Future Changes and Challenges Within the Elderly Population Term Paper

Introduction

The elderly population, like every other population in the world today, can benefit from changes that have occurred in the world thanks to technological revolutions. The Internet, for instance, has allowed a virtual world to emerge that rivals the real world in terms of social opportunities. News spreads instantly thanks to the Internet, and people can communicate with one another and retrieve information more easily today than at any point in human history. Technology can thus be used to address some of the changes and challenges within the elderly population today. Those changes and challenges include changes in environment as the population moves into assisted living and combating isolation and depression, which can occur in this population. Likewise, because of the nature of the globalized world it is more likely that this population will be more diverse than it has been in the past, which means there will be a greater need for understanding among the elderly as they share community living spaces though they may come from different ethnic or cultural backgrounds (Baker, 2014). This paper will address the changes and challenges that the elderly face and show how technology can be used as a tool to help the elderly overcome these challenges and cope with these changes in an effective manner.

Future Changes and Challenges

A New Environment

One of the biggest changes that the elderly population will face as it ages is dealing with a new environment. The elderly population is likely to be very used to the way things are, the surroundings they have grown up with and that they are familiar with. However, as they age, they are no longer able to care for themselves and so they need assisted living help. This means they will typically move to an assisted living location, where their surroundings will change. The environment will be different and they will have to make adjustments. They will not have many of the old familiar sights and sounds. They may feel dislocated from their own lives. A new environment can be a major change for the elderly.

Diversity in the Community

As a result of the globalized world that technology and the ability to travel has brought, the elderly population is set to be more diverse today than ever before (Moore & Rosenberg, 2001). This is a reality that can present some challenges for the elderly population as well. The elderly may not understand how to communicate with or think of people who are of a different culture or ethnicity. They may not know that they have different expectations and ways of looking at life, friendship, religion or politics. Understanding these differences and maintaining a respectful and friendly attitude can be a challenge for some.

The Threat of Ageism

As so much of today’s culture is focused on youth and youth culture, ageism—i.e., discrimination against the elderly—can become a particular problem for many (Tapia, 2015). Not only do some nurses and family members suffer from ageism without realizing it, the elderly themselves can suffer from it, often resenting the fact that they are getting older while others are young and are still able to enjoy themselves and their youthful spirits. Ageism can be a particularly challenging issue to address because there are a great deal of psychological and emotional hurdles that may need to be overcome in order for individuals to understand that aging is not a bad thing and that there are plenty of ways in which the elderly can still contribute to the community or enjoy having meaningful lives (Brojeni, Ilali, Taraghi & Mousavinasab, 2019).

Living with Disability

As the body ages, however, it can begin to wear down. The mind may begin to slip as well, as issues like dementia and Alzheimer’s can develop. Living with a disability can be very trying for the elderly and those who care for them. Thus, disability is often seen as a major challenge for the elderly population as well (Aging and Disability Services, 2013).

Dealing with Isolation and Depression

Another major challenge is the issue of dealing with isolation and depression that comes with aging. Many times the elderly are left alone for long hours of the day or for days on end with no social or human contact. They begin to feel abandoned, cut off from the rest of the world (Cornwell & Waite, 2009).…

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…(p. 133). By looking back on their lives, the elderly can see that they have done well for themselves and they can take pleasure in speaking about the past and listening to and connecting with others in the group.

Animal-assisted therapy programs can be provided as well. Animals typically bring people great joy and can enhance in the well-being and stave off depression or withdrawal. When animals are brought to see people, a connection is made between the elderly and nature in a way that is not frequently possible because of the age of the elderly and their lack of mobility. Animals bring a vital spirit and energy to the environment that can pique the interest of the population and uplift their own spirits (Banks, Willoughby & Banks, 2008).

Visitor volunteer programs and indoor gardening programs can also be ways to help empower the assisted living community and give elderly people an opportunity to socialize. Visitor volunteer programs exist to enable volunteers from the community to visit the elderly, talk to them, read to them or listen to their stories. The elderly enjoy the visits, and the volunteers enjoying giving back time to the community in this manner. Gardening programs also work to bring pleasure and excitement to the community by giving the elderly an opportunity to interact with nature, cultivate plants, and grow flowers or crops.

All of the above-mentioned programs can be found in the community and cost very little in terms of overhead. Meanwhile the benefits can be enormous. They can cut down on the risk of social isolation, and they can improve the well-being and mental and physical health of the elderly person. By keeping the elderly active, engaged, and recollected, the population can feel more empowered, happier, contented, and at peace with where they are in life.

Conclusion

The elderly population will face a number of changes and challenges as they age, such as changes in environment, changes in community, changes in health and mobility, and changes in their own interests and activities. They will face challenges such as declining health, inability to get around like they used to, and the risk of ageism and isolation. The key to addressing…