Proudpakistaniguy
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Have you ever thought about your old age and do you actually fear being/getting old (gerascophobia) i.e fear of losing your youthfulness, independence and facing other health problems that are inevitable with growing age? Have you planned anything about it? I think condition of certain old people is worse which depend on where they are living
Most common fears of old age
There is nothing wrong with getting older. It is a natural part of the human life cycle. Unfortunately, getting old comes with a number of legitimate fears. Below are some of the things elderly people fear the most.
1. Loss of independence
Freedom and independence are two qualities that most people cherish. As people get older, the loss of independence becomes a frightening reality. Nobody wants to be at the mercy of other people and this applies to senior citizens. The fear that other people may control your life and take decisions for you is one thing many older people find terrifying.
2. Loss of memory
It is true that memory declines with age. Actually, mild memory loss in older people is nothing to worry about but some senior citizens experience near total loss of memory. This and the inability to recognize people is one of the greatest fears of senior citizens.
3. Safety and security fears
As people get older, safety and security become major issues. Some older people live alone and this makes them prime targets for callous criminals who may attack them because they cannot defend themselves. Seniors in old people’s homes also face safety concerns in the sense that some of the caregivers may not take good care of them. The prospect of becoming a defenseless old man or woman is one thing that frightens older people.
4. Fear of falling and getting hurt
Some older people have brittle bones and their balance is not as good as it used to be. These two conditions imply that the risk of falling is quite high in older people. In addition, older people are also likely to get seriously hurt from falls. Add the fact that older people take a longer time to recover and you get to understand why many seniors have a fear of falling.
5. Declining health
This is one of the unpleasant realities that older people face. Declining health is bad news because it leads to loss of independence, higher medical bills and a lower quality of life. It may also lead to assisted living and home care. These are things many elderly people want to avoid and this is why they are scared of losing their health.
6. Lack of money
Money is not everything but it helps to have an adequate supply of this vital commodity. One problem with getting old is that you lose the ability to earn money but you still have bills to pay. For senior citizens, lack of money is a terrible thing. It leads to loss of dignity and may even compound an already existing medical condition.
7. Loss of familiar environment
A familiar environment is a source of comfort for many people. This is why many people find solace in work, social affiliations and family. As people get older, they lose some of these sources of comfort. Elderly people are usually retired so they cannot count on the comforting familiarity of the workplace. In some cases, many of their friends have passed on and this makes them lonely and depressed. The family may not offer much comfort because younger relations are likely to be busy with their own lives. With most of the familiar sources of comfort out of reach or non-existent, older people are likely to be depressed. This is why they fear losing the environment they loved and cherished in the past.
8. Not being able to drive
We live a mobile world and people need to be able to move around to enjoy life to the max. In fact, the ability to drive is one of the ultimate marks of freedom and self-sufficiency. Unfortunately, some older people may be unable to drive on account of poor eyesight or other age-related matters. In some cases, senior citizens who drive cars may have their licenses suspended or revoked by the authorities. Not being able to drive is a terrible thing because it places severe restrictions on you. This is one of the reasons older people are scared of losing the ability to drive.
9. Loss of personal dignity
Getting old is not a death sentence because it is purely natural. The problem here is that many people may not have the good fortune to age gracefully. This is why they are afraid to grow old. Sometimes, aging comes with debilitating diseases like diabetes, stroke and paralysis. These are terrible conditions in the sense that they might interfere with normal bodily functions. A situation where seniors cannot walk properly, see or carry out certain bodily functions is truly sad. This situation robs the person in question of personal dignity and this is one of the biggest fears of elderly people.
10. Death of a spouse
One of the best things about marriage is companionship. A woman who has married to the same man for 50 years will not want to contemplate life without the comforting presence of her husband. The same thing applies to a man who has been married to the same woman for about five decades. Clearly, life will never be the same if the spouse dies. The death of a spouse or a beloved family member is one thing that fills elderly people with dread.
Most common fears of old age
There is nothing wrong with getting older. It is a natural part of the human life cycle. Unfortunately, getting old comes with a number of legitimate fears. Below are some of the things elderly people fear the most.
1. Loss of independence
Freedom and independence are two qualities that most people cherish. As people get older, the loss of independence becomes a frightening reality. Nobody wants to be at the mercy of other people and this applies to senior citizens. The fear that other people may control your life and take decisions for you is one thing many older people find terrifying.
2. Loss of memory
It is true that memory declines with age. Actually, mild memory loss in older people is nothing to worry about but some senior citizens experience near total loss of memory. This and the inability to recognize people is one of the greatest fears of senior citizens.
3. Safety and security fears
As people get older, safety and security become major issues. Some older people live alone and this makes them prime targets for callous criminals who may attack them because they cannot defend themselves. Seniors in old people’s homes also face safety concerns in the sense that some of the caregivers may not take good care of them. The prospect of becoming a defenseless old man or woman is one thing that frightens older people.
4. Fear of falling and getting hurt
Some older people have brittle bones and their balance is not as good as it used to be. These two conditions imply that the risk of falling is quite high in older people. In addition, older people are also likely to get seriously hurt from falls. Add the fact that older people take a longer time to recover and you get to understand why many seniors have a fear of falling.
5. Declining health
This is one of the unpleasant realities that older people face. Declining health is bad news because it leads to loss of independence, higher medical bills and a lower quality of life. It may also lead to assisted living and home care. These are things many elderly people want to avoid and this is why they are scared of losing their health.
6. Lack of money
Money is not everything but it helps to have an adequate supply of this vital commodity. One problem with getting old is that you lose the ability to earn money but you still have bills to pay. For senior citizens, lack of money is a terrible thing. It leads to loss of dignity and may even compound an already existing medical condition.
7. Loss of familiar environment
A familiar environment is a source of comfort for many people. This is why many people find solace in work, social affiliations and family. As people get older, they lose some of these sources of comfort. Elderly people are usually retired so they cannot count on the comforting familiarity of the workplace. In some cases, many of their friends have passed on and this makes them lonely and depressed. The family may not offer much comfort because younger relations are likely to be busy with their own lives. With most of the familiar sources of comfort out of reach or non-existent, older people are likely to be depressed. This is why they fear losing the environment they loved and cherished in the past.
8. Not being able to drive
We live a mobile world and people need to be able to move around to enjoy life to the max. In fact, the ability to drive is one of the ultimate marks of freedom and self-sufficiency. Unfortunately, some older people may be unable to drive on account of poor eyesight or other age-related matters. In some cases, senior citizens who drive cars may have their licenses suspended or revoked by the authorities. Not being able to drive is a terrible thing because it places severe restrictions on you. This is one of the reasons older people are scared of losing the ability to drive.
9. Loss of personal dignity
Getting old is not a death sentence because it is purely natural. The problem here is that many people may not have the good fortune to age gracefully. This is why they are afraid to grow old. Sometimes, aging comes with debilitating diseases like diabetes, stroke and paralysis. These are terrible conditions in the sense that they might interfere with normal bodily functions. A situation where seniors cannot walk properly, see or carry out certain bodily functions is truly sad. This situation robs the person in question of personal dignity and this is one of the biggest fears of elderly people.
10. Death of a spouse
One of the best things about marriage is companionship. A woman who has married to the same man for 50 years will not want to contemplate life without the comforting presence of her husband. The same thing applies to a man who has been married to the same woman for about five decades. Clearly, life will never be the same if the spouse dies. The death of a spouse or a beloved family member is one thing that fills elderly people with dread.
