Aging and Geriatric Issues

Amid the possible excitement of approaching retirement, emptying the nest, the birth of grandchildren, and more, there may be some challenges that cause trepidation as a person gets older. As a person reaches and then goes beyond middle age, they may face some issues that affect their health, and finding support is essential. Not only does getting older imply encountering physical ailments and limitations, but some changes occur in the realm of mental and emotional health that ought to be monitored.

While a decline in certain aspects of cognition and physical fitness is to be expected, the challenge can arise in either adjusting to this decline, or dealing with more serious conditions, or both.

Certain medical conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia affect around ten percent of Americans of retirement age. Other difficulties include isolation due to the death of a spouse, peers, or friends, or being ignored by loved ones.

Getting older isn’t always looked upon with warmth and compassion. The elderly may face age discrimination or disrespectful treatment, in addition to diminishing financial resources and the fear of not being able to pay for their own basic needs.

Other difficulties may include mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, or changes in their behavior such as verbal outbursts or dementia-related aggression. Additionally, difficulties sleeping well, alcohol, and substance dependence are also common issues among older Americans, as are high suicide rates. As a person transitions into older adulthood, facing a loss of meaning and struggling to adjust to new roles, living situations,etc. can prove challenging.

Aging successfully doesn’t necessarily mean the absence or avoidance of disease and risk factors for disease, or maintaining full physical and cognitive functioning, or remaining functional enough to not need support from others. While the idea of successful aging is certainly appealing and there are examples of people in their 70s, 80s, and 90s (“lucky agers”) that are fitter or just as spry as twenty somethings, that is not the case with most older people. It can thus set unrealistic and unhelpful expectations.

Aging successfully might not mean being free of the “slings and arrows” that are par for the course with getting older, but it might look like developing the capacity and skills to cope well with future or existing challenges such as:

• the loss of loved ones, whether through death or when one’s children move away
• the loss of meaning due to retirement or the loss of another meaning-making activity or relationship
• a diminishing person-environment fit, such as when your home becomes dangerous because it has steep stairs,or it becomes harder to maintain due to its size
• infirmities such as chronic conditions, or simply not being able to recover as quickly from an illness or an injury.

Life is full of transitions and changes. Adaptability to new circumstances is key to remaining productive and getting the most out of life. Being able to adjust to these challenges will help a person cope in ways that allow them to retain meaning and enjoyment in life even as they get older.

Therapy can help people to make a healthy transition into older adulthood by providing a support system, exploring one’s new roles, or by training caregivers to create a sturdy support system. As attitudes to therapy shift and the stigma around therapy falls away, more older adults are entering therapy than ever before.

This may be to deal with specific mental health challenges like anxiety and depression or to make use of a support system as they deal with the transitions that are a necessary part of getting older. Therapy can be for the individual or for a family that is trying to develop the tools it needs to meaningfully support an aging family member.

Beyond taking corrective measures once a challenge sets in, there are some things a person can do to nip potential issues in the bud or reduce their impact when they arise. These strategies can thus be implemented earlier in life, or as a person gets older and sees the effects of age begin to show.

Expand your horizons. Your purpose and value as a person go beyond whether you’re employed, young, or healthy. Those things shift and change, and even young people go through crises of meaning when they lose relationships or their sense of vocation.

Our purpose as human beings is to enjoy God and glorify him in everything we do, and that’s something we can do regardless of our age, state of health, or employment status. Psalm 92:12-15 says, “The righteous… will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.’”

Proclaiming God’s goodness is a never-ending task, and if we expand our horizons to understand that this is what we’re here for, then no change we encounter, including getting older, can take away our primary focus or joy.

Build a healthy support structure. In many non-Western cultures, elders don’t feel disconnected from their embedded network of care because they are taken care of within the family. It’s important to have social support networks such as friends and family. This support structure can help to cushion the various losses and challenges that come with getting older.

Instead of pursuing autonomy, healthy interdependence and a network of relationships can provide support. Group therapy with others going through geriatric issues can help provide that support, as does joining in activities with peers. Be willing to ask for help and know your limits. This will allow you to change routines or your arrangements for the better if they aren’t working for you.

For instance, if your home environment is no longer conducive to your well-being, communicating the challenge to your family or support network and enrolling in an aging-in-place program or joining an assisted care facility helps you to continue living your life, but with the necessary support in place.

If you are a caregiver or a family member looking after an older person, you can help them by using plain language and clear communication such as written reminders or instructions to help them navigate certain areas of life. With the advent of technologies such as video calling, wrist-worn health monitoring devices, and the ability to set reminders on a phone, it’s easier than ever to give clear instructions and keep track of your charge’s health and wellbeing.

Look after your physical health. Being physically healthy isn’t the complete solution, but it does help with staving off the impact and effects of old age. As such, eating food such as Omega-3 rich foods (which have benefits for heart health and blood pressure), and doing physical exercise as directed by your doctor will lead to a greater overall sense of well-being and the ability to perform simple tasks even when you’re older. Physical exercise will also help to reduce stress and improve your heart health.

Maintain your cognitive health. Following a healthy dietary pattern that includes a lot of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains helps you’re your overall health, including your brain. Keeping up or establishing habits such as reading, writing, and playing games that exercise the mind is also important for cognitive stimulation and reducing cognitive decline.

Embrace the present. Our culture often takes a jaundiced view of getting older, which makes the idea of aging gracefully one that must be actively pursued. An unhealthy perspective on getting older can make the process more difficult and painful than it needs to be. Rather than rejecting what is happening to you or worrying about what is to come, taking the posture of embracing and welcoming the changes aging brings plays a role in whether a person is well placed to cope with those changes.

Getting older can be challenging, whether you’re the one who is getting older or you’re their family member walking with them on that journey. Whether the issues you’re dealing with relate to physical health, or mental and emotional health, through individual, group, or family therapy, you can develop the tools you need to address the challenges of getting older.

We all need to grow in compassion toward ourselves and others, and at Orange County Christian counseling the counselors will treat you and your family with the compassion and respect you deserve. All people are made in God’s image, and that doesn’t change with age.

Your counselor will listen to your unique story and develop the appropriate treatment plan. Using evidence-based therapeutic techniques in combination with the wisdom from Scripture, your counselor will help you or your family navigate this next chapter of your lives.

While getting older carries certain challenges with it, it can also be a new season of blessings and recognizing God’s faithfulness in your life. If you or a family member are experiencing challenges or you’re seeking guidance for navigating this stage of life, don’t hesitate to contact one of the counselors to find out more about counseling for aging and geriatric issues at Orange County Christian counseling or to book an appointment.