Gerontology

Gerontology

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This paper will discuss the special problems facing older adults in the United States and talk about the possible solutions for these special problems.

Some special problems facing older adults in the United States include:

Mental Health Problems

Malnutrition among Elderly People

Use of drugs meant for alleviating depression-related symptoms like loss of sleep, low libido, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, and appetite disturbances.

Mental Health Problems

Elderly people have multifaceted mental health needs, due to a variety of reasons. Loneliness and the loss of a spouse and lifetime partner can lead to an unstable state of mind for elderly people. "Adjusting to the death of a spouse can be the most challenging of all challenges in the life cycle. Each event in the life cycle calls for relating to others in new ways and facing the problems inherent in every transition."

"Old age (?)" - Unknown Painter from the Low Count...

Peter Wessels Old Age Home (Community Reached Out)

English: Portrait of old woman sitting by a window...

(Hiller and Barrow, 2007 p.151)

The mental health needs of elderly people must be catered to in a timely and efficient manner, and there should be a projection of positive images of the elderly as regards mental health issues, in order to minimize the feeling of shame associated with accessing mental health services. It would also be better to treat elderly people at home whenever this is feasible. "Disability among older adults has social consequences. As the population ages, the number of older people requiring medical and social assistance with disability management will increase proportionally, and if we add this to the fact that women generally outlive men by several years, the need for health care services becomes clear." (Hiller and Barrow, 2007 p.96)

Malnutrition among Elderly People

Malnutrition is a major problem facing elderly people in the United States. When people think about malnutrition, they often think that...