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How can we care for an aging population?



Why should we help the elderly?


Chances are most of us have aging parents or grandparents, or both, and so we have a responsibility as their sons, daughters, grandchildren or simply the younger members of society to help them out with tasks they are no longer able to do. We can give them hope and be someone they can share problems with. This way, we can thank them for all they have done for us and society.


Yet, society still views the elderly as burdens and valueless. This attitude has to change as soon as possible, because the elderly actually are treasure troves of wisdom who can add great value to people’s lives even at their ripe old age.

By 2030, 1 in 6 people will be aged 60 and above, and by 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population aged 60 and above will live in middle and low-income countries. Hence, all of us must learn how to properly care for the growing elderly population around us.



Problems faced by the Elderly


Physical Problems

As the elderly age, they are more likely to suffer hearing loss, cataracts (where their eye’s lens gets cloudy), back and neck pain, osteoarthritis (where skin tissues break down, leading to painful and stiff joints) commonly in hip and knee, diabetes (characterized by high blood sugar) and dementia (a loss of memory and ability to think so much that daily life is affected significantly). They experience sleep disturbances due to chronic pain too so they experience great distress and uneasiness.


Mental Problems

Due to major changes in their life that come with age such as retirement, possible bereavement and repeated hospital visits, it can really negatively affect the elderly’s mental health. Additionally, their loss of independence makes them feel guilt and inferiority when their younger family members or others have to do daily tasks for them. This, if prolonged, can even spiral into depression. With old age comes a lot of anxiety too, about how much longer they will see their family and so on.

Pensions are not enough to support their bills, causing financial problems, and they are also often neglected by busy family members, who have their own families and work problems to worry about.


Social Problems

The elderly are discriminated against because employers feel that they can’t provide much value to society. Limited jobs are given to the elderly, and they are given less responsibilities by family members. To worsen things, there’s a lack of understanding by friends as their hormonal changes cause aggression and mood swings, which result in exclusion and loneliness.



What can we do to help?


People

  • Talk with them slowly and pause at the end to let them digest the information. This will make them feel respected as you accommodate their slower processing speed.

  • Help them out in daily tasks that would require a considerable amount of effort and energy like shopping, picking up medications for them, dog-walking.

  • Accompany them to the hospital for visits or to the church, mosque or religious institution.

  • Do crosswords or play sudoku or other board games to constantly test their memory and thinking ability. This will keep them mentally active and sharp for longer in their old age.

  • Share a meal with elderlies you see sitting alone in food courts, if they’re fine with it. I cannot forget the time I met an elderly man who had stories about his multiple hernia operations, served his nation back then. When he said he had the utmost respect for anyone in the medical profession, I couldn’t help but feel a great sense of pride and belonging in my profession.


Organizations

  • Public members or community club members can organize group exercise or social events at local parks and recreational spaces. You can accompany elders to this or visit yourself to provide company to those there. You can even help out in planning and running the event for them. Through this, you will be contributing to events that keep their brain active and boost their self-esteem.

  • You could volunteer your time too, and this is something I stand behind. To me, the experiences, the friendships forged and the value you add to their lives is enough. No monetary compensation ensures you are only doing it because serving them is your cause and your passion. Volunteering gives you complete freedom and there are no expectations. Most of all, it equips us with the skills and know-how to care for ourselves and our aging relatives.


Governments


The government must understand that there is a huge variance in the elderly today, with some having physical fitness and mental sharpness equivalent to that of 30-year-olds, and others with significant decline in mental and physical capacity. This means that comprehensive and targeted policies are needed to benefit all the elderly people in a nation.

Some examples of policies could be:

  • Planned public transport improvements in wheelchair and Personal Mobility Vehicle accessibility. This should enable them to go places they need to easier, so they can more easily attend social gatherings.

  • Another policy could be the installation of heating and grab bars and grippier floor material to prevent falls in houses with the most elderly residents.

  • One example of a programme that governments should take notes on is the United States (US)’ Program of All-Inclusive Care for Elderly (PACE), which takes care of the elderly with preventative care, meals, home care. This programme, however is currently limited to parts of 31 states in the US only, so we must convince the government it is a cause worth investing in.


Conclusion


To sum it up, we should help care for the elderly who have done so much for us and society, and assist them in adding their lives’ value to society. We know they face several problems like a senile body, constant stress and anxiety about the uncertain future and having less people to talk to as they age.

However, we can spend time with them and assist them, local organizations can run social gatherings or charity programmes that will benefit the elderly, and governments could enact more policies that make our public environment more elder-friendly. Such solutions will achieve happy and healthy aging for them.


Imagine 50 years later, we are now the elders. Wouldn’t you wish your children helped you get your medications from the hospital and clean the house? Wouldn’t it be great if the government had policies in place to ensure no elderly over the age of 70 spends a week without a social gathering?


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