Premium Essay

Issues Affecting the Aged

In:

Submitted By gurlpower31
Words 891
Pages 4
University of phoenix | Issues affecting the aged |

|

Aging is something that everyone goes through and there is nothing a person can do to prevent it. The older a person gets the more changes they go through. A person image changes dramatically the older they get. Throughout this paper information on the biological changes that can happen to elderly people in the late stages of adulthood, how health and fitness can affect the aging process, and the differences between the decrease in memory, language, and problem solving abilities in late adults with the benefits of their practical knowledge and their life experiences they offer. The paper will explain many biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors that can get in the way and affect people’s way of coping with dying. Finally the paper gives information on how grieving the loss of a loved one can be influenced by individual and circumstantial factors. There are many biological changes that occur in late adulthood. These changes include memory loss and many physical changes. The older a person gets the more problems they have with respiratory/circulatory systems, they have more constipation, they lose bone mass, they lose strength in their muscles, they get drier skin, their skin becomes loose, their hair begins to fall out, and they begin to have less sensitivity to sensory modalities like taste, touch, hearing, and vision (Cliff notes, 2000-2012). Health and fitness affect aging in many ways. The healthier a person eats and the more exercise they do the better shape their body will be in. Staying healthy and active can delay the aging process. Having a poor diet and lack of exercise can make a person age quicker and it does more harm to the body than good. Eating cheeseburgers while sitting on the couch and smoking a cigarette is not going to keep a person’s body healthy.

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Issues Affecting the Aged

...Issues Affecting the Aged There are so many issues that affect the aged such as dealing with physical changes, the loss of friends and the inevitable thought that death is around the corner. Learning to eat properly and recognizing the need to learn coping skills in order to deal with the loss of independence as well as the loss of friends and loved ones. When talking to adults who are in the late stages of adulthood about what they would do differently in order to feel better and prolong their life, they say that they would definitely change their eating habits to eat healthier and get some more physical exercise and make sure that it is enough to promote cardiovascular health. Physical exercise and diet can be the key to holding off the onset of diabetes and heart disease. Not to mention that good physical health can slow down the aging process and prolong the deterioration of muscles and strength. Eating the right foods can also promote good skin and slow the aging process that breaks down skin tissue and elasticity. Adults in the late stages of adulthood start to lose their memory. They may not be able to remember what they had for breakfast or what they did yesterday but they can remember their life stories and the wisdom they gained from their experiences. If they have suffered some medical issues they may have problems articulating their words and processing language, but they can still explain to you how things worked in their time and discuss what life was like when...

Words: 718 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Facttors

...FACTORS AFFECTING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF WORKING STUDENTS IN MABINI COLLEGES Asis, Mary Joy Aycardo, Joanne Mae Cardinas, Jenelyn Espinosa, Clarissa Mariz Esteleydes, Ayvee Sayno, Charol Mai Tan, Regina Villagen, Sheena Mae Yarte, Mary Louise In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in English 2: Writing in the Discipline Mr. Aldrin Ablao Adviser October 2015 Chapter 1 The Problem and Its Setting Introduction Bailey (2001) once said that education is a process of learning and acquiring information. Thus, it is divided into two types: formal learning institutions such as schools and self-learning better known as experience. Moreover, education is essential to every student by bringing them in the future prepared. But as we all know, education is not limited only in institutions and poverty rises which greatly affect the financial stability of every family hindering their children to attain knowledge formally. Today, many choose to work while studying, juggling school responsibility and self-responsibility, they are called, “working students.” Studying, alone, is already a hard task and working is another thing. Putting these two in the context have effects to each other either positive or negative. Weng (2012) elaborated that schooling and work are extremely different but both can bring a successful path. Though, working students strive hard to finance their studies, they also helping their families not only themselves. Those who have parents with...

