Older Persons and Physical Disability

The concurrent population of older adults is increasing dramatically. Not only are people retiring from the “greatest generation”, (the group of persons born between 1925 and 1942) as well the baby boomer population is starting to approach retirement. According to Sperazza L. J. & Bannerjee P. in Baby Boomers and Seniors: Understanding Their Leisure Values Enhances Programs, 76 million people consist of the baby boom population, currently retiring (2010). Not surprisingly, caregivers of this population, particulary baby boomers,  are overwhelmed with the numbers of older aged persons needing accommodations.

For instance, baby boomers have pressure on them to help parents with difficult tasks in their homes; like doing household chores, clothing themselves etc., as well as tasks outside their homes; like picking up the mail, getting groceries, or even driving to the coffee shop. In Driving Restrictions and Aging: Incredible Risk or Preserving Quality of Life? Glenyth Nasvadi points out the mental discrepancies that sometimes accompany older aged persons as well as physical problems that can alter necessary driving skills like, “visual problems [and] slowed physical reflexes“(Nasvadi G., 2010, p. 8). Transportation is a valuable resource to have in contemporary society and having a vehicle taken away because of physical disabilities excludes older persons from so many aspects of society that they have a right to be a part of.

Similarly to parting with vehicles, older persons have to give up many of their belongings especially with the onset of physical disabilities. On the other hand, the dignity of older persons should not be allowed to be taken from them. It has been argued that entering an old aged care home basically entitles that ones pride may as well be left at the door. The perception seniors have of old age facilities is enforced in Mortensons article when he says “institutions . . . are seen as places worse than death” (Mortenson, 2010, p. 11). When you consider the expectations placed on caregivers in this context, it is not hard to imagine the truth to the latter statement. Moreover, stress, along with other things, could very well culminate in these workers and therefore reflect in their relationships with members of the facilities.

Maybe an increase in wages for persons with frequent contact with seniors would alleviate this problem. Also, funding to better suit leisure programs with the values of older persons, and funding to purchase mobilized wheelchairs could prevent caregivers from becoming bitter and older persons from becoming frustrated, hopeless, and depressed. Older persons’ prevalence of depression mentioned in Mortenson’s article clarifies the debilitating effect immobility has on older persons overall well-being. My mother saw the prevalence of depression among various other disabilities when she facilitated a group program for seniors called Seniors Day Out. The majority of the seniors attending had some form of a physical disability whether it be hearing problems, or some sort of physical debilitation leading to wheelchair use. My mom saw first hand the barriers to programs in place for seniors. First off, thinking of activities to get seniors out and about was always a challenge because very little places had adequate provisions for the program members. For example, the selection of restaurants to go to was limited because of no available wheel chair ramps, even set-ups of establishments sometimes made it difficult to maneuver around.  

Getting businesses on board with implementing wheelchair friendly spaces would be a start to disintegrating subordinating constructs of society. Other ways society can look out for older persons interests is by nationally adopting the graduated de-licensing policy.

According to Nasvadi’s article, graduated de-licensing is a registered license where one can drive but is limited to certain conditions like driving in daylight only, and driving on residential streets only etc. Graduated de-licensing could take into consideration the best interests of older persons affected by physical disabilities and would take appropriate precautions for the general population of drivers. Also, more suitable equipment, such as more comfortable wheelchairs, or funding for power wheelchairs could help seniors get out and about. This would not put so many limits on where they could go within and outside the institutions they are living in. Funding to give professionals the resources to teach seniors using wheelchairs how to properly use them would allow older persons to move around the institution if they chose. Therefore, better funding would address a lot of the discrepancies persons with physical disabilities, living in old age facilities; face (Mortenson, 2010, p.11). Also, taking into consideration the differing values of the baby boomers and the greater generation mean leisure activity coordinators and program coordinators need to develop activities specific to generation. Doing this would most likely lead to less depression and would acknowledge the physical abilities pertinent to each age group. For example, considering the healthy lifestyle orientation of baby boomers attempting more stimulating activities could be implemented and would probably be well received (Sperazza L. J. & Bannerjee P, 2010).

In large I think it is highly important we do not forget to speak out for these people. Many of us have personal attachments with this population and it is important we support those we love and look out for one another. Furthermore, raising awareness and spreading it to those who may not have the same attachments we do can be helpful to acknowledge the struggles older persons have because of their physical impairments. As a whole, we need to realize the impact, economically, politically, and socially this population has had on society, making it what it is today.

References

Mortenson, Ben (2010). Ready to Roll? Mobility and Social Participation Among Wheelchair Users in Residential Car. Gerontology Research Centre, 19: 2, 10-12.

ISSN: 1188-1828

Nasvadi, Glenyth (2010). Driving Restrictions and Aging: Increasing Risk Or Preserving Quality of Life?. Gerontology Research Centre, 19: 2, 6-9.

ISSN: 1188-1828

Sperazza, Lynda J. and Bannerjee, Priya (2010). Baby Boomers and Seniors: Understanding Their Leisure Values Enhances Programs. Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 34: 3, 196-215.

doi: 10.1080/01924788.2010.501484

-Brooke D.