According to UN statistics, in mid-2019 the world population was 7.7 billion. Of these, 703 million (9.1%) were 65 years of age or older.

The world population is expected to grow to around 9.7 billion by 2050, when the number of older people will have doubled to more than 1.5 billion, or just over 15% of the total population in 2050.

Aging can cause various health problems to a degree not experienced by younger people.

Once you’re 60, a common cold or flu can lead to more serious medical conditions. These include respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus or ear infections.

If you already have a chronic illness like diabetes or asthma, a respiratory illness can make things much worse.

Here is a brief overview of the most common health challenges retirees face:

• Chronic diseases
• Physical injuries (falls)
• cognitive health
• vision and hearing
• teeth and gums
• behavioral health
• Substance abuse
• Malnutrition
• constipation and incontinence
• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

Chronic diseases

The term chronic refers to an illness or disease that persists for a long time or recurs constantly. It does not indicate the severity of the disease.

The leading causes of death among retirees in the US are chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, lower respiratory tract disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, obesity, and diabetes.

According to the US National Council on Aging, 80% of older adults have at least one chronic condition and 70% have two or more. The figures of other advanced countries such as those of the European Union, Canada, the United Kingdom, etc. they are similar.

Chronic illnesses can limit a retiree’s ability to perform normal daily activities.

This causes them to lose their independence and become dependent on long-term services and supports, such as caregivers in their own home.

Eventually, they end up having to check into a nursing home (retirement) or skilled nursing facility staffed by trained nurses and caregivers who have experience caring for the elderly.

The best way to prevent or control chronic diseases is to:

• get regular checkups
• eat a healthy diet
• exercise regularly and consistently
• lose weight as needed

Physical injury (falls)

Falls are one of the leading causes of fatal and non-fatal physical injuries among retirees. Having a fall can cause hip fractures, head injuries, and even death.

Every 15 seconds, a retiree is admitted to a hospital emergency department due to a fall. A retiree dies from a fall every 30 seconds.

These are sobering statistics…in fact, retirees are hospitalized for fall-related injuries five times more often than for injuries from other causes.

There are several reasons why retirees are more prone to falls than young people:

• Aging causes your bones to shrink and your muscles to lose strength and flexibility, making you fragile and more prone to losing your balance and falling.
• Diseases like osteoporosis and osteoarthritis can make you even more fragile and prone to falls.

Fear of falls can cause retirees to limit their activities, which can lead to further physical decline and therefore more falls, as well as social isolation and depression.

In many cases, the tendency to have more falls as you age can be reversed by increasing physical activity to strengthen the body and doing some Practical modifications to your home..

cognitive health

Cognition It is the action or mental process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience and the senses. cognitive health refers to your ability to think, learn and remember.

Dementia It is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem solving, and other thinking skills that is severe enough to interfere with daily life.

There are several types of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia.

Currently (2020) around 50 million people have dementia. By 2050 it is expected to have tripled in size.

Your risk of developing dementia increases if you have chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, depression, HIV, etc. Your risk increases if you smoke or abuse substances.

There is currently no cure for dementia. But you can manage the disease by using a treatment plan based on the type of dementia you have and the medications prescribed.

You can also stop the decline in your cognitive health by doing crossword puzzles and other mental exercises, and by learning a new skill.

At 74 years old, I am learning digital marketing and the effort has certainly improved my thinking skills. Now I understand faster and remember better.

We will talk about this in another post.

vision and hearing

Problems with our eyes and ears are extremely common after the age of 70.

It seems that 25% of retirees have a hearing problem and 17% have a vision problem. Both of these problems can be easily resolved with hearing aids and prescription glasses.

The evaluation of these conditions and their related solutions are rapidly improving due to the continuous development of new technologies.

teeth and gums

The most common problems we have with our teeth and gums are dry mouth, gum disease, untreated tooth decay, and mouth cancer.

About 25% of adults over the age of 65 no longer have any of their natural teeth. Of those with at least some of their own teeth, around 20% have untreated cavities and more than 70% have gum disease.

Poor oral health can have a negative impact on your diet (since you avoid eating nutritious foods that are meant to be chewed) and can lead to low self-esteem.

Oral problems can also negatively affect the management of any other chronic health conditions you have.

The good news is that poor oral health can be controlled by visiting your dentist regularly.

The sad news is that dental services are not cheap, and they are not affordable if you are on a measly pension.

behavioral health

While behavioral health refers to how behavior has an impact on the well-being of an individual, mental health it is primarily concerned with the state of being of an individual.

One in four (25%) of retirees experience behavioral health problems, such as substance abuse, while 15% of adults 60 and older suffer from a mental disorder, such as depression or chronic anxiety.

Problems such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse can negatively affect the treatment of other chronic medical conditions, reducing your quality of life and leading to early death.

Depression… affects 7% of retirees, although it often goes undiagnosed and untreated. It can be a side effect of other chronic health conditions.

Managing these conditions can help alleviate depression, as can leading a healthy, active lifestyle and having the support of family and friends or other social support groups.

Suicide…in the US retirees account for more than 18% of all suicide deaths. People 85 and older are four times more likely to commit suicide than the rate for all ages combined.

Substance abuse…like binge drinking, is responsible for a significant number of deaths among retirees.

Behavioral health problems are not a normal part of aging. They can be treated effectively.

Despite this, two-thirds of retirees in the developed world do not receive the care they need.

Substance abuse

Recreational drug or alcohol abuse is more common among those 65 and older than previously thought.

But, because substance abuse is not associated with the elderly, it is often overlooked and overlooked during medical exams.

Additionally, retirees are often prescribed multiple prescriptions for long-term use and therefore have many medications on hand.

Doctors must look for signs of substance abuse when they perform medical checkups on their patients.

If you tend to abuse substances, there are many support services that help people of all ages to break their bad habits.

Malnutrition

If you are malnourished, your muscles and immune system are likely to be weakened.

There are a variety of reasons why retirees may be malnourished and they are mainly due to other health problems. For example, retirees with dementia may forget to eat.

If you’re on a meager pension, you probably can’t afford to eat a highly nutritious diet. Other causes of malnutrition include depression, alcoholism, and having few social contacts.

You can improve the nutritional quality of the foods you eat by increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables and reducing your intake of salt and saturated fat.

If you can’t afford to eat properly or have difficulty cooking, you can make use of the food services t

constipation and incontinence

These conditions are common with aging and can have an impact on the quality of your life as a retiree.

Being constantly constipated or not being able to control your bladder can be due to a number of causes…normal age-related changes…a chronic illness (such as diabetes) and…not eating a well-balanced nutritious diet.

If you suffer from incontinence and constipation, you should eat a nutritious diet, exercise regularly, and maintain a low weight.

Also, you should swallow your shame and discuss the matter with your doctor and follow his advice.

In fact, depending on the cause of your bladder and bowel problem, there are some effective medical treatments available.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

Although sexual needs and ability may change as you age, desire doesn’t go away, as I’m sure you know.

There are medications like Cialis (my favourite) that can help you overcome sexual disorders.

STDs threaten retirees just as much as younger people.

We may be more likely to become infected since we are less likely to use condoms, which, combined with our weakened immune systems, makes us more susceptible to contracting a serious STD.

The solution is simple… use a condom.