Words: 2107 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

The Difference Between Good and Bad Jobs in Australia

...21st century, employers are only beginning to realise just how important job quality is for the success of an organisation. Job Quality is broadly defined as the employee’s experience of work & non-work processes, pay and implicit abilities that determine the employee’s orientation towards achieving the business objectives. A significant issue within Australia is the desire for full-time work not being met by certain age groups due to factors of the economy such as the recession. Furthermore, a two-way interference between work and life is another cause to factor in for poor job quality within Australia. Moreover, certain industries in Australia are infamous for the issue of having poor pay—high workload. This paper aims to critically define what job quality is and targets the central causation of poor job quality by looking at recent trends within Australian organisations. The paper then explores several human resource practices to tackle the identified issues within Australia. The aspects of Job quality are multidimensional and thus there are multiple definitions to job quality. It centrally follows the idea that factors affecting employee morale and work performance have substantial effects on the organisation’s ability to meet objectives. Assessing the quality of work is a subjective process that is undertaken by managers and thus there are no set certified standards for assessing job quality. Different circumstances, experiences and expectations of employees...

Words: 1719 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Childhood Obesity In Children

...Introduction Obesity in children is a major health issue affecting the Australian population with approximately 1 in 4 children being overweight or obese (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2013). It represents a major health and economic burden costing Australia around $58 billion in 2008 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2010). When assessing this issue from a public health perceptive, it is important to consider how obesity can affect the children in our society and the health complications obesity can lead to. The aim of this essay is to discuss the impact of obesity in children aged 6-17, in regards to its rising prevalence patterns, health risk behaviours and social determines. Health promotion and educational campaigns along...

Words: 1083 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Social Security

...Social Security at 80: Time to Retire? or Revise In 2015, America’s Social Security System turns 80 years old. The original act was a landmark bill, as it was the establishment of America’s safety net. The promise of the act was to ensure that America’s retirees would have some protection from poverty. Since the Social Security Act of 1935 was passed, the social safety net has been expanded to cover additional groups and classes of people. The most important additional programs established being MediCare and MedicAid. After years of running a surplus, Social Security has reached an inflection point. At the current rate of drawdown, the trust fund will run dry, and Social Security will begin to operate as a pay-as-you-go program, potentially only paying 75% of promised benefit levels. This paper will discuss the history of Social Security, demographic and technological trends that affect Social Security, the future implications of these trends for Social Security, and possible solutions. A Brief History of Social Security Social Security as we know it today evolved from the Social Security Act of 1935. Under the terms of the original law, Social Security benefits only applied to the employee. Today, Social Security pays benefits to the employee, the spouse, and the disabled and contains the provision for what is known as Medicaid and Medicare. When compared to today’s law, the scope of the original version of the Social Security Act was much narrower. For example...

Words: 2360 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Obesity

...Obesity is a serious problem in the United States affecting both children and adults. It is a disorder that involves a person having excessive body fat which can increase the risk of health problems. Obesity happens over time when you consume more calories than your body can burn off. This can differ from person to person so obesity is directly related to factors that might affect your weight including your “genetic makeup, overeating, eating high-fat foods, and not being physically active” (Obesity 2015). Obesity is a major issue concerning children that live in the United States. Although there has been a decline in childhood obesity rates among pre-school aged children in the recent years, childhood obesity rates are still very high. In the past decade, about 17% or 12.7 million children and adolescents form the age of 2-19 have been affected by childhood obesity (Galletta 2015). The prevalence of obesity in children varies among racial/ethnic groups, age, sex, and the education level of the adult head of the household. Obesity is more common among children whose caretakers did not complete high school as compared to children whose caretakers completed college. Studies showed that in the past decade, obesity rates among children of adults that completed college were half that of children of adults that did not complete college. Obesity also affects a vast number of adults in the United States. About 78.6 million adults in the United States currently are obese. That is more...

Words: 655 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

The Most Important Health Issue in Australia

...Topic 1: The Most Important Health Issue In Australia 2013, Dementia. Dementia is a broad term that encompasses a large group of illnesses that cause a progressive cognitive functional decline including memory loss, loss of intellect, rationality, language skills, perception, social skills and physical function. Dementia exists in many different forms including Vascular Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, Dementia with Lewy Bodies & the most common form of Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease. (“Key Facts and Statistics,” 2013.) Dementia affects Australians of many ages and although Dementia is not considered a normal aspect of the aging process, approximately 92% of Australians diagnosed with Dementia are over the age of 65 years. ("Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of ageing,” 2012) It is estimated that there are currently over 321,600 Australians living with dementia and approximately 1,700 new cases of dementia diagnosed every week. I believe these incredible statistics combined with Australia’s rapidly aging population make Dementia Australia’s most important health issue in 2013. (“Key Facts and Statistics,” 2013.) The table below highlights the projected population growth & rapidly aging population facing Australia up to 2031. Table 1; [pic]“(Note: Reprinted from (Challenge 1, Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council,” n.d.) Australia’s rapidly aging population will see the number of Australians living with dementia increase by...

