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Major limitations faced by an elderly person in daily life
Elderly people are among the most important parts of our society. They are most experienced, but they have many limitations to face in life, thereby resulting in their decreased activity and movement in the society. One of the most important limitations faced by elderly people is their restricted movement. In spite of the requirement of movement, they are often unable to move easily from one area to another. Due to limitations of their movement, their activities of daily living are also reduced. In order to move from one place to another, elderly people often require the help of other people. This is another limitation, i.e. elderly people are dependent on other people for their daily activities. They fear that they would fall or face some injury due to movement related disorders, so their mobility is decreased, thereby limiting their independent living (Henry-Sánchez, Kurichi, Xie, Pan, & Stineman, 2012). Limitations of elderly people also decrease their self-care, thereby affecting their overall health.
Factors contributing to the major limitations faced by elderly people
An important reason behind the limitations in elderly people is limitations of their activities of daily living. Among the other common factors that can limit the activities of elderly people, include a history of stroke, neuromuscular deficits, arthritis of the lower limbs, dementia, parkinsonism, loneliness, and depression. Usually, chronic diseases or disabilities increase the limitations of elderly people. It is also suggested that the cognitive as well as physical impairments of elderly people interact with the environment resulting in limitations in activities of daily living and self-care (Henry-Sánchez et al., 2012).
Recommendations or suggestions to overcome the limitations
According to estimations, the number of elderly people would increase at a significant rate in the U.S. in the next 18 to 20 years. The number of elderly people having 65 years of age or older age would increase to 72.1 million by the year 2030, which was about 40 million in 2010. This increase in the number of elderly people is due to improved medical care as well as prevention methods (Henry-Sánchez et al., 2012). Therefore, it is important to overcome the limitations faced by elderly people, so that our future would be brighter as compared to present situation. One of the most important suggestions to improve the limitation related problems in elderly people is to remove their fear of falling due to movement of walking. Research shows that people with fear of falling have more chances of limitations in daily activities (Henry-Sánchez et al., 2012). Development of new coping skills in elderly people along with the increase in their ability to deal with the changes that could appear with increasing age can help in dealing with the fear, thereby overcoming the limitation related problems.
Another suggestion to reduce the limitations of elderly people is to reduce their depression as much as possible. Previously, it was thought that depression is positively related to aging, i.e. with aging, depression is inevitable. However, studies have shown that depression is linked to various physical, psychological, and social problems. An older person having a good physical health has reduced chances of getting depression. Preventing the elder people from living alone can also reduce many of their limitations. Most importantly, loneliness can result in depression and serious health-related outcomes. Therefore, working on the health of older people would help in dealing with depression and loneliness, thereby reducing their limitations (Singh & Misra, 2009).
Research also shows that short-term exercise programs and regular aerobic activity can help in reducing the risk of functional limitations as well as disability in elderly people. Therefore, exercise or aerobic activity can be recommended to elderly people (Paterson & Warburton, 2010).
Type of living arrangement best suited for elderly people
Researchers have pointed that the provision of home-accessibility features can help in decreasing the limitations of elderly people. Homes of elderly people must have minimal environmental and household barriers, especially in case of people, who are not frail (Henry-Sánchez et al., 2012).
In my opinion, type of living arrangement best suited for elderly people must consider their needs not only in the present time but also in the future. Following points have to be considered in the best suited type of living arrangement for elderly population:
Medical and Physical needs: Living arrangement of elderly people must be designed in such a way that they would be able to get physical help, whenever they need. These physical helps may range from less intensive helps such as in cleaning, shopping, and cooking, to intensive helps such as in eating, moving around, and bathing. Along with physical needs, living arrangements must also provide medical help, whenever required as, for example, in case of stroke or heart attack.
Home maintenance: Homes with reduced maintenance and/or with people, who can maintain home, are best suited for elderly people. Reduced requirement of maintenance can also help in reducing the financial problems.
Emotional and social needs: Homes of elderly people must be close to their relatives and older friends, so that they would help each other in reducing the limitations of each other.
Factors affecting the elderly people’s ability to remain in an ideal living arrangement
Some of the factors that are affecting the elderly people’s ability to remain in an ideal living environment may include financial issues, religious beliefs, perceived health, social relationships, socioeconomic status, self-efficacy, and coping skills. Usually, elderly people, who think that they are healthy and fit, may show resistance to move to another place. Similarly, elderly people with good financial status may have better living arrangement as compared to poor people.
Use of knowledge to improve the conditions of interviewed elderly person
An elderly woman is living some houses away from my house. Her husband died few years ago, and her children are living out of the country, so she is alone. I found that financially she has a good position, i.e. she is able to live an economically sound life. She can even support other poor people. She is also in good condition physically as she can do almost all tasks in her home to live a normal life. However, she needs support in fulfilling the requirements from outside the house. I found that she often asks others to purchase something from market. According to my findings from different studies, I can say that her living arrangements are according to the requirements. However, her life can further be improved by social support as, for example, with the help of society and people in the neighborhood, she can maintain different parts of her home. Moreover, she can take medical help from the people in the surrounding.
References
Henry-Sánchez, J. T., Kurichi, J. E., Xie, D., Pan, Q., & Stineman, M. G. (2012). Do elderly people at more severe activity of daily living limitation stages fall more? American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation/Association of Academic Physiatrists, 91(7), 601.
Paterson, D. H., & Warburton, D. (2010). Review Physical activity and functional limitations in older adults: a systematic review related to Canada's Physical Activity Guidelines. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 7(38), 1-22.
Singh, A., & Misra, N. (2009). Loneliness, depression and sociability in old age. Industrial psychiatry journal, 18(1), 51.
