It is not a secret that as humans grow older, there are new challenges and problems that seniors will face. Some of them are very apparent, for example, medical conditions like dementia and memory loss as their cognitive abilities start to decline. Others are not as obvious, such as an increasing loss of purpose and financial insecurities. Whichever they are, these challenges can severely impact your loved one’s quality of life and perception towards their own self-value if they do not receive the emotional and physical support that they need. Here is a list of some of the most common problems faced by seniors and how we can best support them!
Decline in Physical and Cognitive Abilities
Everyone will face some kind of decline in their dexterity and mobility as they grow older. This means that completing their once easy everyday tasks may also grow increasingly harder. It isn’t just because they lack the strength they once had or may struggle with remembering certain routines. Sometimes it is also due to the development of fear and insecurities – even walking down the stairs or tripping may lead to a medical emergency!
This has a lot of negative impacts on seniors. Firstly, they may start to develop negative emotions like frustration or anxiety over losing their independence. Having led a full life where they were able to take care of themselves, needing to depend on others may start to wear down on their self-confidence and create self-doubt. Secondly, this might fester into a loss of purpose. For example, if your loved one used to be extremely skilled at a trade, not being able to do it as well as before may cause them to lose their sense of identity and purpose. Lastly, it might even be that your loved one is surrounded by a community that discriminates against seniors. There are many stereotypes about elders that are outdated and inaccurate that can them becoming marginalized or even isolated by those at their workplace or social circle.
The best way to overcome this is definitely to encourage your loved ones to stay active and continue taking part in activities that interest them. As technology develops, there are new and innovative products and even classes that can help seniors learn to maintain a fulfilling and independent life.
Need for Healthcare Services and the Right Care Providers
Obtaining healthcare can be an exasperating and complicated experience, especially if you are dealing with a long-term condition or a loved one who needs round-the-clock care. There are two ways to go about this. The first way is to have a family member undergo the necessary training and certification to ensure that your loved one receives the care they need. The other alternative is to consider working with professional senior care provisioners. For example, personal care or respite care services will enable seniors to have access to a professional team 24 hours a day as well as senior-centric amenities and activities.
Financial insecurity
Even though people in the world are starting to live longer, retirement plans and senior financial support schemes have not evolved to match the needs of the demographic. Seniors may not be able to work for as long as they want or retain a reliable source of income after retirement. And if they require specialized medical care, this can lead to seniors worrying about their financial capabilities. In particular, it may also lead them to be more vulnerable to scammers and other forms of crime.
No matter how old you are, it is important and possible to lead a happy life with purpose. Sometimes it is hard to understand or pick up on these challenges until we go through them ourselves, which is why it is extremely important to communicate with your loved ones about their feelings and worries in order to provide the support they need.
