There are more older adults in the world today than ever before. Despite the advancements in medicine and the increasing life expectancy, older adults still experience a plethora of health problems.
It’s not just physical health problems that can arise with old age. There has recently been an increase in the incidence of mental health struggles in older adults, and that’s not the mention the cognitive decline that is associated with old age, too.
As much as medicine has advanced, there is no cure for aging. Currently, modern-day medicine can treat most health conditions but it can’t cure them. Things like cancer, heart disease, and osteoarthritis can be managed with medications but it’s sometimes impossible to prevent them.
Although some age-related conditions are inevitable for many older adults. Reduced hearing, impaired vision, and restricted mobility affect the majority of older adults.
Depending on an older person’s lifestyle, genetics, and family history, they might be more likely to suffer from a more specific health condition than other people. For example, those with a family history of cardiovascular disease are predisposed to the condition themselves.
Whether you’re entering older adulthood yourself or you have a senior relative, it’s important to be aware of the common health problems that the elderly population faces. This way, you can take preventative measures to maximize your health or the health of your loved one.
Here are some physical and mental struggles that are common in older adults.
1. Joint Pain and Limited Mobility
Most older adults are unable to move around as much as their younger selves. Usually, this is because of joint pain and limited range of motion around the joints.
Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes swelling and pain in the joints, and it affects more than half of all older adults. When the joints are painful and swollen, it becomes very difficult to move them efficiently. As a result, older adults can struggle with their mobility.
Unfortunately, osteoarthritis only gets worse over time as the joint gets more worn down. Many older adults become fearful of the pain and are scared of falling over because of their limited mobility.
Although there is very little that can be done to prevent osteoarthritis, medications can be used to reduce inflammation and manage pain, which can improve an older person’s quality of life. Home modifications can be made to help older adults manoeuvre around their homes.
For example, handrails are great to use around the home to provide extra stability. A walk-in shower tub combo can make bathing safer, and stairlifts are great to eliminate the need for an older individual to climb the stairs.
Following a healthy lifestyle, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a nutritious diet are all beneficial to eliminating stress or wear and tear on the joints. When your joints are kept healthy, it lowers your risk of developing osteoarthritis and helps you to maintain great mobility into older adulthood.
2. Loss of Hearing
Deafness can occur at any point in a person’s life, and some people are born without their full hearing due to genetic conditions or developmental abnormalities. However, the incidence of hearing loss increases with age.
In age-related hearing loss, older adults begin to lose certain parts of their hearing. Usually, the first symptom is a loss in the ability to perceive high-frequency sounds, such as birds chirping outside or somebody blowing a whistle.
Another common symptom of age-related hearing loss is the inability to distinguish between similar-sounding consonants, like ‘f’, ‘d’, and ‘s’. To tackle this issue, hearing aids and assisted listening devices, like the ones provided by HearCanada, can be helpful.
3. Depression and Mental Health Illness
Mental health illnesses can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. However, depression has a high incidence in older adults, most likely due to the social isolation that comes along with old age.
A lot of senior citizens have very limited interaction with other people. They spend most of their days sitting at home alone because they are less able to go outside and explore, even if they want to do so.
Depression can be of increased concern in older adults who have no family members or get limited support from their loved ones. The elderly individual can feel lonely, isolated, and depressed because of the lack of emotional and social support that they are receiving.
The best way to prevent depression in your loved ones or yourself as you get older is to build a strong support network. Attend community events and get in touch with old friends to gain social support.
When an older adult has more people around them and is able to get the physical, emotional, and social support that they need, they are much less likely to fall into depression. They will also feel more confident in going outside and trying new things.
4. Cognitive Decline and Memory Loss
Your brain reduces in size as you age, especially if you don’t take the right steps to keep it healthy and active. Old age often comes along with a decline in cognitive function and reduced memory because of this shrinkage in the brain tissue.
Your elderly loved one might start to forget the names of people or places. They might be slower to process what you’re saying to them or take longer to respond to various stimuli. These are all key signs to consider with old age.
Although cognitive decline cannot always be prevented, leading a healthy lifestyle and keeping your brain active can lower the rate of decline. Make sure that you or your elderly loved one practice brain-stimulating activities, like quizzes, board games, or online brain training games.
Exercise is also very important to keep the brain tissue active and thriving. Hobbies, such as playing a musical instrument or knitting, can encourage the maintenance and growth of brain tissue as you get older, too.
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