity which would be making them individuals. The uniform in which they must wear is red, the colour of blood which defines them again as a whole, not as a unique person. The door of the room, not my room again suggests her rebelling and refusal to conform. The outline of the portrayed regime is now that these women have almost no status, unwomen which is lower than low are showing small signs of rebelling and willingness to be free after living on only rational amounts. An example of this is the black market, where illegal and expensive goods were sold so the handmaid yearns for a cigarette but like liquor and coffee, cigarettes are forbidden, eventhough she hints that she might therefore she is fusing to conform to the rules again. The hierarchical triangle now lies that the Marthas who are infertile women who do not qualify for the high status of Wives work in domestic roles, followed by the new character in Chapter two and three which is the Commanders wife. She wears blue suggesting connotations of the Virgin Mary, holiness, purity and virginity as she works in the garden with a detailed Guardian at her side. The Guardian is used to help aswell as being a Guard which indicates that the Regime of where the handmaids lie is considerably low compared to the Commanders wife who has her own helper because she is too powerful to be doing jobs for herself, therefore she behaves cruelly towards the Handmaids in her household. The Commanders wife has arthritis therefore she is old yet able enough to have such control. She knits to pass her time, maybe is just something to keep them busy. The handmaid is envious of the Commanders wife because she has no hobby or purpose to pass time, What does she envy me? The Commanders wife also is evil as the handmaid quotes I am a reproach to her and a necessity, implying that she is avoided by her. The handmaid later reveals that she has only been there for 5 weeks indicating that the regime is new and things arent settled yet and that the women there are playing hierarchical roles already. The Commanders Wife however is very well looked after and implications of vanity are portrayed as her fingernail filed to gentle curving point. She wears diamond rings connoting wealth and her knuckly fingers suggest she is old and also that she is unhappy; fingernails mocking her. ironic smile. She is an elderly woman with blonde hair, her chin clenched like a fist, and gives the impression that she is sterned faced and hard featured. The handmaids are continuously being bought down so that no hopes are held high for them to gain any power, for example the Commanders wife quote to her, Youre not a Martha signifying that she is even lower than that. Throughout the first four chapters we see that internal monologue is expressed, where no speech marks are present during speech, this is probably because it is a stream of consciousness or to portray a memory. The underlying message that nature carries on regardless of human life is implied as human imagery such as, fertility of soil, referring to the creation of life. We then meet another Guardian, Nick who whilst washing the car is not conforming to the rules either, he is tanned with dark hairs representing he is more rebellious than the other Guardians and suggesting he is always outside. His hat is at an angle and also he has a cigarette. Therefore he is higher status than the handmaids and Marthas who cannot get them. He hasnt been issued a woman, not even one signifies that the regime throughout contains complete lack of sexual communication. The narrator explains that she is longing to touch Nick therefore she sees him as a man and then he winks. The fact that he has made eye contact is against the rules showing that not only do the handmaids long to escape freedom but also so do the Guardians. She suggests that perhaps he is an Eye, gives us the impression that she always knows she is at risk and to be aware of everyone because they may not truly be who they appear to be. This also relates to sudden disappearances of people that come and go very quickly, on a certain day she simply wasnt there anymore. The Guardians which guard the entrance are called The Guardians of Faith, signifying that they are in secret and undercover, also named Eyes incognito. When little communication is made between the handmaids and the Guardians all that can be transferred is eye contact and nothing more. The handmaid suggests this by, Such moments are possibilities, tiny peepholes. The handmaid constantly brings up the thought of this desired wish for freedom and individuality becoming true as she questions whether the guardians think about it too. She then proves a hierarchy point by involving all the groups of characters met so far, Commanders of the faithful, their blue wives and white veiled daughters. or their dumpy green Marthas, or their red handmaids, on foot. The narrator has purposely put them in order of their power status leaving herself last as she knows that if it were to happen, it wouldnt be the handmaids who are the lowest and own no power. The regime theme of torture and unhappiness is explored further when the black vans are mentioned which pass through the entrance and she says, if there are sounds coming from inside we try not to hear them. The black vans give the reader the idea of prisoners and people facing torture whilst being taken away. The handmaid lastly suggests that handmaids can be allotted to Angels for if they were to gain enough power so that they can marry, allotted a Handmaid of their own because she knows that if the regime was different and the orders were less demanding and if lack of freedom was restricted, then she could have her desire and so could the Angels and guardians. Overall if their positioning of status and importance were to change then the handmaids know that they wouldnt be kept and controlled in the same restricted and managed way and they would gain identity in order for themselves to have to freedom and privacy when they choose. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Margaret Atwood section.