How Ageing Affects Individuals and the Society as a Whole - Coursework Example

Health and Ageing How Ageing Affects Individuals and the Society as a Whole Introduction Ageing is the process of psychological, physical and social changes that comes with advancement in age. To address the issue of ageing it is important to note that ageing comes differently in different populations and the experiences of on e society or a specific individual will be totally different when looking at another group of individuals. When we talk of an ageing population we are referring to the increase in the number and the proportional ratio of the older people in the society to the younger ones. There are a number of factors that lead to population ageing in a given society. The first one is increased life expectancy. With increased life expectancy it means that the individuals in the population will live longer and so the number of the elderly people or those who fall in the age bracket of those referred to as old will be more. Increased life expectancy has been facilitated by a number of factors. Among them includes better health care where the people can access health facilities in an efficient manner therefore eliminating chances of lost lives at an early age. Another reason is the improved living standards among the people in a society. When the living standards are improved, then the people will be able to get the basic needs more easily and needs like clean water, diet and hygiene will be emphasized. All these will enhance increased life expectancy. Migration has been noted as another reason that can facilitate an ageing society. If the young people are migrating to other areas then the society left will have majority of older people and few young ones. The last factor that can lead to an ageing population is reduced birth rate. Due to reduced birth rate as has been experienced in many countries, majority of individuals in a population are ageing because the new young ones brought into the society are very few. In this paper we shall critically look at the biological aspects of ageing, well being health aspects that are brought by the increase in age and how each of these impact on the individual and the society where he/she is living. Biological Aspect of Ageing Programmed Ageing The theory of programmed ageing is the one that has been highly supported as it takes into concern other inventions in science such as the role of genes and their part in protein synthesis (Theodore, 2012). The theory proposes that there are deteriorative processes that exist and which are offset by maintenance mechanisms but those maintenance mechanisms are also regulated by a specific genetically specified biological program which is the reason why each species will have a specific life span (Theodore, 2012). This program brings in the aspect of the biological clock as a method of determining the slowing down of the maintenance processes taking place in the human body. The slowing down in the maintenance processes in the body has a number of health, psychological and social aspects which will be discussed in this work. There are a number of diseases and disorders which are age related. These include Alzheimer’s disease and many others. The increase in the ageing population also has other consequences to the society which include decreased workforce which will be discussed in the socio-economic effects of an ageing population. The high number of the elderly individuals also calls for enhanced medical care which calls for an improved health care system. The Physiology of Ageing The process of ageing entails multiple changes which come at different levels (Pedro, 2011). Examples of the changes that can be seen physically include wrinkles and greying of the hair. Strehler, 1999, explains that most human physiological processes start declining after the third decade of life. At this moment they have reached the peak and they can only start declining (Strehler, 1999). The process of ageing varies among individuals; however, there are a number of physiological processes that mark the stages in all individuals. These include; - lower metabolic rate, longer reaction times and reduced sexual activity (Pedro, 2011). In women, the stage is characterized by the onset of menopause. Many organs in the body also start declining in performance and this can be characterised by the increase in kidney infections, pulmonary diseases which are caused by the inelasticity of the blood vessels and reduced immunity. The reduced immunity puts the individuals at the risk of getting infected easily which is a characteristic of the aged. Mental health is another main concern among the aged. Ageing has been found to cause memory and cognitive impairment even with the absence of any notable disease or disorder (Pedro, 2011). The reduced memory has been attributed to the degeneration of neurons of the central nervous system which in turn leads to decreased execution of commands which require the nervous system. The physiological processes though not specifically pathological render the ageing individuals more susceptible to many diseases (Pedro, 2011). These diseases include heart problems like high blood pressure and kidney problems. Other complications such as arthritis have also been attributed to age as the majority of individuals who are affected are at an advanced age. With more ageing people in the society and looking at the physiological complications brought about by ageing, then it calls for better plans in health care. Age Dependent and Age Related Diseases and Disorders Though rarely distinguished from each other these two categories cover the diseases and