Question

The World Health Organisation (2015) states:

“Healthy ageing is a process of developing and maintain the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age. Functional ability is about having the capabilities that enable all people to be and do what they have reason to value”

Interdependence of healthy ageing elderly with the community?

Answer 1

Interdependance of healthy ageing with the community

An individuals genetic composition and personal characteristics as well as their physical and social environment also plays an important role in the health and wellbeing. Functional abilities are those which enables an individual  to mobilise and meet their needs independently, to build and maintain good social relationships, to do descision making for self and also to be a productive citizen. Functional abilities,not only for the elderly but also for all age groups, mainly depends on intrinsic and extrinsic factors.

Intrinsic factors comprises of the inborn abilities of an indivial including the cognitive and motor skills. These capabilities may diminish with the presence of illness or the changes that occur in body systems related to ageing.

The extrinsic factors that affects the functional ability of an individual includes the influence of society, customs and traditions,beliefs and values, norms, policies related to health and wellbeing.Favourable extrinsic factors nurtures the intrinsic abilities in a man. So an environment that supports and maintains the intrinsic capacity and thereby the functional abilities is the key to Healthy Ageing.

Understanding the Diversity : Life style is a factor that could positively or negatively affect the health of an individual. A society that promotes an active lifestyle will be benefitted with healthy elderly who could guide and be an asset in framing a better world for the next generation. Sometimes an elderly of 70 or  80 years have higher physical and mental capabilities,like that of a middle aged person. On the otherhand many others of the same age may be fully dependent and may need assistance in basic life skills like feeding and grooming too. Policies based on the diversity of functional dependance of the elderly may aid in a healthy ageing.

Avoid stereotyping and discrimination: Discrimination against elderly people , is a major barrier to the development of good policy and practice. Policies for elderly are badly organized and scattered or non-existent. Proper systems to support the elderly by developing policies for pension,health care,rehabilitation & vocation based on abilities, will promote healthy ageing, and also will meet the needs of older adults. That sounds to be an investment for the future where older people will have the freedom to be and to do what they beleive in and it promotes the development of the siociety also.

Evidence based practices : The care models successfully used by other professionals in care of elderly can be adopted inorder to maintain better results. That may also help to avoid long term dependance and use of medical care facilities. It can also help in the faster recovery and independance.

Continuing care and support groups: Systems like old age homes or care centres will help older people, to receive the care and support from professionals that is their basic human rights.  Elderly people continue to have a longing for better health & well-being, as well as respect though they become physiclly weak. These services could ensure delivering assistance in needs with full dignity and respect. These services can also help to aviod unnecessary hospitalisations and unexpected expenditures on health care services.

Raising awarness : Creating awarness about the concept of healthy ageing may improve the publics view on old age, care of elderly and could resolve the issue of discrimination and prejudices too. Awarness campaigns could be conducted about the policies introduced by the government for the support and  welfare  of elderly so that it could avoid an elderly from becoming a burden on the family or community.

The elderly are indeed a valuable asset to the society with respectt of their experience and wisdom and the society inturn needs to protect and support them in maintaining optimum health, aiding towards a healthy ageing.