Words: 1519 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Mental Health Issues In Australia

...Statistics in Australia show that between 14 to 18% of children and adolescents are experiencing mental health issues. Due to this, the estimated forecast for depression, self-harm and suicide in the next generation of Australian adults is particularly alarming. Access to support for families and young people effected seem to have increased considerably over the past 20 years. However, still only 60% of those effected were able, or willing to access health services (Report on the Second Australian Child and Adolescents Survey of Mental Health, 2015, p.6). Why? This essay will point out the necessity for a concentrated effort by government authorities and the extended community to help promote programs to identify mental health issues in their...

Words: 958 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Health Psychology

...Cultural barriers affecting the mental health of Indigenous people Cultural barriers certainly have a crucial impact in affecting the mental health of Indigenous people. This is evident as Indigenous people tend to have considerably high levels of stress and anxiety in their lives stemming from the consequences of trauma and grief of stolen generation and dispossession which is intricately linked to mental health and disorder (Craven, 2006).This common pattern of loss of culture, land, voice, family and dignity resulted in poor mental wellbeing for many Indigenous generations over the past century (Brown, 2001). However, problems still continue due to the inadequate research in the mental health of indigenous people. This results in mental illnesses being undiagnosed, undetected for Indigenous people, which makes them disadvantaged with from the rest of the population (Vukic, Gregory, Misener & Etowa, 2001). In addition, if they are diagnosed, they are assessed using Western mainstream methods, such as the DSM-IVclassification system, which does not suit their cultural differences and is culturally inappropriate (Craven, 2006).Also, being treated in the mainstream, it is evident that that their treatment will not be from an Indigenous perspective or worldview, and thus their underlying concerns will be ignored and overlooked (Valmae, Stephen, Melissa, Komla, 2007). There needs to be an understanding of Indigenous culture by healthcare professionals in the mainstream services...

Words: 1731 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Student

...In terms of the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of health, health denotes the physical, mental, psychological and social normalcy of an individual and not just the absence of disease (NIMH, 2004). From the definition that has been given, it is clear that, there is more to health than the physical attributes. Mental health is important just like physical health because no individual is considered healthy if their mental health is deranged even if they are normal physically. The mental aspect of an individual coordinates other body systems, and for this reason, every human being needs to be mentally fit. Mental illnesses have been around for centuries, and they continue affecting every citizen in Canada, just like in various parts of the world. There is growing interest by researchers on issues of mental health and how these have impacted on society. As it is an important health topic, researchers have done extensive research and now, there is diverse knowledge on health illnesses in Canada. This paper analyzes mental illnesses in the Canada by dwelling on the history of mental illnesses, statistics of mental illnesses and impact of mental illnesses on Canadian population and government as a whole in terms of managing the condition. Statistics Mental disorders are common conditions internationally, and this is the same in Canada. Estimates reveal that 26.2 million Canadians over 18 years suffer from Schizophrenia mental illnesses. In any particular year, 1 in 4 adults...

Words: 1964 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Aarp – You Don’t Need to Be Political – Just Smart!

...and as a spouse so am I. We get the newsletters and e-mail but I never really paid much attention to the influence AARP had over policies affecting people over 50. The main theme of my paper is how AARP’s organization and lobbying efforts show that to be a force to be reckoned with, an interest group can use money and sheer numbers to get it’s point across. First let’s define what a lobbying is. According to Encyclopedia Britannica “lobbying, any attempt by individuals or private interest groups to influence the decisions of government; in its original meaning it referred to efforts to influence the votes of legislators, generally in the lobby outside the legislative chamber. Lobbying in some form is inevitable in any political system” (Britannica 2011). The organization I chose to write about was formerly known as the National Retired Teachers Association. “Because of its broader focus on issues ranging from medical care, social security, health and welfare, aging, insurance, financial planning, and consumer protection, the name was officially changed in 1999 to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)” (Money Matters 2011). AARP is a “nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50 and over improve the quality of their lives” (AARP 2011). As mentioned above, AARP is involved with many concerns affecting those in their 50s and beyond. “AARP’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for all as we age, leading positive social change, and...

