4 Elderly Health

Dealing with the Emotional Needs of the Elderly

It is a fact of life that people age. As the years go by, a person\’s emotional needs change dramatically. Some common situations that an elderly faces are the loss of a spouse or the affliction of health problems. They will even not have the same kind of support from their children or peers because of the former settling down and the latter going away for their retirement. Therefore, it is necessary for someone, preferably a close family member, to know how to care for the emotional needs of the elderly to make a difference in someone\’s life.

One assumption about the older population is that they are all lonely. Most of the time, this is not the case. In order to effectively care for the emotional needs of the elderly, you have to be a great listener. Listen to what they have to say and engage in a conversation which will allow them to express their feelings. Never be judgmental about what they have to say to you. Also, be aware that the elderly have fears of their own. The typical one is the fear of losing independence due to a medical condition. A lot of elderly people are afraid of not being able to take care of them selves like they used to when they were younger.

One of the more serious needs of the elderly comes in the form of depression. Many factors can contribute to the depression of an older person - death and illness of a family member and the intake of several medications are some of these contributing factors. Don\’t be hesitant to ask if he or she is depressed. Aside from outright asking, look for signs of depression which include withdrawal from family and friends, weight loss, fatigue, and mood changes. If, indeed, he or she is lonely, think of some ways you can decrease loneliness. Some communities have buddy services for the elderly, wherein a volunteer worker spends time with an older person doing several activities to keep him entertained throughout the day.

It is also important that you recognize the purpose of the overall needs of the elderly. With his or her children all grown up and with no job to attend to, many elderly people feel unwanted and useless. You can help them regain their confidence by accompanying them to volunteer agencies that are in need of senior workers for a wide variety of jobs.

The emotional needs of the elderly can also be brightened by encouraging new activities. Keeping both the mind and body sharp can improve one\’s mood. Know the interests of your elderly family member and get them to join daily activities such as art and exercise classes in the senior center of your community.

Knowing how to deal with and care for the emotional needs of the elderly can make a significant difference in one\’s life. Elderly people may be past their prime, but it does not mean that they are left to face the remainder of their lives alone. Having someone to care is the best way to answer all the needs an elderly person has.

Elderly Healthcare-The Abuse

Elder abuse is a very serious issue in elderly health care. This can happen by an at home provider, family member or nursing home worker among others. The abuse found in elderly health care can be physical, sexual, or emotional in nature. Sometimes, but not very often, an elderly healthcare provider does not even realize they are doing it. One of the main reasons that can cause a caregiver to become abusive is depression and stress. Working in the elderly health care field can lead to both of these.

Physical abuse is the most common form that occurs in the elderly health care field. When care givers get upset at the elderly patient and hits them, this is abuse. A more accurate definition for elderly abuse is any force used against an elderly person that results in pain and injury and not done by accident.

Another common form found in elderly health care is emotional abuse. This results when the care giver talks to the elderly patient in a manner that is rude and offensive. Some examples are intimidation by yelling or threatening the patient, humiliating or ridiculing the patient and finally blaming or using the elderly patient as a scapegoat.

There are some warning signs to watch for if there is suspected abuse. The two main ones are if there is a visible change in the elderly patients\’ personality, this should be checked out right away. The other is frequent arguments between the care giver and the patient this can signal abuse or possible abuse.

Other signs to watch for are such things like changes in physical appearance, any visible signs of bruises or welts, marks on the wrist from being restrained, signs of over or under medicating and the care giver not allowing you to be alone with the patient.

Putting in preventive measures in the elderly health care field is the best precaution to protect against abuse. The best way for someone to find a care giver for their elderly relative is to figure out the needs the patient requires. Ask for references, preferably from other families who had the care giver take care of their elderly relative. Obtain a background check to make sure there are no abuse claims. Be sure to look for a caregiver who has the experience in the elderly health care field. Finally monitor your elderly relative. Any physical signs of abuse or neglect need to be investigated right away.

