Understanding the Elderly

By: Mindy Nguyen

To be elderly, one is at a pretty vulnerable place in life. An elderly—someone who is 65 years of

age or older—may experience a shift in their relationship with society as they are treated

differently. Some elderly citizens maintain their social lives by keeping up with other elder

citizens, friends, and family. However, other seniors are bed-ridden and unable to not only feed

themselves but have difficulty communicating with the world around them. With a range of

dependency that elderly citizens require, society tends to treat seniors with a troubling outlook.

The elderly community is often overlooked as a burden in our lives. There are misconceptions that

all elderly people are fragile, helpless, and an inconvenience to our growing, modern society. With

increasing neglect of elder citizens, both social isolation and loneliness have been associated with

higher risk of mortality. On average, 18% of seniors live alone, while 43% report feeling lonely

on a regular basis. With the growing attention that the elderly community demands, why do most

people, particularly in the U.S., shy away from helping their older counterparts? The neglect in

awareness is especially ironic that those who need help are society’s own mothers, fathers, and

loved ones.

How do people view the elderly?

The elderly community is often viewed in a negative light. They are often stereotyped as

‘crotchety’ and unwilling to change to being forgetful. They are also perceived to be a burden in

our lives—from never knowing where they last left the remote to calling everyone they know to

report their pain and what medications they are taking. Society undervalues senior citizens as there

is a belief that they benefit more from the costs of the youth than what is reciprocated for the youth.
In fact, society views the aged as a burden because they are unproductive, ineffectual, increasingly

frail, and vulnerable to their decreasing ability to perform activities of daily living.

How do the elderly view themselves?

While the elderly community is under constant scrutiny for their age, they often feel younger than

their years or that best is yet to come with the emergence of retirement and new opportunities for

leisure activities. Some elderly citizens are active within their communities which gives them a

sense of purpose and maintains their positive views on life. 71% of Foster Grandparents—who

tutor children, mentor troubled teens and young mothers, care for premature infants and children

with disabilities—reported never feeling lonely. Their involvement with society has helped them

sustain their active roles in society.

What is elderly loneliness?

Loneliness is a subjective feeling and is experienced differently according to each elderly person.

Elderly loneliness occurs when one encounters negative feelings related to the person’s own

experience of deficient social relations. They may experience seclusion and isolation in their later

years of life as a result of their own choice or by neglect. For the elderly, a common deficient

social relation occurs as they grow old and experience age-related losses. As seniors age, the loss

of their partners, close friends, and loved ones contribute to their loss of community, which leaves

them to feel estranged from the modernizing environment. 18% of seniors live along, while 43%

report feeling lonely on a regular basis. Furthermore, 1 in 7 people with Alzheimer’s disease lives

alone. Elderly loneliness may consequentially result in social and physical detriments that

influence seniors’ lifespan.

How does elderly loneliness impact the quality of life?

Elderly loneliness is mentally and emotionally tolling for many seniors. For elders who do feel

secluded from society, they are more prone to behave in ways that may cause people to not want

to be around them. For instance, behaviors of hostility and unappreciative acts emerge from elderly

loneliness because they are depressed and feel the need to be accountable for themselves. Elderly

loneliness is found to correspond to an increased mortality rate. According to a UCSF Study, they

found that people 60 years old and older who reported feeling lonely saw a 45% increase in their

risk for death. In addition, seniors who experience loneliness had a 59% greater risk of mental and

physical decline than their more social counterparts. Thus, with seclusion from social relationships,

the elderly suffers mental repercussions that impact their overall well-being.

What does it take to invest in good quality elderly care?

As some elderly show a higher demand for specialized care, what often happens is that they are

thrown into the care of retirement homes, in-home nurses, or depend on their immediate family

members for assistance. To ensure good quality elderly care, it is important to be aware of the

options necessary for each senior citizen. One survey shows that 90% of seniors want to stay in

their homes as long as possible because it gives them a sense of independence. However, this

option is not always available since some elder citizens require special machines and intensive

care in which they cannot sustain on their own. While acknowledging which environment is the

most suitable for elderly citizens, it is important to plan for the costs. According to the American

Association of Retired Persons (AARP), they predict that by 2030 the U.S. will need between 5.7

and 6.6 million professional caregivers to support the sick and aging, which calls for the demands

of family caregivers to help meet this demand. Therefore, policies concerning healthcare and costs

of assisted living need to be familiarized and considered immediately.

What changes need to take place in elderly care?

Aging often requires assistance that some seniors do not want to admit they need. There is a

misconception that healthcare will treat all the needs of elderly. However, while healthcare

primarily focuses on medical concerns, it is not enough. There needs to be an increase in efforts to

improve senior’s mental and emotional needs to provide a positive view of life. To suggest a

positive outlook, seniors need to be reminded that they are important members of society and are

useful and needed. By reminding the elderly of their passions and contributions that they give to

the world boosts their levels of confidence and gives them a sense of belonging. Furthermore, it is

important to encourage mental and physical activity so that they exercise their bodily functions

that maintain their overall sense of well-being.

What can I do to involve myself in the elderly community besides visiting my grandparents?

While some individuals may grow up without direct contact with an elderly person, we are all

influenced by aging as one day, we will soon become senior citizens. Aging is a vulnerable process

that not only concerns the individual but involves the community. Seniors can often become

isolated and lonely as they may live alone, have lost a loved one, and perhaps even, may feel

secluded in their estranged retirement home. Thus, people can contribute to elderly care by simply

helping an aging senior to stay connected to family, friends, and community. By arranging weekly

visits with an elderly person, even the shortest conversation can make a senior’s day. To get

involved in the elderly community, encourage volunteerism among a local retirement home, call a

grandparent or share a smile with the next elderly person you see.
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