Issues Affecting the Aged - Elderly Population: Stoke

Issues Affecting the Aged/ Elderly Population: Stoke

Imagine what it would be like to take several medications to keep your organs functioning. Or how hard life could be without an adequate diet and proper nutrition, which can ultimately lead to severe health impairments down the line. These are just a few of what most individuals may face as they plunge in late adulthood. Although, every individual must confront the possibility of aging and the issues associated with it, the transition may go smoothly or take a dark turn down death's alley. Although age can take its toll on the body, age can also create fear within the minds of the senior population and how they live. The high occurrence of falls and anxiety of falling is common among older adults suffering from a stroke. In addition, these fears can result in unpleasant health restrictions including a decreased outlook on life, functional restraints, limited activity and sometimes hopelessness. The fear of falling among the elderly not only causes physical suffering it alters their psychological outlook on adopting behaviors that could potentially put a stop to future falls. After a stroke, the elderly may tend to forget their nervous reaction and therefore are awfully terrified of gravity. As time progresses there are numerous changes that will occur during the late aging process that can shape the rest of our lives. Therefore, it is a period of time that most people dread as they transition out of middle adulthood. Not only does the body drastically change, but among others are health concerns.

Persons who have suffered strokes often have balance and coordination hindrances that the stroke has created for them. A person who once had mobility and free use of their limbs may find that one side does not respond as it once did and the fear of never having full use or control of this body part may create anxiety for the stroke patient. While physical therapy can undue most of the trauma suffered; a stroke patient needs to regain the confidence they once had in being able to move around as they did before the stroke. The techniques used in coaching a patient are strength exercises as well as trust exercises. A professional may become a life coach for the stroke patient to convince them to talk about their feelings regarding the stroke and this is the beginning assessment stage of cognitive therapy. According to Albert Ellis, the originator of this type of therapy, "rational thinking results in effectiveness, happiness and competence. That is when a person is thinking rationally, he/she becomes effective, happy and competent but irrational thoughts result in ineffectiveness, unhappiness and incompetence." (European Journal of Social Sciences, 2008)

Persons who have suffered small strokes are aware that they are the not the same as before and that can be discouraging and depressing for the patient. Encouraging the patient to use the limb or limbs that have been affected is also encouraging their will power to overcome the stroke. The patient's will and motivation are key factors for therapy of all kinds to work to the patient's