The only thing constant in this world is change. Everything changes, everything either depreciates or improves. Plants wither, seasons change. Just like everything else, people also grow old and their health deteriorates. No matter what preventive measures people take and apply to stop aging, they will get old eventually. Remember, those vitamins, creams and treatments that offer anti-aging benefits do not have the power to stop the effects of aging; they just slow it down.
So how will you know that your parents are in the stage where they can no longer function properly? Aging can be observed just by looking at an individuals physical appearance. It can be characterized by graying hair, wrinkled skin, hunched posture, etc.
However, observing only the physical aspect of aging is not enough to come to a conclusion that the person having those characteristics is in the stage of not being able to function properly. A lot of people who look old are still very strong and efficient.
As one saying goes, don't judge a book by its cover. By this, it indicates that for a person to be able to know that someone is on the brink of not being able to function properly, a person should also consider the biological and psychological signs and symptoms rather than just concentrating on the physical aspect.
Here are some clear biomarkers that can help you to see if your parents are near or at the stage of not being able to function properly. When someone is getting old, the sense of sight and hearing gradually deteriorates. In some cases, the deterioration of the sense of sight and sense of hearing can be prevented by regular trips to the doctor. Gadgets can also aid the deterioration of the sense of sight and hearing such as wearing eyeglasses and hearing aids.
However, there are also cases when the sickness is so severe that it cannot be aided or alleviated by gadgets anymore. If that will be the case, then that will be the time when they cannot really function properly and will need the help of others to get along with their daily activities.
Along with the deterioration of important senses in the body, aging can also cause deterioration to a persons mental health. The most common problem related to an older persons mental health is dementia or in layman's term; memory loss.
Dealing with this kind of sickness can bring a wave of mixed emotions, especially to the immediate family of the person suffering from it. Aside from the fact that it's sad to be erased from the memory of a person, you can also feel disappointed and helpless because it seems that this kind of mental problem is incurable and very unpredictable.
If not treated right away, dementia may worsen which could lead to signs of other mental disorders such as hallucinations, delusions and paranoia. In the end, if things don't go well, ordinary dementia may lead to senile dementia.
Dementia is usually called a traitor because its symptoms are subtle yet menacing. Since the symptoms start slowly, people usually confuse them with normal behavior. In dealing with this kind of mental problem, the immediate family of older people should be the ones who will act to be able to see if the older person is exhibiting early signs of dementia so that it can be cured or prevented from becoming worse.
All in all, it is much better to bring elderly people to the doctor regularly so that they can be assessed properly. Doctors are the ones who know best and they are also the ones who can diagnose accurately by studying the symptoms exhibited or characterized by the elderly person. As mentioned earlier, there is no exact way to stop people from experiencing the sickness or diseases that come with aging.
All that we can do is to try to live a healthy life while we are still young and able, so that we won't have serious medical sicknesses when we grow old. As for our relatives or immediate family who are already considered as seniors, we must keep in mind that they should be given priority and most of all, they should feel that they are loved and important.
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