disorders that come with advanced age. Age dependent diseases and disorders are categorized as those whose pathogenesis involves the normal ageing process of the individual (Jacob & Edward, 1986). As age increases the mortality and morbidity from these diseases and disorders increase. The diseases include Alzheimer’s disease and Pulmonary disorders. Age related diseases and disorders are not totally dependent to the ageing process though they are related to it (Jacob & Edward, 1986). An example of such is multiple sclerosis. For the aging individuals aging comes with many consequences. Health in Older Populations The health of older people is of much importance. With the advancement in age, the body becomes more prone to diseases and disorders that are dependent or related to ageing. The reasons are highlighted above in the physiological processes of the body which later prompt the body to become weak and hence more prone to the diseases. The declined immune system of the body makes the body to stand susceptible to the many ailments that trail the aged. There are also a number of diseases that though they have not been directly linked to the ageing population have stood to be a real menace to the population. Among them is diabetes which though it affects young people is more prevalent to the ageing people. The following are some of the diseases that affect the ageing society. The list is long and so the major ones have been selected. Alzheimer’s disease Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It is a disease that was first described by German psychiatrist Alzheimer in 1906. The disease is more common in people aged 65 years and above. The disease has no cure. The symptoms vary among individuals but they are closely related. The symptoms that detest Alzheimer’s disease include; - confusion, short term memory loss, loss of critical thinking ability and making of decisions. The progression of the disease is detested by increased confusion, loss of irritability and senses, the individual may become aggressive, have a wave of mood swings and loss of concentration, trouble talking and detecting language and long term memory loss. As the disease primes, serious neural problems which cause bodily functions to stop may make the person to die. The disease is associated with the formation of tangles and plagues in the central nervous system. The formation of tangles highly blocks the coordination which the main role of the central nervous system. The problems associated with it are as a result of the loss of coordination as the CNS is affected. The disease can be controlled by mental stimulation which is aimed at reversing the progression of the disease. Exercise and balanced diet are also used as the ways of stopping the progression of the symptoms. When Alzheimer’s disease manifests itself, the person relies on others for assistance and this makes his or her upkeep more expensive. This is one of the most prevalent diseases among the aged. Age-Related Kidney Diseases The ageing people are at greater risk of having kidney diseases. The kidney diseases that are more prevalent among the ageing people include;- Inflammation and kidney swelling. This is a disease which is mainly caused by glomerulonephritis. It is an inflammation of the glomerulus and it affects their working making the indi9vidual unable to perform normal ultra filtration and re-absorption which are the main roles of the kidney. Urinary tract infections are also common among the aged in the society. The urinary tract infections cause symptoms like bladder leakage among others. Kidney diseases have also been associated with high blood pressure. Arthritis Arthritis is a joint disorder that involves the inflammation of the joints. Ageing is one of the main causes of arthritis. As the age increases many people experience joint pains which is one of the main symptoms of arthritis. The pain is mainly caused by the inflammation around the joint or wearing out of the joint. Loss of synovial fluid also makes the joint to wear out and hence there is pain around the joint. In severe cases of arthritis the individual is unable to walk which calls for care from another person. Hypertension Hypertension is one of the diseases that affect the population above the age of 60 years. With the advancement in age, the blood vessels become more rigid and inelastic and this in return increases the blood pressure as there is no room for expansion in the arteries. Hypertension is lethal as it can cause blood vessels to burst. The people who are aged therefore call for specialized care which makes their upkeep expensive. In many societies, there are elderly homes where the aged are taken care of. These homes are run by their money and it helps to give employment. However in the recent past, many aged individuals are calling for personalized care where they opt to remain in their own homes and then they get care from there. This is expensive as they often need the attention of a medical doctor or a nurse to take care of their health issues. This new trend has really made the upkeep of the aged costly. These diseases which affect the ageing well being make their life and that of the society costly. The running of the elderly homes where they are taken care of is expensive and requires input of capital to establish them. Socio-economic Challenges Brought by Ageing The share of the population that are above 60 years is bound to increase in almost all the countries in the world (David, Canning & Gunther, 2011). This will have many effects on the society and the individuals as a whole. First the increase in the share of the ageing population will tend to lower the