The Modern Era and the Aging Concerns Essay

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Introduction

This paper explores concerns about aging in the modern-day. It also examines the psychological problems that older people face. The paper sheds light on the social networks and the families within which the aging people operate. There is a spirited effort to explore the therapies and programs that can effectively handle the psychological challenges that relate to aging. Finally, the current paper delves into finding out any other necessary research that should be done to provide a clear direction on handling the problems related to aging more easily.

There is no doubt that the elderly, especially those at the age of 60and above, make significant contributions to society. They work as volunteers and even as active workforce teams. Although most elderly people possess steady faculties, others suffer from mental health disorders such as substance abuse issues and neurological complications. They are also widely prone to health conditions such as diabetes, osteoarthritis, and loss of hearing. Another fact is that people tend to experience simultaneous ailments as they grow old (WHO, 2017).

Indeed, the well-being of a human being tends to be compromised as they advance in age. These problems are linked to physiological changes that are triggered by age. Therefore, older adults are likely to encounter many challenges related to the aging process. The role of keeping good physical health cannot be overemphasized for the elderly. Engaging in physical health activities enhances the mobility and functioning of the elderly (Halaweh, Dahlin-Ivanoff, Svantesson&Willen, 2018).

Aging and Psychological Challenges Faced by the Older Adults

It has been noted that the population of the world is aging fast. It has been approximated that the population of aged people will double from 12% of the population in 2015 to 22% in 2022. In terms of figures, the percentages represent an increase from 900 million older adults to 2 billion, respectively. Older adults encounter special physical and mental problems that should be recognized. It has also been established that over 20% of adults aged above 60 years suffer from either a mental or psychological disorder or both. These exclude headaches.

It has also been established that 6.6% of disabilities among the elderly over 60 years is linked to neurological and mental disorders. The disorders that the elderly face account for 17% of the years lived with disability. The prevalent neurological and mental disorders of elderly people include depression, dementia. It has been noted that the two challenges affect between 7% and 5%, respectively, of the older population.

Anxiety is found to affect 3.8%; substance abuse is at 1%. It has also been found that approximately a quarter of the deaths that emanate from self-harm are by elderly people of 60 years and above. It has also been established that substance abuse issues among the elderly are either overlooked or misdiagnosed (WHO, 2017).

A fast increase in the numbers of elderly people will arise in middle and low-income countries. Indeed, these changes will far-reaching effects on such vulnerable economies. Many people live long and stay happy with no mental health complications noted, despite the common impression that the elderly lead a sad life. Sadness, slowness, and dementia are not inevitable consequences of aging.

However, one possible negative outcome of the global population's aging is the rise in the number of elderly people with mental disorders. Such a scenario with have a pressuring effect on the health facilities in the countries where there is a sudden rise in the number of aging adults. Over 20% of people aged over 55 years or higher could be carrying some kind of mental health complication (Lima &Ivbijaro, 2013).

Biological shortcomings can interrupt the functioning of the brain. The feeling of worthlessness and isolation could lead to somatic diseases. Mental challenges could worsen the signs and functional disabilities that the elderly people exhibit. Therefore, inevitably, the use of healthcare resources will increase, including the length of hospitalization and associated costs. Mental health problems could lead to great negative effects on elderly persons experiencing disability.

They may not effectively be able to carry out their routine activities of life. Such effects lead to increased dependency, lack of autonomy, and depreciation of life quality. It is prudent to begin by going for a diagnosis if these problems are reduced and managed effectively. Unfortunately, mental health problems are commonly misdiagnosed thus remain untreated (Lima & Ivbijaro, 2013).

As people grow old, chronic illnesses increase. These simultaneous occurrences negatively affect the available resources such as the health systems. The healthcare systems cannot provide services ready to meet the increase in demand for the same. Well-being plays a protective role in the maintenance of health among the elderly.

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It has been pointed out that good nutrition prevents growing frail. Frailty refers to the continuous process of losing social resources, abilities, activities, and general resources for fulfilling one's primary social needs throughout one's lifespan.

Frailty has also been found to be an outcome of one or a combination of such factors as functional impairments, poor self-rating of health, depression, and lifestyle. Depression was strongly associated with frailty in older women in one of the studies accessed (Gronning et al., 2018).

Risk Factors among Older Adults for Mental Health Problems

Risk factors for mental health problems exist at all stages of life. The elderly may be subjected more to life stressors that other people experience. Some stressors affecting the elderly people are common only in later life. Some of the stressors that tend to affect elderly people include capacity loss and a functionality level decline. Older adults could show more frailty, chronic pain, among other concerns for which they need a kind of long-term care. Furthermore, the elderly have a greater chance to encounter such experiences as bereavement or socio-economic status decline following retirement. Such stressors can lead to isolation, psychological distress, and loneliness (WHO, 2017).

Mental health impacts physical health and vice versa. For instance, older adults…

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…for the study subjects at baseline. Those receiving treatment improved their sleep patterns such as waking up, the latency of sleep, quality, the symptoms they exhibited, and depression compared to a control group (Leggett & Zarit, 2014).

Reminiscence Therapy

Reminiscence therapy is commonly preferred for treating dementia and care for older adults because of its non-pharmacological design. I am a therapy in which behavior is internalized. There is a dialectic or interplay between an individual's internal mental processes and the external display of thoughts. The therapy has been found to improve older adults' well-being, irrespective of whether they have health complications or not (Hsin-Yen & Li-Jung, 2018).

Involvement in Physical Exercise

There is evidence that improved physical functioning is a product of physical activity. Indeed, when physical functioning is good, the number of falls reduces, and even the effects of falls become less injurious, socially, and healthwise (Halaweh et al., 2018). Subjecting older adults to PA regularly can reduce morbidity, defer disability, and extend one's life. It can even fight some of the disabling effects of growing old. It has been suggested that PA can help increase muscle mass, prevent sarcopenia, and reduce metabolic rate among the elderly. There is also evidence that activity enhances cardiovascular performance, decreases chances of diabetes and some cancer strains (Lautenschlager, Almeida, Flicker & Janca, 2004).

Improving Social Support

Friendship is just as important as a family in the prediction of psychological health among the elderly. Research has established that support and close attachments by relations and friends are central to maintaining cognitive functions. Furthermore, aging presents special challenges, including those that call for caregiving (Blieszner et al., 2019).

Conclusion

Healthy aging is an aspect of life that all societies must promote. It is also important to diagnose health issues early enough and treat the ailments, including mental disorders common among the elderly. Care for elderly people calls for tact, sensitivity, and observational acumen. It is also important to protect and support the caregivers attending to the elderly. Such interventions can be provided in primary care settings.

Suggestion for Future Research

It has also been established that family caregivers cause ambivalence and disagreements among the elderly. Such conflicts negatively affect the elderly being cared for. Generally, the composition of family structures influences the likelihood of the occurrence of conflict. Thus, it is important to examine the negative relations that exist to include alters that will promote peaceful coexistence and promote a positive self-appraisal of the older adults, including understanding their health concerns (Widmer et al., 2017).

It is also critical to consider mobility aspects, independence, cognitive functioning, and how resilient the elderly are in the design of preventive measures. New research efforts focusing on the preferences of the elderly concerning their mental and psychological well-being could be of much help. To promote participation, it will help to include physicians working in primary care settings, including social service workers who interact with older adults experiencing depression….....

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