Ask Vanessa: Understanding the Aging Process

DEAR VANESSA,

After my father died, I asked my 78-year-old mother to live with me but she refused. I know how important it is to understand the aging process especially now that she lives alone. What measures would you recommend making sure that my mother is staying healthy and aging gracefully?

- SALLY

DEAR SALLY,

“Home is where the heart is” and your mother would rather stay in familiar surroundings full of memories. The impact of your father’s death is traumatic. To help soften the loss that she might be experiencing at this time, encourage her to maintain old friendships and explore ways to find new ones, along with continuing strong family ties.

An individual’s adjustment to aging is a uniquely complex process; it can be viewed from different perspectives: sociologic, physiologic, and psychosocial. Health promotion rests on the belief that individuals can have a strong influence on their own health. And people of all ages can benefit from living a healthy lifestyle, even in their later years. Measures to maintain good health relate to nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle practices.

Adequate nutrition plays a key role in maintaining good health and preserving one’s quality of life. Your mother is less active, with more adipose tissue and less body mass, and may need less daily calorie intake. Most frequently recommended diets are those that are low in saturated fats and carbohydrates, and high in fiber. Exercise is crucial to general well-being; it should be moderate and evenly paced, and should never be to the point of exhaustion.

Benefits of exercise in older adults include improving cardiovascular functioning, lowering blood pressure while enhancing oxygen utilization, and maintaining joint mobility. Your mother requires more rest but needs less actual sleep. Waking up at night may cause accidents; using night lights and reducing excess furniture or clutter may decrease the risk of nighttime injury. Most accidents can be avoided. Knowing what factors place your mother at greater risk for accident or injury is essential (common causes are diminished sight and changes in posture or balance).

When you visit your mother, gauge if she’s able to take care of herself well. Is she safe? Can she still drive? Is she able to get around? Is she in good spirits? Stay in touch regularly to monitor her wellbeing. If she needs help, take action.

- VANESSA

Disclaimer: The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.