As a society, we are living longer due to better living and health care. While reaching old age is something to be thankful for, there are several challenges facing the seniors that we should all be aware of. We don’t realize how much we can help our aging population until we start to age or see a loved one struggle.
Here are a few of the concerns that seniors face as we live longer: Memory loss, Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease; Inability to drive or travel independently; Hearing loss, Vision problems, including blindness; Falls resulting to injuries; Chronic pain, arthritis; Depression and loneliness; Social isolation; Financial insecurity; Scams and abuse. Many are the social determinants of health.
It is common for seniors to develop chronic disease as they age. But not all seniors have equal access to care. During the pandemic, there is a growing gap and disparity in care, which has exacerbated under stress. And it’s more common in medically underserved seniors than in the general population.
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Bio:
Dr. Leith States, the Chief Medical Officer in the Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health. He has spent his career advocating for vulnerable populations and advancing social justice. Dr. States believes that everyone deserves grace, everyone deserves a second chance, and everyone is worthy of love no matter what they’ve done or had done to them. We all need truths to hold onto – as we make sense of our life experiences.
Visit Leith States on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leith-states/
