Integrative Senior Care

1. Senior Citizens are Still Active in the Workforce
2. Senior Citizens Are More Likely to Vote
3. Senior Citizens Have a Day of Recognition
4. Senior Citizens are More Likely to Commit Suicide
5. Poverty Is Still a Serious Issue for Senior Citizens
6. Senior Citizens Still Have Sex
7. Senior Citizens are Tech Savvy
8. Seniors Citizens Still Drive, Even When They Shouldn't
9. Senior Citizens Enjoy Hobbies they are Creative
10. Senior Citizens are Individuals

* Interesting Facts Courtesy of The Elder Care Issues Blog

As we age, our bodies handle medicines and medical treatments (i.e., surgery) differently than when we were young. This is partly a result of our aging bodies increase in body fat and decrease in body water content and lean body mass. The aging population also begins to use more and more medications at the same time in their lives that they tend to be most vulnerable to the adverse affects from these drugs.
An Ohio State University Study stated that “70 percent of older Americans turn to alternative medicines to treat their health problems.”

Statistics show that there are more than 40 million individuals greater than 65 years old in the United States. This group of the population deserves special attention and consideration, particularly when it comes to health care. The new “senior” ranges from mildly active to the likes of the beloved Betty White, still working at age 91! Unfortunately, however, the elderly population often suffers from many medical problems that go untreated or undiagnosed.

All too often, because there are so many chronic conditions that seem to afflict older persons, there is the mistaken perception that diabetes and arthritis, are just “part of growing old” — and nothing can be done about them. The truth is most of these diseases and conditions are treatable and should be addressed by a physician. According to the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, the most common chronic diseases afflicting the elderly are:

Adult onset diabetes
Arthritis
Kidney and bladder problems
Dementia
Parkinson’s disease
Glaucoma
Lung disease
Cataracts
Osteoporosis
Enlarged prostate
Alzheimer’s disease
Macular degeneration
Depression
Cardiovascular disease

It should be noted that although more and more elders are moving towards alternative methods of treatment to resolve serious medical issues (i.e., cancer, pain management, etc.), the vast majority of the American elder population continues to rely on the Western medical system for the treatment of whatever ails them.

We find it encouraging that we are beginning to view our bodies in slightly different ways than we once did, and that unique view is leading us in an alternative direction for our health related treatments, both proactively (through wellness programs) and reactively (through a combination of Western medicine and many alternative treatment options).

Once we are able to fully integrate the various options for treatment that are available, we may find our children and our children’s children living routinely to 100 years of age and up.

In a general sense, many folks are reassessing the method in which they approach their overall health. For example, elders once thought of doctors as god-like in their abilities (not in the literal sense mind you). Today, with the proliferation of publicly known lawsuits and the media reporting every failure discovered that a doctor may have, the elder population is seeking alternatives to Westernized medicine and its doctors.