The Importance of Health for the Elderly
Health is a state of wellness. Being healthy does not only mean on the physical aspect, it should comprise all the aspect of a human being, that is, the physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual. For the elderly, being healthy is very important. For the elderly, health is equivalent to wealth.
The aging process and chronic illness influence each other in many ways. Elderly people are physically, socially, and psychologically more vulnerable to illness and its effects. Although individuals differ in timing and rate of illness, all elderly people face the stresses of physical, social, and environmental changes. Promoting health, preventing or delaying the onset of aging changes, is possible to some extent. One of the most common occurrences of the aging process is a loss of independence. Even some of the most basic activities of adults become major task for elders because of lack of income, ill health, and lack of transportation. Because of the limitations of elders and the barriers they must face, they have special needs, in regard to community facilities and services. If these needs are met, the lifestyles of elders are greatly enhanced. If not, they are confronted with anything from a slight inconvenience to a very poor quality of life. Meeting the cultural and religious needs of the elderly is also very essential. It is important to accept an individual’s beliefs without bias. In addition, promotion of physical health in later life requires attention to the same factors as at any age, for instance, regular exercise, a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. The situation with older people may be more complex as often manifestations of aging intermingle with symptoms of disease. The elderly are more prone to communicable diseases because the aging process lowers down the immune system. Using this as the basis, we can say that prevention from acquiring communicable diseases and slowing down the body’s degenerative process is vital for the elderly. When a disease or disability affects the functioning of the body, an individual may experience psychological problems. When this occurs in an elderly individual already stressed by other changes or circumstances, it can be traumatic. Many chronic conditions commonly found among older people can be managed, limited, and even prevented. Older people are more likely to maintain good health and functional independence if encouraged to do so and if appropriate community-based support services are available. Psychological changes can be major sources of stress in the elderly. As changes occur, the individual must learn to accommodate the changes and function in new situations. Providing care to the elderly can be a challenging but rewarding experience. It is important to remember that the needs of the elderly do not differ greatly from the needs of any other individual. They have the same physical and psychological needs as any person at any age. However, these needs are sometimes intensified by physical or psychological changes that disrupt the normal life pattern. Nursing care for the older adults should be based on two principles: most elderly are not impaired but are functional in the community, thereby benefiting from health-related oriented interventions, and older people are more vulnerable to physical, emotional and socioeconomic problems than people in other age groups and may require special attention for health promotion and maintenance. Freedom from abuse is an important aspect of care for the elderly. Abuse of the elderly can be physical, verbal, psychological, or sexual. Handling the elderly roughly, denying food, water, medications, yelling or screaming at the elderly and even causing fear are all forms of abuse. It is difficult to measure the incidence of elder abuse and neglect in the general population. Those being abused may not be able to report the crime because they’re mentally-impaired or may not feel free to because they’re dependent on the abuser. Frequently, the abuser is a family member or caretaker. Elderly individuals may want to protect the abuser or may even feel that they deserve the abuse. Another aspect of meeting the needs of the elderly is to respect and follow their rights. These rights assure the elderly individual a kind of care that is considerate and kind.
Therefore, health is indeed important for the elderly. Meeting the needs of the elderly is vital for them to enjoy life and continue to live for another day.
