Age Vault : an INIA collaborating network anthology

Abstract

The second section concentrated on the health perspective on ageing; an aspect which is of concern to professionals in the medical field as well as those in the related fields of psychiatry, psychology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and others involved in the multidisciplinary approach. Each profession has its own area of speciality but each must be aware of the concepts involved in the other areas of study. One can note that once again the social aspect has its part to play. Dunkle et al. provide support to this issue by pointing out that "it is imperative to find ways to enhance families' capacities to support hospitalized elderly". The health of the elders showed an improvement corresponding to the involvement of the family; a fact which Pitaud terms as "the strong link between the medical and social aspects" of ageing. Pitaud indicates the need for further study regarding the many illnesses of the elderly "which either remain undiagnosed or neglected, and which evolve towards a worsening situation and will sometimes lead to invalidity with severe consequences for the individual himself and for the society in which he lives". Fabris et al. indicate the existence of risk factors leading to loss of independence and strive to identify the preventable causes of functional improvement. Kumar et al. 's multidisciplinary assessment is also a move in this direction and aims at detecting physical and neuropsychiatric improvements as well as determining the availability of socio-economic and home environment support. Charlton, in her research on nutrition intake of her sample population, "identified a high prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus among the coloured population. The research pointed at the need of intervention strategies to lower the prevalence of chronic diseases related to lifestyle". The last two papers gave a description of laboratory experiments where the results once more point at the need for further research and a practical approach. The results of one paper demand the establishment of a method of stabilization of genetic material (Davidovic ), while in the case of stress levels in ageing mice, Csermely concludes that "high stress levels in the aged may significantly contribute to the diminished immune response of the aged subject". The experiments are examples of research which definitely shows that the health of the aged as a group is certainly influenced both by direct and indirect health and social attributes. Each attribute must be studied in its own sphere of existence but never in isolation. Linkages to other spheres of influence as described in both chapters are an essential communications link. The elderly person revolves around an integrated continuum of services; both as givers and takers - both as receivers and resources. Should any one of the particular spheres disintegrate, the others are bound to follow. Even though the medical effects of old age are unavoidable, the health of an elderly person reflects his/her emotional satisfaction with life. Vice versa, a healthy social situation prolongs the healthy mental well-being of the elderly. As a concluding note, one observes that whatever the situation of the elderly, one must not separate the health perspective from the social perspective. Each is a support column for the corresponding ageing perspectives; any lack in one as against another serves only to drastically reduce the effectivity of a holistic approach.