Aging in America

Aging in America

Today, America is an older society. Everyone that was once young is

getting to that ripe old age. There are many problems that are

associated with getting older. It is estimated that 2.1 million older

Americans are victims of physical, psychological, or other form of

abuse. This is an outrageous number! It is also estimated that for

every case of elder abuse there are five cases that go unheard of.

A problem that our older generation faces is financial issues. This

also can include healthcare, but it has many, many more issues. Take

for example social security. This is what older and retired people

are forced to live off of. What happens if there is not enough to go

around? Our society is not conducive to the aged unless wealthy. You

see many older people working these days, if they can, to make ends

meet. It is sad that when you go and see Grandma and Grandpa, they

have to take off work or you have to work around their schedules. I

thought it was the other way around. What is it going to be like when

the younger generation retires?

The biggest problem that faces the elders in America is general health

decline. Older Americans so not have the money to provide for

healthcare. There are barriers that can contribute to this problem.

The lack of parity for mental health services in private insurance and

Medicare, poor diagnosis and referral services in primary care, and an

insufficient geriatric mental health workforce. This can make it hard

for older Americans to get the healthcare that they need. Take for

example, eye care. The most common sight threatening dise...

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disorder, many older adults will have experienced previous bouts of

depression and will be at increased risk. Risk factors for late-onset

depression include: widowhood, physical problems, educational

attainment less than high school, impaired functional status, and

heavy alcohol consumption. Depressed older adults tend to utilize

health services at high rates, engage in poorer health behaviors, and

evidence what is known as "excess disability."

The older Americans are facing some hard times. Some say it is as

hard or harder than fighting in some of the wars many of them fought.

The most important issue that is facing them today is abuse. In our

group, we all agreed this was the worst. It is sometimes hard to

detect abuse. Most older folks who are abused are afraid to say

anything for feat of the abuser.