Denial of the aging process and diminished capabilities of older people cause problems Vanity often prevents older people from getting the supports they need for a better quality of life. Aids that could improve your life, such as glasses, a hearing aid, or a cane to prevent falls, are ignored. Reduced night vision is often the first sign that self-driving may soon be something to give up. Giving up driving is a real blow to the ego as well as limiting the mobility of older people.
For our children, a parent who does not acknowledge their problems related to aging is an area of ​​frustration. Children live in constant fear that their parents could cause significant harm to themselves and others in a traffic accident. Maybe they are not taking their medicine on time or taking an excessive dose of their medicine.
Older adults often won’t admit or acknowledge the fact that they can’t do things as well as they used to. When we look in the mirror we see some wrinkles, a couple of gray hairs, but it is usually difficult for us to imagine that the person in the mirror will one day reach a point in their life where they have changed their lifestyle or their address. problems ever before due to aging. Those older people who are in the denial phase of old age often create very serious problems for themselves and those who care about them. Getting old is nothing to be ashamed of, not preparing for old age is.
They often tend to ignore or excuse problems. Not being able to keep track of medications an older person is taking, missing doses, and not letting anyone else help is a problem. They often withhold vital health information out of embarrassment, feeling it is trivial, or fear of co-pays that treatment might cost. Ignoring preventative measures like balance exercises because that’s for really old people.
The older adult who does not admit or recognize the reduction in capacities due to aging is a problem for all concerned. Their desire to carry on as they always have can be life-threatening. Your reluctance to make the necessary adjustments can and often will lead to disaster.
Sometimes they just pretend to understand things they really don’t understand. Older people often fake it, not wanting others to think they are old and unable to understand what is being said. They do things like pretend to understand their doctor, which can lead to them not following the advice and procedures necessary to maintain good health. They will reject the idea that the elderly condition their home, to the point of covering a fall. They are unwilling to ask loved ones for help or even admit that they need help.
Older people will often go to great lengths to cover up the fact that their mental or physical abilities are declining, assuming they even realize it. Being in a state of denial, they are not open to ideas that can help them have a better quality of life that compensates for the aging process. In reality, denying the aging process will often accelerate symptoms.
