Diversity Influences in Human Development - Essay Example

Diversity Influences in Human Development Introduction This paper examines the issues of elder hood, the grief that the old people go through when they attain their prime age. It expounds on the various diseases that affect the elderly people and the problems they encounter when they have reached this age. The above are natural and biological phenomenon’s that are beyond man’s control. Old age is a stage in life where the people in them need to adopt certain new skills, newer mind sets along with socialization customs. Different people around the globe envisage the process of growing old differently. The elderly people have encountered various problems and grief during their old age years. These people have reportedly suffered from various mental, physical, economic and social deteriorations across the globe (Goldberg, 2011). Due to the physical weakness that these people have continuously encountered during the peak period of their lives, they need to develop mental sharpness to enable them overcome any mental breakdowns that they may have (Avendano, 2006). The mental breakdowns mainly result from their loss of confidence when they are unable to cater for their financial expenses. Elder hood brings forth the inability to remember, concentrate, speak, hear and see thereby making these people pensive and vegetative since they just sit or lie down and say nothing (Goldberg, 2011). The old people still have their own personal cravings for travelling and engaging in fun activities but usually lack the means (Cooper, Selwood & Livingston, 2008). This greatly makes them loose the reason for living longer with reports indicating that approximately 10% of their population suffers from personality disorders (Duner & Nordstorm, 2004). Traditionally, in most communities around the world, the elderly people enjoyed happy places in their communities due to life’s simplicity and the values practiced in their societies (Cooper, Selwood & Livingston, 2008). Many natural changes occur to the physical well beings of the elderly with most having regenerative capabilities that are limited while they become more prone to diseases, syndromes and other forms of sickness (O'Keeffe, Hills & Doyle, 2007). They experience issues like the loss of hair, hair color change, the formation of wrinkles, slow reaction time, decreases in their ability to think clearly and difficulties in recalling memories (Goldberg, 2011). Elderly people have also reportedly suffered from sexual problems that range from reduced libidos or erectile dysfunctions due to their previous behavioral and feeding habits (Avendano, 2006). According to reports, over a third of the elderly people around the globe die from heart related diseases. These are diseases like strokes, congestive heart failures along with other coronary diseases (Cooper, Selwood & Livingston, 2008). Most of these heart diseases have been attributed to the depressions that they go through when they lose loved ones or fall sick resulting in the breakdown of vital body organs like the heart, kidneys, liver among others (Duner & Nordstorm, 2004). When people grow old they tend to develop eye problems that eventually bring problems on their eyesight. These problems range from the occurrence of floaters, cataracts, glaucoma and development of ailments like the dry eyes syndrome (O'Keeffe, Hills & Doyle, 2007). The elderly people across the globe also tend to suffer from problems with their joints with diseases like arthritis, tendinitis and bursitis affecting them (Cooper, Selwood & Livingston, 2008). Arthritis is a disease that has affected many people and is common among the elderly. They tend to experience pains in their joints though there are various forms of medication that is administered to them to ease this pain which includes the use of aromatherapies, acupuncture and homeopathy (Avendano, 2006). Depression among the elderly people is sometimes termed as a physical disease though it can also be psychological reaction to a certain disease that could be affecting them. The physical problems affecting the elderly and leading to depression include strokes, cancer, Parkinson’s disease along with thyroid disorders and heart diseases (Duner & Nordstorm, 2004). Depression may also result from dementia, otherwise referred to as Alzheimer’s disease. These diseases and psychological disorders may also arise from the side effects of consuming many drugs that are prescribed for the elderly by medical practitioners (Avendano, 2006). The use of alcohol by some old people to treat their depressions on their own leads to greater deterioration on their medical conditions since the drink does not cure but aggravates their problems (O'Keeffe, Hills & Doyle, 2007). The elderly people around the world have experienced diseases that have in turn affected their mental capacities and reasoning abilities (Cooper, Selwood & Livingston, 2008). For instance, the old people who suffer from dementia encounter hardships when performing their everyday activities. They experience difficulties when comprehending what they are told and conveying their thoughts and wants to the people around them (Goldberg, 2011). Dementia may also bring infections, strokes along with other illnesses to the elderly. According to recent studies, people have been urged to