Report on Adults Aging Well: Healthcare in Contemporary Society

This report delves into the multifaceted aspects of aging well in contemporary society, focusing on the UK demographic trends of the aging population and factors influencing their well-being. It examines the importance of physical health, healthy habits, and financial preparation for senior citizens. The report explores the impact of social involvement, highlighting the role of social networks and purpose in life in promoting a fulfilling and healthy old age. It also addresses the challenges of poverty and deprivation, and the significance of chronic disease, mobility, and mental capacity in the aging process. The report emphasizes the need for a supportive social environment, financial security, and a sense of purpose to achieve successful aging, providing valuable insights into the healthcare needs and lifestyle considerations of older adults.

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Adults Aging Well March 2
2020

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Introduction
People who are in the age category of sixty years of age are considered as old adults or
senior citizens. In easy words, the term used by people for this age group is senior citizens. In a
youth-obsessed society, being old is treated negatively. It is often considered that senior citizens
are fragile, old, useless, and old-fashioned. Traditionally old age is marked as the final stage in
the human life cycle. Old age is often considered as a time of loneliness and decline (Pruitt &
Adlin, 2010). Most old adults feel lonely and lose their hope to live. This report will discuss the
adults aging well in contemporary society. This report will analyze the ways through which old
adults can live well or age well. This report will discuss the importance of social involvement in
helping old adults in aging well. Further, it will express the importance of developing healthy
habits in old adults to live a healthy life. Old adults need to have a purpose in life. Before
entering into old adulthood, an adult should be financially prepared to deal with daily life
challenges (Erber, 2012). This report will also describe the importance of the promotion of health
in old adults. This report will elaborate on old adults aging well.
Adults Aging in the UK
Demographics of the aging population
The UK has nearly twelve million people aged 65 and above. 5.4 million People are 75
plus in the UK. 1.6 million People are aged 85+. And over 5 lakh people are aged 90+ (Census,
2011). On average females live 3.6 years longer than men. Women have 0.6 additional years of
good health compared to men (Marmot & Bell, 2012). The living of humans depends on how an
individual has lived their life. For example, humans who were particular about healthy work-life
and healthy eating habits live longer in comparison to those who were careless and didn't
maintain a healthy lifestyle in their young and old adulthood.
Partnership status in old adults
In 2017 5.5 % of old adults aged 65+ were not married or civil partnered. 60% were
married and had a civil partnership. 10.5% were divorced and 24.1% were widowed (ONS,
2017). According to studies, it is discovered that people who are feeling lonely and lose their
hope or purpose in life die early than expected. Old adults that feel lonely and have no one social

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circle can lead to depression and die early in comparison to the one that has an active social
circle and have someone to spend time with.
Housing
6.5 million Households in England are headed by 65 years and above. Just 6% of the
population is still paying a mortgage. Also, 27% of households in the rented sector are headed by
a person aged 65 or above. More than 2500 senior citizens that were over 60 years were
identified as homeless in 2018 (ONS 2. , 2018). In old age, senior citizens need a comfortable
space to live and spend their remaining life happily and comfortably. Poor quality, hazardous,
poorly heated, and poorly isolated accommodation can lead to reduced mobility, depression,
chronic, and loneliness in the senior citizen that affects their health negatively (Haslbeck,
McCorkle, & Schaeffer, 2012).
Health in old adulthood
Physical health
To perform daily activities like buying groceries, driving a car, keeping one self-
hygienic, and interaction with social circle needs little energy. Performing these basic activities
needs energy and if the human body is not fit or feels dehydrated than these basic activities can
become hard to perform. A senior citizen whose body is already weak in comparison to young
adults, it sometimes becomes difficult to perform basic daily routine activities because of weak
stamina and poor health. Senior citizens need to try and maintain their health for living a disease-
free life (Chatterji , Byles, Cutler, & Seeman, 2015).
Senior citizens can perform activities such as a moderate level workout or a simple 30 min walk.
Also, it is very essential to keep a track on food at the later phase of life. Senior citizens should
avoid food that contains high sugar or food that is difficult to digest. Also, senior citizens are
required to develop stamina that will help them fight viruses and winters. For all these activities,
a senior citizen needs to exercise and keep a watch on their food consumption.
Malnutrition
Malnutrition is when the meal does not contain the correct amount of nutrition. Senior
citizens need more energy and stamina to perform jobs or tasks. They should eat foods that are