Words: 1189 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Public Adminstration

...Issues Affecting the Aged Gregory Crutchfield University of Phoenix Human Lifespan Development BSHS/342 Natalie Hetzel May 23, 2011 Issues Affecting the Aged Describe the biological changes that occur in late adult hood and how health and fitness affect the aging process. As people start the ageing process they begin to experience biological changes; most of these changes begin as a person gets to the middle and late adulthood stages. With so many issues that affect seniors today, in the late stages of adulthood many seniors experience different types of issues that can affect their lives, such as health issues, the loss of a husband or wife, family or friends, and social issues as well. This is the stage in life where serious health issues arise and the breakdown of the body systems begins to occur. Over time the protein fibers in senior’s bodies become less elastic and this can affect the health of organs in their bodies. Changes with vision and hearing are common in middle and late adulthood stages, so are changes in the cardiovascular system, and changes in the musculoskeletal system. People begin to experience a loss of strength, heart issues, and health issues concerning other parts of the body such as joint pain, or arthritis, and the loss of bone density. I interviewed my aunt Dorothy Ann Crutchfield, Age 72, a retired RN about the changes she have gone through over the late stages of her life starting with biological changes. She started...

Words: 1340 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Health Services and Facility Planning

...Lecturer/Tutor/ Unit Co-ordinator for this unit. No part of the assignment/product has been written/produced for me by any other person except where collaboration has been authorised by the Lecturer/Tutor/Unit Co-ordinator concerned. I am aware that this work will be reproduced and submitted to plagiarism detection software programs for the purpose of detecting possible plagiarism (which may retain a copy on its database for future plagiarism checking). Signature:________________Tarun B.______________________ Note: An examiner or lecturer/tutor has the right to not mark this assignment if the above declaration has not been signed. Contents 1. Executive summary 2. Introduction 3. Demographic and geographic 4. Factors affecting Borlein district 5. Issues explored 6. Conclusion 7. References 1. Executive summary...

Words: 2258 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Foster Care Research Paper

...which for many foster kids results in the resort to destruction, harm, or other poor decisions. Statistics from the policy circle cite that in this same time frame, by the age of 21, 25% of aged-out foster kids report having a child (Failure/future system). The cycle will only continue if more kids are being born to parents who are young, already struggling, and don't have a model of how to care for their children. We need to provide better support and education for these kids so our society doesn't spiral worse. Being in foster care has a large negative effect on the mental and physical health and well-being of youth. Research from Youth.gov found that the rough life experiences of those in foster care create problems resulting in mental illness, substance abuse issues, and lack of confidence. Research on the developing brains of adolescents and young adults points to the importance of vulnerability in teens and positive supportive relationships in the context of the...

Words: 1407 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Good Health Care System

...1. What makes a good health care system? A health care system is an organization consisting of individuals and associations delivering health requirements and services towards the society. These health care systems differ in a large variety around the world as certain nation meets a different necessity. In a good health care system, factors such as financial, technological and policies are important and greatly affect the structure of the system. An important role of financial in the health care system is the funds provided by authorities. Funds supported by the government for public hospitals benefits the system where patients are provided with sufficient sickbeds, nurses, emergency wards, ambulance vehicles and food. These subsidies allow hospitals to prevent over flowing of patients left unattended during emergency and casual consultation times. In most general hospitals, subsidised funds allow hospital authorities to hire more nurses which increase the efficiency of patients being tended and decrease the workload on the doctors (Palmer and Short, 2010). Furthermore, the funds are greatly beneficial towards the practices of specialised doctors in certain types of patients such as cancer and other complicated diseases. In a health care system, technological factors are required to improve the quality of resources provided to patients and assist greatly in medical research departments. In most countries, health practitioners increased the adoption of Health Information...

Words: 1519 - Pages: 7