Aging

DR FILIPPOS KANOUTOS

PATHOLOGOS - SPECIAL GIRIATROS

Old age is a modern phenomenon in the course of stable, easy to forecast early and perhaps the one with the most serious consequences.

It is a mental state is determined by many factors such as chronological age or by our personal crisis.

The Alfin - Slater argues that old age can be considered outsourcing of multiple cellular and systemic changes that occur with age.

The psychology of aging stems from 3 main events:

1. From the mind of arxamenis and evolving state of physical and mental functions.

2. The factual circumstances of the family and the wider social environment.

3. From instinctive mobilization and development of the necessary protection, defense and balancing mechanisms, allowing them to adjust and balance in a constantly changing internal and external environment, based on temperament, experience, character and specific social conditions.

Taking into account certain factors that play a key role in different age periods of life can not separate the geriatric age of 3 years.

, 48-65: critical age or old age first: here the importance of predominantly organic problem, that of those organic changes of the body characterize this period of our lives we call old age.

; 65-75: Interim period is a critical age between actual age: the problem here is purely clinical and directed towards the diagnosis should be as early as possible, damage or malfunction that occurs in every elderly person.

;> 75: real old age: the period is a general medical-social problem resulting from disability or emergency care, directly or indirectly.

But if any is the limit, it still marks the age in one dimension that is the date. therefore beyond the chronological concept by defining the age, we must take into account our biological - psychological - social and medical purposes.

Biological age is determined by specific measurements of the body such as the power - the fitness - speed - the acuity of the senses - the condition of the skin - the color and good quality of hair, etc.

Psychological age is determined by measurement of cognitive function (memory - creativity - flexibility, etc.) and attitudes (attitudes) in the elderly has taken towards questions of current reality. Intelligence and personality are two key elements on which we can record the decline marked by the coming of age.

Social age implies social expectations which are grown for different people, depending on level of maturity and chronological age.

Medicine age in which assessed the functional capacity of the individual, namely the ability to engage in appropriate activities.

The senile or old age (within the meaning of the last period of life) divided into 2 categories:

new - old people (new - old)

old people - old people (old - old)

But what is the position of elderly people in modern society and what social and psychological factors that might influence this?

The number of elderly people has increased gradually over the course of recent decades. The model of the patriarchal family form a pyramid, with the Patriarch at the top, it has become increasingly rare and only in the rural community can find examples of this kind.

One of the main causes of this phenomenon is the industrialization and new life styles, which help to remove more and more young people than older people and to transport them from the countryside to large cities.

On the other hand in large cities, the tendency to isolation and fragmentation of the various households comprising mainly young people from the elderly, assisted by the new features are the business of work and leisure activities, as well as the use of leisure, with different and more expensive lifestyles.

The effects of economic - social identity, arising from the increasing number of elderly people and isolating them, mainly as the need to secure livelihoods of older people who are no longer able to work or withdrawn from work due to age.

Another key consequence resulting from the isolation and crowding out the older person's statements are not - and understanding of the incompatibility between new and old. The old labor to monitor the rapid social change and accept innovation, while the other part is not new to trying to understand or accept the bringing models and conduct which sees them obsolete.

Very important is the fact that the elderly person is unable to find in modern society, traditional roles as the major component, the grandfather of the worker, friend, etc., with the result that is easy to take part in social life resulting in isolation and crowding.

The crisis of the older person also serves as the progressive, almost physical damage of the psycho-mental faculties, which is different from person to person.

The result is always increasing frequency clumsiness a situation that worsens the removal from the home and entering a nursing home generally not acceptable to the elderly.

Based So all this, it is understood that the study of the problem of pensions should be organized according to the needs arising from it.