Stress In Old Age |
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Two of the most powerful of all stressors, change and uncertainty, particularly affect elderly people, of whom Britain has an estimated population of three million - many of them, thanks to improved healthcare, better living standards and increased longevity, reaching the age of 85 and beyond. Stress is widely recognized as a problem many old people have to contend with, and its treatment is accordingly regarded as an integral part of caring for the aged.
Two kinds of change in particular can adversely affect, even overwhelm, old people: changes in their own situation, which may seem unfamiliar and beyond their control; and changes in the world about them which may seem frightening or threatening because they do not understand them and are consequently not in a position to come to terms with them.
A classic example of the first type of change is what happens when old people find themselves in the position of living alone and unable to look after themselves; and of the second, the very real state of fear in which many old people live as a result of our increasingly violent society. On a less drastic level, even everyday facts of modern living, such as the increased volume of traffic, or the proliferation of bureaucratic red tape, can cause old people stress, as in instances when they experience problems with crossing busy roads, or filling in complicated forms.
Isolation and loneliness are two of the special stress-related problems many old people face - in inner cities as well as in remote rural areas. The supportive extended family unit is no longer a social norm in this country, and old people inevitably often suffer as a result. They may find themselves living far away from their families, or have no contact with family at all. Yet perhaps just as bad can be sharing a home with a son or daughter in a stressful atmosphere, which can all too easily arise if such an arrangement has not been properly planned and thought through.
Bereavement, always a highly stressful experience, can be devastating for old people. The death of a spouse rates as the most severe stressor of all, and is obviously extra-hard to cope with when it marks the end of a long-standing loving relationship and a companionship of many years. Bereavement can create acute isolation problems, especially for women, who tend to be longer-lived than men, which may be compounded by money worries if the surviving partner is left not knowing how to cope, or if financial arrangements, such as a pension or fixed income, do not keep abreast of inflation.
Losing a partner may also leave widows and widowers contemplating the great unknown of their own death, itself a powerful source of fear-related stress, especially in our society where death remains a taboo subject which the majority of people find they cannot talk about- although talking might help a great deal in releasing stress. This is where organizations like CRUSE, which specializes in bereavement care and counseling, can often be of tremendous assistance and comfort.
In fact, fewer opportunities to talk and be listened to is frequently in itself another cause of stress in old age. Remembering the past means a great deal to many old people - reminiscence is sometimes used in group therapy for the elderly, who are encouraged to recount and discuss their memories - and the sheer documentary value of these recollections is of immense interest and value. Younger people can do a lot to help the elderly cope with stress by being good listeners and taking some time out from their busy lives to become so. Certainly, talking and being listened to does a great deal to alleviate the loss of self-esteem and feelings of uselessness and worthlessness, which many old people experience in reaction to society's cult of youth.
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