The Development of Elderly: A Comprehensive Guide

The Elderly

We speak of elderly people in people over 65 years of age. This stage of life is also called senium, which means old age. Hence we call older people seniors. Despite the many flaws associated with ageing, it is important not to regard this phase of life as negative. Becoming old is a normal process that everyone will undergo and that happens very gradually. Research shows that most elderly people can adapt well to the changed situation and still enjoy life fully.

Two Periods of Old Age

1. Early ageing (65-75 years):

   • This group is also called young elderly people.
   • They have just retired and usually have sufficient financial resources.
   • Often still healthy and very active, for example by cycling regularly.
   • They still have plenty of opportunities to enjoy life.

2. Late Oldage (75+ years):

   • This group is also called the senior elderly.
   • Usually less active with a worse condition and health.
   • Often dependent and needy.

The ageing process at this stage can be accelerated by certain events, such as the death of a partner or the occurrence of disease.

Cognitive Development

Elderly people need more time to process information and therefore speak slower often. It is important to adjust your speech rate and clearly articulate in the way they interact with older people. Repeating can never hurt, and patience is essential.

Although older people learn harder, they can still learn a lot. The biggest obstacle is often learning off old habits. For example, lighting a new gas stove with automatic spark-ignition can be difficult because they are used to doing this with a match.

The memory is often reduced in elderly people, and new information is more difficult to remember, which leads to forgetfulness, because it has to do with the short-term memory. In dementia, a more severe form of memory loss, almost everything is forgotten, which is a painful experience for family and stakeholders.

Elderly people often remember details from the distant past, while recent events are quickly forgotten. Confabulation, or'false memory', is also common, whereby holes in memory are unconsciously filled with plausible information.

Physical Development

The biological ageing process has started between 20 and 25 years, but the decline in elderly people is more marked, requiring adjustments and the use of aids such as hearing aids.

Changes in the appearance:

• Hairs get gray and thinner.
• Skin gets weaker, wrinkles and can hang.
• Skin becomes spotty, pale and thin.

Osteoporosis, a disease in which the bones become fragile due to calcium loss, is common in the elderly, causing bones to break faster and to heal more slowly.

Motors require more effort, which leads to stiffness and slowness. However, movement remains essential to slow down the ageing process. Tools such as walking sticks, walk bars or wheelchairs may be needed.

Changes in Facial Possibility:

• Reduced vision and a smaller field of vision.
• Vision and cataract (clouding of the lens of the eye).
• Glaucoma, another eye disorder.

Changes in the Hearing:

• Decrease in hearing, especially high tones.
• Difficulty in distinguishing voices and sounds.
• Hearing aids can help, but they don't solve all the problems.
• Old people can try to read lips, which is exhausting.

Deduction of Reuk and Taste:

• Elderly people are less likely to notice when food is spoiled.
• Food tastes less good, which is considered unpleasant.

Social Development

During the age-old phase, social contacts change significantly. Elderly people retire and lose many social interactions. New meaningful activities must be found to fill their leisure time. The role of the family also changes: children are usually out of the home and elderly people spend a lot of time with their grandchildren. Of providing support and help, their role shifts to receiving them, which is difficult for some to accept.

Due to circumstances such as retirement home, death or dementia, the number of social contacts is reduced, which can lead to loneliness. Many elderly people feel lonely but do not always come out of this. Indirect signals of lonelihood, such as long-term talking to prolong contact, may indicate this feeling. It is important to encourage older people to engage in new activities and to establish contact with others.

Emotional Development

The personal view of ageing and society's appreciation influence how the elderly experience this phase of life. Many older people have difficulty accepting dependence and often feel the burden of others. This can manifest themselves in withdrawn behaviour or depression. Others express their frustrations by getting angry or demanding much. It is important to treat the elderly as adults, encourage them into self-care and not patronize them.

Sexual Development

There is a prejudice that older people no longer have sexual lives. However, four out of five men and women with good health seem to be able to lead an active and pleasant sex life well beyond their 65 years.

Conclusion

Ageing brings many changes, but these changes need not be negative. By adapting to the new situation and being open to new experiences, you can still enjoy life in full. Let us support and appreciate our elders for who they are, and help them experience this phase of life with joy and satisfaction.