indulge more in physical activities that would contribute to building their muscles to sustain them when they become elderly. This is because people who have strong muscles have lesser chances of being affected by diseases like the Alzheimer’s disease in their old age (Cooper, Selwood & Livingston, 2008). According to the American neurological archives, the people with greater physical strength have 61% lower risks of being infected with Alzheimer’s disease in addition to 48% lower risks of being infected with cognitive troubles that are mild in comparison to their weak counterparts (Duner & Nordstorm, 2004). Other diseases like the Parkinson’s disease that start affecting humans from the time they get to the age of sixty five or earlier affect an elderly person’s motor system which occurs due to losses (Avendano, 2006). Elderly people who are suffering from the disease experience trembling in their hands, jaws, legs, arms and faces, stiffness in their limbs, slow movements and unstable postures (Cooper, Selwood & Livingston, 2008). These symptoms in turn bring problems to the elderly people when they are talking, walking, or performing other normal and everyday duties. This disease, in very rare circumstances affects people who below fifty years of age (Duner & Nordstorm, 2004). The disease may bring depression, sleep interruptions, skin problems and emotional difficulties for the elderly people who have been infected. This disease is complicated by the fact that doctors have in the past encountered difficulties in positively diagnosing the disease (Tatar & Tatar, 2007). Diabetes is another medical condition that greatly affects many of the elderly people around the world. It mainly infects its victims from when they attain the middle ages of 50 towards their old age (Cooper, Selwood & Livingston, 2008). The disease brings about the problems of increased blood pressures among its victims along with high cholesterol levels (Avendano, 2006). However, victims of the disease are usually provided with several types of medication to help them in overcoming the daily difficulties that are brought by the disease (Duner & Nordstorm, 2004). As most people grow old and start been diagnosed with these diseases, their diets have to change despite some them having eating habits that are deep rooted in their cultures (O'Keeffe, Hills & Doyle, 2007). However, reports indicate that the elderly people who dwell in homes for the elderly are more likely to feed on healthy and balanced diets than their counterparts who live in solitude (Cooper, Selwood & Livingston, 2008). Those living alone normally encounter difficulties in cooking a fresh meal on a daily basis due to their inability to work or purchase the cooking materials (Tatar & Tatar, 2007). Issues surrounding the death of a loved one may greatly affect an elderly person’s intelligence of his or her own identity, self along with death (O'Keeffe, Hills & Doyle, 2007). Meaningful relationships matter a lot to the elderly people according to reports. The aged people however encounter difficulties in maintaining and developing new relationships after they have lost their previous friends. This is because the elderly people tend to be more socially disengaged as they grow older as their social interests go on waning (Duner & Nordstorm, 2004). Reports indicate that these trends are reflected by the rates at which the elderly people gradually withdrawal their participation in community affairs and other social activities and go into retirement (Tatar & Tatar, 2007). These reports in addition state that these trends have been more adverse for the elderly people who live alone and are far away from their relatives and close friends (Avendano, 2006). The elderly people encounter a lot of grief when they are trying to come to terms with the fact that they are gradually ageing and nearing their deaths (Cooper, Selwood & Livingston, 2008). They question themselves concerning the lives they have been leading and what stands ahead in their future for those they care for (Avendano, 2006). Many old people encounter difficulties in trying to stay alive by engaging in activities that will help them in their retirement years (Tatar & Tatar, 2007). Reports indicate that the elderly people who actively engage in constructive activities tend to become more content with life while living healthier than their counterparts who just sit down and rest (Duner & Nordstorm, 2004). For the purpose of raising their self-esteems, the elderly are usually urged to continuously indulge in social activities where they will mingle with people who appreciate them and in turn make them feel wanted through their participation (Goldberg, 2011). They also tend to have a purpose along with a meaning for living despite the fact that they may be suffering from many ailments (Cooper, Selwood & Livingston, 2008). In the year 2006, most countries across the globe experienced life expectancies that were higher for women than for their male counterparts. For instance, in America, the life expectancy of women is currently to be 5.2 years longer than for men (Duner & Nordstorm, 2004). The elderly members of the society are increasingly committing suicide due to the effects that bereavement along with grief is having on their lives. This mainly happens in instances where an elderly person has outlived many of his