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high on protein yet easy to digest (Wu, 2016). For digesting their food it is essential to develop a
habit of simply walking for a healthy lifestyle. Malnutrition affects every part of the body
increases the exposure to illness, increases health complications. It is essential to eat the correct
quantity of vegetables and fruits to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Adults that are self-independent
and survive on their own should try to maintain a healthy diet to avoid health-related issues.
Lifestyle
Maintain a healthy lifestyle is the key to aging well. For example, avoiding smoking,
controlling alcohol consumption, practicing physical activity, and consuming the right amount of
nutrition in meals are some basic habits that a senior citizen should cultivate for maintaining a
healthy lifestyle (Sun, Norman, & While, 2013). A healthy lifestyle benefit in successful aging
increases the life length and reduces the risk of poor mental function.
Poverty and deprivation
Humans are generally considered to be living in poverty when their incomes are not
sufficient to encounter their daily requirements. This can mean struggling for food, paying
energy consumption bills, and a hideout to sleep comfortably. 16% of senior citizens living in the
UK suffer from poverty. It is difficult for them to survive basic daily needs. Also, the financial
capacity of a senior citizen decides his or her social support. Senior citizens that are financially
unstable develop stress easily in comparison to the financially stable ones. Stress often leads to
sleep deprivation. An old adult needs to sleep. Sleep-deprived old adults can get depression,
poor health conditions; negatively affect the immune system, and social loneliness (Simon &
Walker, 2018). For managing all these health-related issues senior citizens need to get prepared
when they were still young. There is a vast impact of home conditions on both the health and the
aging. Old adults living with long-term illness will make them lose their hope in life and that
shortens their life length. Senior citizens need to understand the relation between houses, food,
disease prevention, and maintain healthy lifestyle habits to lengthen their life duration.
Adults aging well in contemporary society
Medical science provides various "aging well" objectives. A few objectives are
emphasized on physical ability, importance to social activity, and prominence on intellectual
strength. On average humans live till the age of 83-85. Besides, a woman lives longer than a

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man. If a human has lasted longer than expected that means he or she has aged well (Czaja, Boot,
Charness, & Rogers, 2019). Some standards can describe if the human is aging well or not. The
standards are chronic disease, mobility, and mental capacity.
Chronic disease
The presence or absence of chronic disease in adults aging can make a huge difference.
Adults free from chronic disease are considered to be living a healthy old age compared to the
ones with chronic disease. Chronic disease is a condition that can be cured but it requires time
and patience. Chronic diseases are asthma, diabetes, and depression. These diseases can be
controlled over time but an adult who is aging and has a chronic disease suffers more as
compared to the adult who is not suffering from any chronic disease. These types of diseases
have a cycle of growing, shrinking, and then staying the same. Thus adults aging with chronic
disease and adults aging without the chronic disease have different looks up.
Mobility
Mobility is the ability to move or be independent in conducting day-to-day activities. In
older adulthood presence and absence of mobility matters a lot. Everyone is allowed to live a life
that is independent and dynamic. In older adulthood sometimes adults lose their mobility due to
several reasons. A few reasons could be disabilities in older adults, vision disability, and
financial instability. The absence of mobility due to any reason makes an older adult lose their
confidence. Mobility is another factor measured in aging well. If older adults can get around
easily they are considered to be doing better and aging well.
Mental Capacity
Mental capacity means to be able to make own decisions. Some humans lack mental
capacity due to illness, disability, or loss of their mental capacity in old age. Older adults that
lose their mental capacity suffer a lot more than a normal older adult. Struggling with an an
intellectual issue is recognized as discouragement the ability to age well. For example, if we
compare two old adults one with mental capacity and the the other with an absence of mental
capacity. The one who is mentally fit does not need any walker or another aid to survive. The
other old adult with the absence of mental capacity will always need a walker or another aid to
survive for the remaining of their time.

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Disabilities
Disability is a problem in body function or structure. A human with a disability lacks in
living a normal life compared to a human who is not impaired. Humans with disabilities also
may experience a narrow margin of health. Also, people with disabilities feel less confident.
Disabilities in old adults make them lose confidence in themselves. The old adults that are
confident and have still hope with them live longer as compared to those who have lost hope.
Successful Aging
Researchers, when surveyed and asked the senior citizens how they define successful
aging and most of them, gave similar answers. Most importantly it was found that being happy is
all that matters in aging well. The few elements that came in vision were supportive social
behavior, the purpose of life, financial security, and able to cope or with fast life changes.
Overall life satisfaction helps a lot in living a happy life (Mock & Eibach, 2011). Aging well is
connected with life satisfaction and life satisfaction is connected with certain perspectives.
Supportive social behavior
Social supportive behavior makes old adults feel accepted in a fast-paced life. In today's
life where everyone is running and busy, old adults are free and have time. According to the
studies, old adults want little time with their social network that will make them happy. Support
gained from social relationships impacts aging well. Social network activity makes a difference.
Old adults that have active social network lives longer and old adults that feel lonely lose hope
easily and give up life early than expected.
Purpose of life
A sense of purpose is essential in aging well. If a human has no purpose in life, life will
become boring and soon he or she will lose hope in life and start feeling depressed. A purpose in
life keeps life going because it provides activities in life that keeps human busy and that helps
human survive. In old adults, it is observed that they lose purpose very easily. Old adults that
have some purpose to their life lives more happily as compared to the ones that have lost their
purpose in life. Individuals that lack purpose in life are 30% more near to depression.

