Helping our Elders Tackle the Inevitable – Old Age

As far away as it might seem now, old age for us is also a reality awaiting us. Let us not leave it to our later years to understand the nature of the trauma that senior citizens have to go through while dealing with physical and mental problems. We should sensitize ourselves today by helping our elders deal with their physical and mental disabilities and thus help them live their years with dignity, just as we would like to live our later years.

The yesteryears were good but as their bodies start to feel the weight of their age, it is time that we, the younger and healthier, give serious attention to the health of senior citizens. With their bodies debilitating, they are the ones majorly affected and the worst hit by the tight and busy schedules of their caretakers. People often find excuses as to why they are not able to take care of their elderly parents, grandparents or any other relatives for that matter.

Senior citizen health care is an important and critical task that needs be addressed to more than any other aspect. With increasing age, health concerns too increase, both in physical as well as mental terms. There is a long and complex list of health issues that majorly occur to almost all individuals owing to the unhealthy and busy life schedules throughout their lives. The list includes dementia and Alzheimer’s, heart related problems and strokes that ultimately lead to paralysis and other disabilities. . However, this does not mean that we give up and lose hope. Thankfully, today we are more aware of health risks than we were a few years back. Research has helped us understand these diseases better. It is not a surprise that cures for some of the most complex health related problems are definitely available. The major breakthrough of these researches has resulted in increased longevity for our population. However, just as with most good things, this too comes at a price. It is important for someone or the other to be present along with the senior citizens at home. They are always in need of a caring partner who can take care of their health. The situations are worsened when people disregard this very reality. At times, the partners or the care takers are themselves suffering from health issues and this creates even more aggravation.

Helping elders live a peaceful and an enjoyable life is our first and foremost responsibility. Home support for the elderly is a must when it comes to taking care of them. Along with the medical treatment, it is equally important for us to help them remain strong emotionally. Such health issues take a toll on mental health and undermine elder people's will. They end up feeling lonely and helpless. Usually, they start thinking of themselves as a mere burden. This can have far more serious impacts on their physical health as well. It is important to make them feel good about themselves and show them they matter to the people around them.

Options such as senior citizen homes sometimes prove to be good. There are various non-government organizations that let people help elders and senior citizens. NGOs that support such elder care can effectively do so only if there is a continuous stream of donations for the elderly coming in. Anyone can choose to sponsor a grandparent, even if they are not one’s own but one of the millions of underprivileged elderly that often have no one to care for them. You too can. All you need to do is to do an internet search for an NGO that does this activity.

As much as we love our lives and our work, we should always bear this in mind that old age in inevitable. As the years roll on, the stress and strain of everyday life start taking a toll on our bodies.. We should treat our grandparents the way we would like to be treated when we are in their shoes. The health care for senior citizens should be given all due importance and we should support them in the remaining years of their lives, be it with home support or through sponsoring their care.

Author writes home support for the elderly. For more info about online donations health care for senior citizens visit - https://www.helpageindia.org/donate.html