Denial of the aging process and diminishing abilities of older people cause problems Vanity often prevents older people from getting the help they need for a better quality of life. Aids that could improve their lives, such as glasses, a hearing aid, or a cane to prevent falls, are ignored. Often, reduced night vision is the first sign that self-driving may soon be something to give up. Quitting driving is a real blow to the ego as well as limiting the mobility of the elderly.
For our children, a parent not acknowledging their aging-related issues 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. Perhaps they are not taking their medications on time or taking too much of their medications.
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 a few wrinkles, a couple of gray hairs, but usually it’s hard for us to imagine that the person in the mirror will one day reach a point in their life where they will have changed their lifestyle or their behavior. address. problems never 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 the medications an older person is taking, missing doses, and not allowing anyone else to help is a problem. They often withhold vital health information out of embarrassment, feeling it is trivial, or fearing the co-pays that treatment might cost. Ignoring preventative measures like balance exercises because that’s for the really old people.
The older adult who does not admit or recognize the reduction of capacities due to aging is a problem for all concerned. Their desire to carry on as they have always done 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 don’t really 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 understanding with their doctor, which can lead to 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. You are not willing to ask your loved ones for help or even willing to admit that you 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 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 will offset the aging process. In reality, denying the aging process will often speed up the symptoms.