or her children and did not expect that they would die and still leave him alive (Avendano, 2006). They in turn tend to develop a lot of stress that consumes a great deal of their time. These events could eventually lead them to resolving that there is no points in living any more thereby making them commit suicide. This is mainly because they find it difficult to accept the reality of the events happening in their surroundings (Goldberg, 2011). The sense of being left alone after the death of an elderly person’s siblings leads to feelings of depression, loneliness along with being vulnerable to their forthcoming and imminent deaths (Duner & Nordstorm, 2004). However, despite the fact that the elderly people may have witnessed several deaths in their lifetimes, some have found a renewed urge to continue living through their active participation in communal and religious activities (Goldberg, 2011). Others on the other hand have found no need for living with depression and stress in their lives and have in turn resulted into committing suicide (Cooper, Selwood & Livingston, 2008). Recent reports from America indicate that despite the fact their elderly population forms only 13% of their total population; they contribute a total of 19% of the entire number of people who commit suicide in the country on an annual basis (Duner & Nordstorm, 2004). Previously, there were assumptions made concerning mental problems developing as one ages. This assumptions have however been falsified since not all elderly people develop mental problems and those who have them can be medically assisted (Cooper, Selwood & Livingston, 2008). There are many elderly people around the globe however who develop issues such as depression or dementia during their old age (Goldberg, 2011). Statistics indicate that over 15% of the population aged over sixty five years across the globe experience depression with 4% of them estimated to be experiencing acute depression. Those suffering from acute depressions have been identified as those who well in nursing homes and have disabilities (Avendano, 2006). Reports indicate that over 20% of the elderly people who have visited medical facilities around the globe have experienced previous problems with alcohol (Tatar & Tatar, 2007). On the other hand, the men along with women who have attained a minimum age of ninety years make up 32% of the patients who are suffering from dementia across the globe (Duner & Nordstorm, 2004). The psychological along with emotional distresses that the elderly people suffer from arise due to their isolation from society, loneliness and the loss of their independence among other factors like bereavements (Cooper, Selwood & Livingston, 2008). The depressions that the elderly people encounter make them incapable of coping with the challenges that come every day into their lives. They tend to develop low moods, feelings of being worthless or guilty and lack of interest in different pleasurable activities (O'Keeffe, Hills & Doyle, 2007). The issues of depression along with dementia affect the elderly people from all cultures and races though it is higher among the elderly living in nursing homes (Avendano, 2006). This is mainly because they are more vulnerable to the factors that affect that could lead them into depressions. These factors include their prescribed medications, genetic susceptibility along with other neurobiological changes that are associated with the ageing process (Goldberg, 2011). However, the major causes for depression among the elderly people are the loss of a partner through divorce or death, retirement or unemployment, illness and physical disabilities and loneliness along with isolation from their communities (Duner & Nordstorm, 2004). Alcohol problems have also affected the elderly people with over 20% of them who visit medical professionals for regular checkups being alcoholics. These problems have been identified as being more common among elderly men thereby implying that they are at a greater risk of contacting several diseases that are alcohol related (Cooper, Selwood & Livingston, 2008). The alcohol problem among the elderly population has been ignored in the past with more focus being laid on the younger population that is more productive to a country (Goldberg, 2011). The elderly people who engage in abusing alcohol mainly end up being depressed and this increases the suicide rates in their population (Bilir, N, et.al, 2003). Various mental problems that range from confusion, anxiety, depression, dementia and the hearing of voices may affect the elderly people who are indulging in alcohol abuse (Avendano, 2006). The elderly population that suffers from mental problems is unable to make appropriate decisions and most of them require assistance when performing these tasks (Bilir, N, et.al, 2003). For instance, the elderly people who suffer from dementia normally require special assistance in making decisions concerning their activities with vital pieces of information being collected from their families and work places (Duner & Nordstorm, 2004). Several governments across the globe have come up with measures that are aimed at protecting the rights of the elderly people with mental problems in their decision making activities. For example, the government in the United Kingdom enacted the mental capacity law in the year 2005 to cover