Janice Payne
Blog #4
Throughout this semester, I have learned so much about the issues that senior citizens have to deal with on a daily basis. Senior citizens don't retire in the sunset with a drink in hand, but have to deal with serious changes in their physical bodies, their mental health, and especially their financial stability. I honestly have a new outlook on the life I have now and a new perspective as to the life most elderly people live.
First, as people age, there are serious changes to their bodies. I am currently 30 years old and have a 3 year old. I can't even begin to describe the energy that I have to have every day to take care of her. From 7a.m. until 9p.m. I am constantly on the go because of her. My mom, who is 75 spends 10 minutes with her and is exhausted. As we get older, we just don't have the energy we used to. Lose of energy is just a small factor for most senior citizens though. It has been estimated that almost half of those age 75 and older suffer from a chronic disease. (Ferrini & Ferrini, 2008) Chronic diseases include heart disease, cancer; stroke Alzheimer’s, diabetes, just to name a few. Having to wake up on a daily basis and deal with a major health issue seems so depressing to me.
The presence of a chronic illness not only affects the physical body, but can affect the person's mental health as well. When a person doesn't physically feel well, it can be harder to deal with the complications of everyday life. Your mind tends to dwell on the fact that you don't feel well, instead of more positive thoughts. Illnesses physically make you tired but the mental battle can be just as exhausting. Even some of the treatments needed to cure illnesses can make it hard to have a positive outlook on life. It's not just physical and mental issues that senior citizens have to deal with though; paying for their everyday life can be extremely expensive and usually costs more than most people have.
I recently have recently learned more about the problems with Medicare and Social Security. The government has predicted that if changes are not made, these two programs will be bankrupt in 20 years. (Social Security Online, 2010) I also learned that when it comes to long term care and assisted living, Medicare doesn’t really pay for that much and it is the responsibility for payment is left to the patient. This is a serious task considering the fact that long term care can cost around 50,000 a year. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009)
To be honest, at the beginning of the semester I was very naive to the things senior citizens have to deal with. I had no idea how hard life is for them. I have truly ended this semester with a new found appreciation for my health, for a sound mind, and the ability I have to financially support my life.
Works Cited
Ferrini, A. F., & Ferrini, R. L. (2008). Health in the Later Years. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Social Security Online. (2010). Status of the Social Security and Medicare Programs . Retrieved November 2010, from Trustees Report Summary: http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/TRSUM/index.html
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2009). Who Pays for Long Term Care. Retrieved November 2010, from Long Term Care Information: http://www.longtermcare.gov/LTC/Main_Site/Paying_LTC/Costs_Of_Care/Costs_Of_Care.aspx
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