Better Nutrition for Better Elderly Health

Due to better living conditions, widespread health awareness, and improved medical facilities, the life span of people all across the world has drastically increased. The State of Aging and Health in America 2007 report reaffirms this fact. According to the report, the population of the United States is rapidly aging. By 2030 the number of Americans aged 65 and above will make up 20% of the U.S. population. Furthermore, for preserving and improving elderly health, by the year 2030, the nation\’s health care spending will increase by 25%.
Aging is associated with a number of changes in body composition, physiology, and psychology. Additionally, a lot of changes also occur in lifestyle, medical, and socioeconomic conditions. All these changes have a profound effect on the health of the elderly. Apart from age-related diseases like anemia, infection, hypotension, hip fracture, cancer, osteoporosis, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and so forth, the elderly people are also exposed to increased risk of nutrient deficiency.
Nutrient deficiency is something that can be fully controlled by diet. Here are some recommendations to make sure that the elderly person gets maximum essential nutrients from his diet and stays healthy.
* Increase antioxidants in the diet: As we age, our body\’s antioxidant system becomes less effective. Hence, for better elderly health, intake of antioxidants should be increased. Cranberries, whole grains, soy, carrot, tomato, spinach, garlic, Brussels sprout, broccoli, blueberries, plums, blackberries, and red grapes are rich sources of antioxidants.
* A substantial amount of fiber is also required: On the one hand fiber improves bowel movement and the other hand it helps to maintain optimal cholesterol levels. Beans, green pea, orange, raspberry, apple, cherry, peanut, almond, turnip greens, and oats are a good source of fiber.
* Elderly should eat foods rich in proteins and vitamin B12: 1.0 to 1.25 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day is required for proper maintenance of elderly health. Furthermore, the body\’s ability to absorb vitamin B12 also declines with age. Foods like salmon, sardines, flounder, albacore tuna, soybeans, and walnuts are a rich source of both protein and vitamin B12. An added advantage of consuming these foods is that they are also rich in omega-3 fats which not only improves brain function and lowers high blood pressure, but also enhances immunity and reduces inflammation.
* For good elderly health sodium intake should be reduced: As the age progresses the sense of taste and smell diminishes and for this reason old people are often found adding salt to their food. High salt intake increases the risk of developing high blood pressure. According to the new dietary guidelines sodium should be reduced to less that 1 teaspoon per day.

Elderly Driving: Common Concerns and Precautions

Different people age differently; some remain fit and active even in their eighties and nineties, while other become lean and docile in their fifth decade. Despite the dynamism, it is advisable not to take any risks with respect to elderly driving. Studies reveal that an elderly person involved in a car accident is more liable to receive serious injuries, more liable to be hospitalized, and more liable to die than a younger person involved in the same fatal accident. If an elderly person in your home is experiencing trouble on the road, its time to take some stringent action. In the following paragraphs, we shall discuss some common concerns and precautions related to elderly driving.
Age can Adversely Affect the Driving Ability
Factors associated with aging that can adversely affect the driving ability of the elderly are as follows:
* Vision deterioration- As the age progresses the vision deteriorates, due to which depth perception declines and it becomes difficult to judge the speed of upcoming traffic.
* Hearing impairment- Hearing loss is another ill-affect of aging. Due to the impairment, the elderly misses important clues while driving like honking, sirens, and so on.
* Drowsiness- Sleeplessness is the most common symptom of aging. This results in daytime drowsiness, which may interfere with driving.
* Brain impairment- This may cause delayed reactions, which might create a confusing situation on the road.
* Limited flexibility- Aging is often related to chronic diseases like Alzheimer\’s disease, Parkinson\’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and heart disease. All these health problems make the body inflexible.
* Medications- Certain medications produce deleterious side-effects that might interfere with driving.
Apart from these, there are several environmental factors that make elderly driving quite hazardous. Some examples of these are road markings and sign posts that are difficult to read, intersections that are complex and confusing, and panels on the dashboard that are difficult to comprehend.
Time to Take Adequate Precautions
If the elderly person is facing problems while driving, you should step forward and take action. However, while trying to convince him to stop driving, don\’t impose your decision upon him. Instead, patiently listen to his point of view. Cajole him emotionally to stop driving. Rather than making demands, ask feasible questions and persuade him to give a convincing answer.
Talk to him about the various safety concerns that are cluttering your mind. Put forth the transportation options available for him. Do talk about the benefits of these transportation options in detail. Whenever possible give the elderly joy rides. If things get out of hand, immediately seek professional help.
Remember, elderly driving is a matter of grave concern; therefore deal with it seriously and diplomatically.