How Prepared Are Seniors for the Challenges of Getting Older?
This year’s United States of Aging Survey reveals a few important disparities between the concerns of seniors and those who care for them.
The survey, conducted annually by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), The National Council on Aging, and UnitedHealthcare, compares the views of adults aged sixty and over with those who work with seniors, including primary care physicians, pharmacists, staff members from Area Agencies on Aging, and financial managers.
This year’s survey revealed that nearly half of adults surveyed feel that they are “very prepared” for getting older. However only 10% of the professionals who care for them feel the same way.
Other findings provide more detail on this difference. For example, 65% of seniors reported that they have at least two chronic medical conditions, but less than 20% has had help in developing an action plan for managing their health.
Although “mental sharpness” was a concern for both seniors and those who care for them, seniors felt that the most important component is “keeping a positive attitude,” while the professionals consider social activity to be of primary importance.
These differences suggest a perhaps overly positive attitude on the part of seniors regarding how to take care of themselves as they age. Senior living facilities, such as Atlantic Coast Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, in Lakewood, NJ, offer a way to bridge this gap. Atlantic Coast ensures the health of the residents by developing and maintaining action plans for any medical conditions. The Center’s Social Services team focuses on each resident’s social, emotional, and spiritual needs. The variety of activities, including rehab activities, offers a restorative approach, encouraging function, mobility, and independence. Now there’s a reason for having a positive attitude!
Contact Atlantic Coast at 732-364-7100 or by clicking here to make sure that the senior in your life truly is “very prepared” for the years to come.