In this century, issues affecting the health of older citizens will likely become more pressing national policy issues. As our elderly population continues to grow, we may need to question our cultural values regarding health care for older adults with chronic conditions. Treating disease is no longer sufficient, as these individuals will need emotional, educational, and financial resources. As we approach the year 2010, we will see a massive population explosion of older people.
Economic inequity
Senior citizens are disproportionately affected by income inequity. Senior citizens who earn more money are less likely to suffer from illnesses or disabilities. Reported by wilmacliving.com seniors with less money may have more difficult times recovering and adjusting their homes to accommodate their functional decline. Those with less wealth may also face a higher risk of chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Economic inequity is especially prevalent among minority groups.
Inequality also impacts older citizens’ health. Research has found that older adults in high and low-income counties report lower health outcomes and higher rates of psychiatric problems than older adults in low and moderate-income neighborhoods. Although the authors cannot establish a causal relationship between income inequality and ill health, the findings suggest that high levels of inequality contribute to systemic underinvestment in communities, leaving residents with fewer resources to purchase healthful food and housing.
Related: Understanding the Care and Support Needs of Older People
Physical inactivity
Among older adults, physical inactivity is one of the major risk factors for poor health in later life. Almost one-quarter of these people do no more than thirty minutes of physical activity a week. The report examines the barriers to physical activity and the factors that motivate individuals to become physically active. It highlights the need for government action to promote physical activity, and warns that many older adults do not feel supported to become physically active.
Researchers have identified two main types of physical inactivity. The first type of physical inactivity occurs when people do not engage in vigorous activity at least three times a week. The second type is moderate activity, which involves activities such as gardening, cleaning the car, or walking. Moderate activity includes one-to-three hours of physical activity per week or less. Vigorous activity, on the other hand, involves doing sports, heavy housework, or jobs that require physical labor.
Neighborhood safety
The effects of crime and the perceived level of neighborhood safety on the psychological health of older adults are largely unknown. However, research has shown that older people are more afraid of crime than younger people, and this fear increases in urban settings. The present study aims to uncover the predictors of fear and examines the role of the neighborhood. The study found that people with limited physical functioning and those with poor health felt more threatened in urban settings than healthy persons. People with high education and place attachment experienced lower levels of fear. Furthermore, perceived neighborhood disorder increases the fear of residents. Other factors that may increase fear are the physical environment of the neighborhood and the level of natural surveillance.
In addition to physical safety, older adults’ mental well-being was also affected by the perceived neighborhood environment. The perceived neighborhood environment reflects the availability of supportive resources in the neighbourhood. However, individual differences in access and utilization of supportive services in their neighborhood may make a difference in older adults’ health. For this reason, neighborhood safety is important in promoting the health of older citizens. But how can the community environment be improved?
Incontinence
Incontinence in the elderly is an issue that has devastating effects on the lives of seniors. Not only can incontinence be embarrassing, it can also cause isolation and limit social contact. It can also cause significant stress, which can contribute to other health issues. Fortunately, there are treatments available for incontinence in older citizens. These four types of incontinence can occur alone or in combination, and can be treated to improve the quality of life of the individual suffering from the condition.
One of the most common forms of incontinence is overflow incontinence. In this case, there is an obstruction in the bladder, causing the bladder to overfill and release urine. More than 25% of the older citizens who seek care for incontinence are affected by stress incontinence. This type is caused by a person’s inability to reach the bathroom or is unable to fully empty the bladder when he or she has a need.
Alzheimer’s disease
Identifying symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and aging is critical. Early diagnosis allows physicians to rule out other causes. A health care provider must first diagnose Alzheimer’s disease as distinct from other forms of dementia, including depression and psychiatric disorders. The health care professional should check to ensure that the patient is not taking any medications that could cause cognitive problems. The physician can also help the patient with other medical needs.
The first signs of cognitive impairment are typically memory problems. Some people may have a condition called mild cognitive impairment (MCI). These individuals exhibit a greater degree of memory problems than is typical for their age, but do not experience symptoms that interfere with daily life. Other signs of MCI may include a decline in movement or a diminished sense of smell. Even though MCI can lead to Alzheimer’s, some people can revert to their normal levels of cognition as the disease progresses.