The ways of life are interesting! There are similarities between ironies and differences in similarities. It requires a mind behind eyes to understand this at various walks of life. But to understand that seniors are equivalent to toddlers require no genius.
The two completely opposite sides in human life share similarities starting from the behaviour patterns to health aspects. Both are impulsive, not easy to convince, require external help in almost every aspect of life and both are vulnerable in the terms of health. This is one of the reasons why geriatrics is considered as the new paediatrics.
The previous statement carries a real purpose, more than the words that rhyme. Considering the ever-increasing upsurge in the number of people over 60, the needs of senior wellbeing demands special attention.
Even though the emergence of modern living facilities for elders such as premium senior living homes, assisted living facilities and senior living communities, the need for more caring options could not be emphasized more.
We all very well know that aging is inevitable and the aged population requires hands that support them in all fronts of life. Seniors face complications that are beyond the body during their aging days.
This is the time of transition from active life to retired life, the term of knowing the biological and psychological limitations, and the period of reinforcing and rediscovering the societal involvements in life. It is every senior citizen’s right to embrace this unavoidable change of life with grace and support.
This blog is an attempt to shed some light on treating the three most important aspects of a senior’s life – physiological, psychological and societal; like you treat the same of a kid. Continue reading why the child-oriented approach is essential for the happy aging experience of a senior.
1. Physiology and Aging
Aging is associated with various health conditions as a result of biological events that occur in the body. With the decades’ long accumulation of molecular and cellular damage, physical and mental health gets deterred gradually.
The speed of aging is purely dependent on the lifestyle of the person. There are people who enjoy all the luxuries of life even in their early seventies and there are people who are weak and frail in their late-forties.
There are three important principles to follow in order to address the health complications as you age – food, physical activities and medical checkups. They are simple yet cover the body from all the health conditions included in geriatric syndrome and the other health issues that are not caused by genetic reasons.
2. Psychology and Aging
Most of the issues faced by a human being come from the top. Not from the sky but from the top of the body – the head. Focusing on mental health is another foremost important part of healthy aging. You know the importance of it.
If you are a person who is embracing aging, you already know that walk on the age numbers is not a walk in the park. As you age, life reveals many difficulties that take a toll on mental health. A disturbed mind can cause way more health issues than a deadly virus.
Focus on your mental health and try to train your brain in such a way that it finds solutions to an issue rather than living in the issue. Make traditional health practices such as meditation and yoga as a part of your daily living. It is medically proven that the benefits of yoga and meditation expand beyond mind and body.
3. Society and Aging
The goodness of a society can be gauged by the way how the people in that society are treating their elders. If that is the case, no society is completely good as of now. Significant amount of efforts need to be taken in many societies across the globe in order to attend the basic issues of the seniors.
Seniors are the most neglected age group by the governments of almost all countries. They receive minimal support and care compared to other age groups from their governments, societies and, sometimes, families.
Aging
Aging in a society that respects and in a community that acknowledges is the right of every aging person in the world. As a responsible individual, it is your responsibility to ensure you are laying down a path that leads to a society that respects the dignity of the elders irrespective of their economical and social backgrounds.
Healthy aging
Healthy aging is a commitment towards the seniors, not only by their family members but also by all the individuals in a society. Creating an empathetic and understanding atmosphere both at home and at communal levels allows the seniors to express their difficulties and communicate their needs.
No adjectives require conveying that we are living in a generation where the world is changing in the blink of an eye. The impact of globalization, resulting in urbanization and migration, pulling the elderly lives from reaching the hands that care and hearts that listen.
The outdated and stereotypic attitude that seniors are dependent and taking care of them is a burden than a responsibility should be changed. Yes, taking care of elders is a responsibility that comes with sacrifices and a commitment that is exhausting both mentally and physically.
But these are the thoughts that arise when you think that your parents are not part of your life. The responsibility of taking care of your parent equivalent to taking care of your children. The innovative ways to take care of your seniors make it easy for you now to accept the responsibility of your seniors without thinking much.
All it requires for a healthy and safe aging experience that is a humanistic touch that leverages the technological and analytical approaches. This helps elders in doing what they truly longing to do while living a life of their choice and will.
Seniors deserve the same care and compassion that is being rendered to the toddlers. They need to age in a healthy and loving atmosphere.
