Senior Health Issues
The human body is a finely tuned instrument. designed to last for many years. But as it ages, after years of wear and tear and stress, it begins to deteriorate in areas. We’ve all experienced this to some degree, but I’ve been wondering about something.
Why is that some people stay hale and hearty, youthful and full of energy, with almost no aches and pains or chronic ailments, while others of us are burdened with arthritis, heart problems, joint replacements, chronic diseases?
(This picture is of a 75 year old woman three months 
after hip replacement surgery.)
It’s easy to say, well the lucky ones took care of themselves and that’s why they’re so healthy and strong. But we all know that’s not necessarily true. Eating well, exercising regularly and reducing stress does make a great difference in the general state of wellbeing. However, one other factor enters into the picture very strongly. It’s called genetics!
I’ll never forget the doctor who told me one day that “she sure was glad she didn’t have my genes.†What a terrible thing to say to a patient, especially one who is still in youthful middle age and not experiencing any problems. It’s another matter entirely when 20 or 30 years are added on and the body begins to experience the power of those faulty genes. Heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, faulty vision begin to take their toll and that comment becomes only too true.
A case on point here.
Today I met a man and his wife in the doctor’s office. When I took their picture and interviewed them, I learned that he is 73 years old, in perfect health, takes no medications whatsoever. He also has a 98 yr old mother who takes no medications except 2 blood pressure tablets daily. She in turn has a sister who is 100 and is still in good condition, altho she is “slowing down”. However his wife has crippling rheumatoid arthritis,
takes 13 medications a day, and requires constant care. The husband is grateful he is in such good health so he can take care of his wife. He agrees his wife’s genetic history has really affected her adversely.
I detect a third factor entering in here…
One day I found myself talking to two different men at work. The first one was 87 years old, bouncing with energy, lively and talking about his part time job he really likes. The other man was 71 years old. He was telling me all about his two knee replacements, two hip replacements, his clogged artery in his heart and next step an operation for a clogged vessel in his leg. He explained he was spending $500 a month in outside insurance but felt he was still ahead with all the surgeries, medicine and medical care he required.
This is the third factor… it’s called attitude. The 87 year old man was so full of the pleasure of his life, his ability to continue working and living a full life. Well sure, he admitted, he did have some aches and pains, but so what? Life was too good to yield to any ailments or problems. Attitude may not weigh as heavily as lifestyle and genetics, but it is definitely a part of the puzzle.
A fourth factor of course is financial ability to pay for health care. Many seniors today just didn’t finish out their working years with enough money to pay for gap insurance, or the many prescription medicines they need. So they cut corners, overlook some ailments, or refuse recommended treatment because they just can’t afford the copayments required.
Yes, Medicare helps, and so does the prescription drug plan. But not nearly as much as the powers that be would like to believe. There is still many a gap between necessity and ability to pay.
Future articles will discuss some of the plans and benefits available to the senior citizen. There are sources available for help. Not enough of them, and not open to all locations, but they do exist.
We’ll see you next time with this thought in closing….
Senior health and life may not be perfect – but it surebeats the alternative!
BevB.
