Aging in America Essay -- Senior Citizens Papers

Aging in America Today, America is an older society. Everyone that was once young is getting to that ripe old age. There are many problems that are associated with getting older. It is estimated that 2.1 million older Americans are victims of physical, psychological, or other form of abuse. This is an outrageous number! It is also estimated that for every case of elder abuse there are five cases that go unheard of. A problem that our older generation faces is financial issues. This also can include healthcare, but it has many, many more issues. Take for example social security. This is what older and retired people are forced to live off of. What happens if there is not enough to go around? Our society is not conducive to the aged unless wealthy. You see many older people working these days, if they can, to make ends meet. It is sad that when you go and see Grandma and Grandpa, they have to take off work or you have to work around their schedules. I thought it was the other way around. What is it going to be like when the younger generation retires? The biggest problem that faces the elders in America is general health decline. Older Americans so not have the money to provide for healthcare. There are barriers that can contribute to this problem. The lack of parity for mental health services in private insurance and Medicare, poor diagnosis and referral services in primary care, and an insufficient geriatric mental health workforce. This can make it hard for older Americans to get the healthcare that they need. Take for example, eye care. The most common sight threatening dise... ...t disorder, many older adults will have experienced previous bouts of depression and will be at increased risk. Risk factors for late-onset depression include: widowhood, physical problems, educational attainment less than high school, impaired functional status, and heavy alcohol consumption. Depressed older adults tend to utilize health services at high rates, engage in poorer health behaviors, and evidence what is known as "excess disability." The older Americans are facing some hard times. Some say it is as hard or harder than fighting in some of the wars many of them fought. The most important issue that is facing them today is abuse. In our group, we all agreed this was the worst. It is sometimes hard to detect abuse. Most older folks who are abused are afraid to say anything for feat of the abuser.