Depending on how old you are, aging presents some surprises. There are physical, mental, and even emotional changes. For seniors, these challenges may be a lot harder than any other age group face.
Here are the challenges seniors face as they age.
Challenges Brought by Old Age
There are a lot of physical challenges closely associated with old age.
- Alzheimer’s Disease
It is the most common old-age-related neurodegenerative disease. It’s also the most common type of dementia. More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s and it’s the sixth leading cause of death in the US. At least 10% of people aged 65 and older have Alzheimer’s; two-thirds are women.
Alzheimer’s is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Memory loss and confusion
- Poor judgment
- The incapability of accomplishing daily tasks
- Wandering
- Increased anxiety and aggression
- Inability to learn
- Cognitive difficulties
- Problems with speech, writing, or reading
- Weight loss
- Seizures
- Difficulty swallowing
- Losing control over bowel and bladder
Alzheimer’s typically manifests itself in people in their 60s. Sometimes, it manifests itself in people aged somewhere near 30. It is called early-onset Alzheimer’s.
- Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative disease among seniors. At least 1 million people live with the condition in the United States, with 60,000 being diagnosed each year. The symptoms aren’t so bad among 60-year-olds or older. But it gets worse for people in their 80s.
Men are 1.5 times more likely to have Parkinson’s than women. Due to old age, neurons in the brain responsible for primary function become impaired or die. Effects include limitations in mobility, uncontrollable shaking, and loss of cognitive function.
- Arthritis
Arthritis is the number one problem people 65 years old and above have to contend with. Close to 50% of seniors are affected by this disease, according to the CDC.
Arthritis causes pain throughout the joints and limits the physical activities the elderly can do.
- Heart disease
According to the CDC, heart disease remains the leading cause of death for people over 65. High blood pressure and high cholesterol are common factors seniors suffer from.
- Cancer
Cancer and heart disease are the two most common causes of death among people aged 65 and above. About 28% of men and 21% of women in their golden years are living with cancer.
- Diabetes
More than 25% of seniors in the US live with diabetes. And by all appearances, aging is the primary cause of the disease. Although even middle-aged people can have diabetes, cardiovascular complications due to the illness are higher among the elderly.
It’s Easy to Get Depressed, But…
Seeing all of the troubles that seniors face, it’s easy to feel hopeless, helpless, and even depressed as a senior. And sometimes, that’s the case with our beloved elderly parents. They can get depressed.
However, this is not a way to spend the golden years of a loved one. They’re at the time of their lives where they have a lot of time each day they can use to pursue their interests.
So, how can you help your aging parents have a more positive outlook on their lives?
You Can Help the Elderly Live a Positive Life
The priority in getting your aging parents, or even friends, to feel more positive about their lives is to help them take care of their health early.
Prevention is better than cure. Don’t let diseases you can help prevent limit the quality of the life of your beloved elderly.
Aside from staying healthy, there are other ways to help the elderly feel happier as they age.
Did you know that seniors who don’t live in senior homes feel a lot better about aging than those in nursing homes? So even if your elderly family lives with a disease, they can still be happy and positive.
Seniors with a more active lifestyle and better social lives tend to rate their health more positively. Healthy eating habits, staying connected with friends and family, and keeping the mind engaged have vast effects on the overall outlook and disposition of seniors.
Infinite Love Homecare Can Help YOU!
If you don’t think you can handle all of the aspects of taking care of your elderly family, Infinite Love Homecare can help you. Our services include transportation, meal preparation, companionship, medication reminders, and everything an elderly adult needs.
And all of those services can be done right in the comfort of the elderly’s home. A healthcare professional can help your loved one feel more positive about their life. The caregiver can take your elderly parents to social activities. Their health will be well taken care of. And they can have someone to spend time with.
Aside from these services, Infinite Love Homecare also offers specialized home care services. These services are tailored to cater to the specific needs of your loved ones. It is a unique type of care for your elderly parent’s medical conditions.
Yes, there are a lot of challenges in aging. But your beloved elderly don’t have to succumb to those challenges. They can feel optimistic about aging. You can help make sure that happens. And one of the most significant steps is making sure they’re taken care of professionally yet compassionately.
With Infinite Love Homecare, your loved one’s quality of life is improved.
Help at home services for seniors has never been more affordable in Orange County, California. With Infinite Love Homecare, you can have the best care for the elderly in their own homes. Contact us for a free consultation at (949)-577-6169 or visit our Contact Us page. For more info on the services we provide, visit our Services webpage.
References:
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-are-signs-alzheimers-disease
https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/parkinsons-disease-statistics/
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/parkinsons-disease
https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/arthritis_related_stats.htm#1
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ahcd/agingtrends/06olderpersons.pdf
https://www.apa.org/topics/aging-depression