labour force and hence the savings will be reduced if the labour force is decreased (David, Canning & Gunther, 2011). The reduced labour force would mean that there will be less people to work and provide for the ageing society. The society needs facilities such as good health and to provide them there should be a steady income both for the individuals and the government. Majority of the ageing people require personalized care which is expensive and so if they do not have money then it will be a tough challenge for the society or those who take his or her responsibility. In some countries, the aged are paid pensions and so with the share of the aged increasing then it means that the government will be paying so much money to them and since they are not working to sustain it, there could be an economic crisis looming soon. This has been one of the fears of the ageing population as it is seen to strike by the year 2050. Public Programmes for Older People In the developed countries it is common to have public programmes for older people. This includes the US and many countries in Europe. These programmes provide public programmes provide health care, long term general care and also acts as a source of income (Joshua & Jane, 2002). These programmes take much of the money that is planned for use by the elderly in the society. However there are other smaller public programmes which also take part in providing social services to the ageing (Joshua & Jane, 2002). Acute care finance which includes hospitals and physician care for the old people helps in controlling and treating the diseases which affect the old people in the homes where they live. They get their funding both from the public and private sector to run their operations (Joshua and Jane, 2002). These programmes use much money and so with the ageing population being bound to increase then it could be a great burden to the whole society. The aged also require long term financing which for example in the US is done by nursing homes and home and community based centres. The funding is made by state funded programmes together with out of pocket payments and health insurance policies which the individuals had subscribed to during their earlier years. Looking at the money that is put into these services then it goes without saying that increasing then an increase in the share of the aged in the population will be a tough task for the government and other financiers. What makes it more costly is the retirement income which is paid to the individuals aged above 65 years. The money is financed through a combination of public and private funds. Welfare payments also serve to provide a substantial amount of the required money to run the programme (Joshua & Jane, 2002). Implications of the Increased Ageing Population For a population to be productive and to sustain itself, the rate of production must surpass by far the rate of consumption. To make a population very productive there must be enough labour which is a core factor of production. The increased ageing population has a negative effect to the labour delivery and the economic status of a country. First the aged do not participate much in the production process in any society. With their numbers increasing and the labour force declining then it means that there will be insufficient workforce to sustain the production needed to run the country. Second, the aged require specialized care which include health care and social care. As old age knocks the individuals become more susceptible to age dependent and age related diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and Arthritis which call for specialized yet expensive treatment and control. The nurses and doctors who do this work require to be paid and this further adds to the costs of sustaining the aged. The cost of the specialized health care is much and so with the increased ageing population it will be hard to sustain the services. Among the challenges the aged encounter is reduced immunity and susceptibility to age-related diseases. Majority of the diseases mentioned above require specialized care and if the individual cannot raise the money and there is no public programme to ensure he gets it, then he can really suffer. However the various health programmes have ensured that there are programmes for the aged which facilitate their health care and well being. These programmes are funded by the government together with private organizations. In some cases the individuals pay for their own upkeep. Conclusion The 21st century has been characterized by different challenges compared to those that were encountered in the 20th century. In the 20th century the main challenge was provision of health care to the population. However in the 21st century, the life expectancy has been boosted courtesy of the health programmes set in the previous century. With the increased life expectancy the share of the ageing people in the society has risen and is still bound to rise in the coming years. This has created new challenges on the effect of the ageing on the society. The question of sustainability has also risen as discussed in this work. Bibliography Bloom, E. D., Canning, D. & Fink, G. (January 2011). Implications Of Population Aging for Economic Growth. Program on the Global Demography of Aging. http://diseaseriskindex.harvard.edu/pgda/WorkingPapers/2011/PGDA_WP_64.pdf Theodore, C. T. (2012). The Ageing Theory. Azinet Press. http://www.azinet.com/aging/aging_theory_introduction.pdf Rogers, L. D. (2000). Economic Consequences of an Ageing Population. Urban Institute Publications. Grundy, E. (2010). 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