the rights along with decisions of the people among their population who lack the mental capacity required in making sound decisions (O'Keeffe, Hills & Doyle, 2007). This law covers even their elderly societies who suffer from problems such as Dementia along with other cerebral disorders (Goldberg, 2011). Reports indicate that there are currently about 530 million elderly people living in the world with about 360 million of them being found in countries that are developing (Avendano, 2006). There has been a decreased number in the amounts of deaths being witnessed in the developing nations due to the improvements in their health sectors. The life expectancies in the developing nations have also been found to be increasing due to these improvements (Bilir, N, et.al, 2003). The elderly communities who seek the support of their governments in getting medication for the different ailments they are fighting tend to become passive and dependent consumers of any medication that is administered to them (Duner & Nordstorm, 2004). The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for emergency actions to save the elderly people around the world from the challenges they encounter on a daily basis in accessing health services (Tatar & Tatar, 2007). The dependence of the elderly on their communities comes when they have lost their physical strength, their source of income along with employment (Goldberg, 2011). Elderly men and women have reported to hospitals with different medical problems though the elderly women tend to complain of more complications than the men (Tatar & Tatar, 2007). The women have been diagnosed with diseases that range from hypertension, diabetes, asthma, osteoporosis, stomach problems along with other complications. The men have reportedly been diagnosed with lesser complications that range from heart and brain diseases (Cooper, Selwood & Livingston, 2008). These differences have been attributed to the lifestyles and eating habits that people engage in their earlier years (Avendano, 2006). According to reports, women additionally tend to develop many more complications than men since they engage less in more vigorous physical activities (Bilir, N, et.al, 2003). This is supported through the fact that most cultures around the globe have reserved the woman’s place to be the kitchen and nurturing children whereas their men are left in charge of other duties beyond the kitchens (Goldberg, 2011). The poor medical conditions of some of the elderly people are aggravated by the fact that about 20 to 40% of their population around the globe is still indulging in the use of tobacco products. These products bring many adverse to the human body and are responsible for causing different types of cancers that affect the human body (Duner & Nordstorm, 2004). According to reports, many people across the globe are dying on an annual basis due to the presence of tobacco related illnesses. Different perceive the issue of caring for their elderly differently (Avendano, 2006). For instance, in the American society, the acts of being dependent or emotional bring discomfort to most people whereas in Turkey these acts have been socially accepted (Cooper, Selwood & Livingston, 2008). These values are responsible for the differences in the number of the elderly people found in the nursing homes located in these two countries (Goldfield, 2011). In Turkey, 63% of their elderly populations live with their family members in their homes whereas in the American situation only 29% of their elderly population lives with their family (Tatar & Tatar, 2007). Previous studies also indicate that most of the elderly population across the globe including those in the nursing homes would prefer to die in their beds at home and in the presence of their family members (Bilir, N, et.al, 2003). This therefore shows that the elderly people would prefer living with members of their families in contrast to leading solitary lives (Duner & Nordstorm, 2004). Many developed countries around the globe have begun efforts aimed at curbing the problems that the elderly people within their societies have been encountering. They have established programs aimed at educating their health providers on how they can best assist the elderly people living within their community (Cooper, Selwood & Livingston, 2008). However, the developing countries have continued to lag behind in implementing any appropriate measures at curbing the challenges that the elderly people in their society encounter (Avendano, 2006). In conclusion, the paper examined the various challenges and griefs that the elderly people around go through. It also examined the diseases that most of the elderly people frequently suffer from and their needs along with wishes in regards to medical services and emotional assistance. References. Avendano, M. (2006). Disparities In Stroke Incidence And Risk Factors Among Elderly People In The US, Vol. 7, pp: 155-421. Bilir, N., Aslan, D., Gungor, N., Agac, M., Siddiqui, Z., Uluc, F., Ulger, Z. & Yilmaz, O. (2003). Determination Of Health Status And Some Social Conditions Of People 65 Years Of Age And Older In Turkey, Health Center Region in Ankara. Turkey, Vol. 3, pp: 97-102. Cooper, C, Selwood, A & Livingston, G. (2008). The prevalence of elder abuse and neglect: a systematic review. 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