1. Is the Disability Your Choice or Societal Barriers?
It depends on where you live, sub-Saharan Africa or the developed world. In general, however, women have been at the receiving end of all the burden of physical and psychological disability, lost employment and social opportunities. Also, there is a great rural-urban divide in terms of access to health care services. Elderly disability varies widely, in time and space.
2. Age and Disability are Linked
If you are past your age of retirement, count yourself among the millions looking to improve their physical and mental condition. The key test is: Do you need help from others beyond what might be reasonably expected from family and friends? If yes, you might want to go in for a comprehensive physical, psychological and social assessment.
3. How Disabled are You?
You can get an idea of your condition by checking if you suffer from any of the risk factors. According to WHO, the World Health Organization, these include mental impairment, depression, disease, changes in body weight, problems with lower limbs, loss of social interaction and a low level of physical activity. In fact, you raise the risk of disability even if your perception of your health is poor. Smoking, visual and other problems also contribute in no small way. High blood pressure, raised blood lipids and glucose, low bone density, alcohol and drug misuse can also mean more trouble. In fact, no less than 22 underlying factors have been identified.
4. Disability is Avoidable
If you really wanted to be free from elderly disabilities, the mantra is three-fold: Prevent disabling diseases, get treated with medicine and surgery, and rehabilitation. For instance, crippling diseases such as polio, tuberculosis, stroke or hip fracture can be prevented or cured early enough. Elderly disabilities can also be reversed with cataract surgery, arthroplasty, drugs for pain or heart failure. Elderly folks can get gait and balance training, if needed. They can also be encouraged to participate socially and environmentally, at least as volunteers. And if you are also active biologically, you should see a significant change for the better at the functional and social levels.
5. Prevention is Simple
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) there is hope: Risk factors such as age-related diseases, impairments, functional limitations, poor coping strategies, sedentary lifestyles and other unhealthy behaviors, as well as social and environmental obstacles, can be changed for the better. If you want to postpone elderly disability and continue to be independent, there is no alternative to getting physically active. It doesn't matter even if you are someone with a chronic disease. You could lessen its impact, blow away your blues and delay the onset of elderly disabilities. According to the WHO, the most effective interventions include center-based exercise, moderate levels of activity, group therapies and "targeting specific patient populations at risk for disease."
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