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Financial security
Financial security is when the individual is independent financially. When an individual
is independent and can survive without financial aid or someone's money help. All the old adults
are not financially independent and they need help for either their family or government.
Financial security is considered essential for senior citizens. Feeling financially secured gives a
safe feeling to old adults, it reduces stress and anxiety. This can positively benefit old adults.
Fast life changes adaptations
Life changes rapidly. The thing that was new and attractive in a few days it becomes
boring and unattractive. These changes happen in technology, food, fashion, etc. old adults
sometimes lack in following the latest trend. Let it be food, fashion, or technology old adults
need more time to learn and follow on the latest trend compared to young adults. An ability to
adapt to the latest trend is also essential for aging well. A positive outlook is also a factor in
longevity.
Healthy aging
The second phase of life can become the individual's most rewarding phase. In Young
adulthood, individuals have to learn, fight and survive every day. In old adulthood, individuals
can breathe and are more relaxed. In old adulthood, individuals are more confident than they
were in their younger selves. Old adults gain patience and wisdom as they grow old. It is very
essential to age well for the smooth going of the remaining life. No one can when will one die
but least humans can do is developing healthy habits that will make old adulthood disease-free.
A few habits can help old adults to survive the second phase of life easily.
Eating habits
In old adulthood, it becomes difficult for a lot of old adults to work out daily. It is
essential to know the proper diet that will be easy to digest. Old adults can load up on whole
foods such as veggies, fruits, nuts, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. Old adults should
avoid consuming foods that are high on fats, sugar, salt, and oil. Studies have found out that this
diet can help people live longer. Avoiding foods that are hard to digest can help prevent or cure
diseases such as heart diseases, cancer, diabetes, obesity, etc. Researchers state that improving
diet habits can help people survive 5-6 more years.

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Physical activity
Old adults should aim for a daily 30 min walk. If 30 min walk is too much than old adults
can break the routine in small periods. Regular exercise in old adulthood becomes essential
because in old age immune system becomes weak and digesting food becomes difficult. Also,
there are a lot of old adults that become obese or gain weight in their second phase due to lack of
exercise. Moderate physical activity keeps the brain cells healthy by delivering more blood and
oxygen. Old adults that can increase the pace of their workout can also practice aerobics to
improve their health. A little exercise can benefit in many ways such as it will control the body
weight, it will keep the mood fresh, help in keeping the bones and muscles strong, and help
individuals fall to sleep easily.
Social interaction
Many studies have stated that loneliness can be harmful to health. Old adults should keep
their social network activity so that they don't feel lonely. A person who feels loneliness is near
to depression it is essential to have someone to talk to. Senior citizens that feel left out and
isolated feel their brain cells are blocked and they cannot think properly. Old adults can feel
troubled in performing day-to-day tasks because of troubled mental health that has disturbed
because of loneliness. Loneliness can increase stress levels and cause inflammation, or anxiety. It
is recommended for the old adults to have friends and family that will simply help them in being
happy.
Promoting health in the old generation
The old adults have long been neglected as the specific age group that needs attention
care from society and the government. World health organization noticed the need for health
promotion in old adults and recommended a few changes that old adults should make to live a
healthy life. World health organization has recommended exercising, quitting smoking, limiting
alcohol consumption, participating in learning activities, and participating in the community or
society activities (Van Roie, Delecluse, Opdenacker, & De Bo, 2010). The main purpose of all
these above-mentioned activities is to improve the quality of life. World health organization
emphasized on these activities instead of medical health is because the elderly age group only
focuses on medical attention from physicians or doctors. Also, the reason to put attention on old

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adults is that older people are significantly less vocal about their problems compared to young
adults.
In comparison to youngsters and seniors, seniors suffer from chronic diseases and multi-
morbidities, and seniors’ functional capacity is limited. Senior citizens are more likely to suffer
from loneliness and social ignorance. This ignorance is because of their shorter remaining in life.
The basic health promotion strategies for the elderly are maintaining and increasing functional
capacity, improving self-care, and encouraging one’s social network. The concept behind these
strategies is to contribute to a lengthier, independent, and independent quality of life. Also, the
social participation of adults in social activities can help them reduce their stress, will keep them
busy. Social interactions help them fight loneliness.
Conclusion
Promoting health in the elderly is an attractive concept in both sympathetic and financial
terms. Information on this topic is widely available. The information expresses that it is not that
easy to promote health in this age group because most of the senior citizens don't even try to
improve the quality of their life. In summary, available information suggests effective
management practices for senior citizens to age well. This report provides in-depth information
about the physical, social, and mental working among older adults. The findings and data will
determine insight knowledge about senior citizens. Aging well is positively inclined by feeling
happy, staying financially independent, and staying mentally stable. Senior citizens should also
keep themselves engaged in some kind of social activities so that they feel occupied and useful.
A physically and socially active and lifestyle helps in decreasing stress in senior citizens and
those benefits them in lengthening their lifestyle.

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