The process of aging (elderly) is a natural process that accompanied the decline of their physical, psychological and social interact with each other. The situation is likely to potentially cause health problems in general and specifically the mental health of the elderly. Mental health problems in the elderly as well as health issues are discussed in geriatric patients and Psikogeriatri which is part of Gerontology, the science that studies all aspects and problems of the elderly, covering aspects of physiological, psychological, social, cultural, economic and other ( Depkes.RI, 1992:6)
Geriatrics is the branch of medical science that studies health issues concerning the elderly promotof aspects, preventive, curative and rehabilitative and psychosocial services that accompany the life of the elderly. While Psikogeriatri is the branch of medical science that studies life in elderly mental health problems related to aspects promotof, preventive, curative and rehabilitative and psychosocial services that accompany the life of the elderly.
There are 4 traits that can be categorized as geriatric patients and Psikogeriatri, namely:
1. Limitations of body functions associated with the increasing age.
2. The accumulation of degenerative diseases
3. Advanced age is expressed psychosocial crisis if: a) Dependence on others (very needed service to others), b) Isolating yourself or withdrawing from social activities because of various reasons, including after menajalani retirement, after a long illness and severe enough, after the death of a spouse and others.
4. Things that may cause disturbance of balance (homeostasis), thus bringing the elderly towards the destruction / deterioration (deteriorisasi) is progressive, especially the sudden psychological aspects, such as confusion, panic, depression, apathy, etc.. It usually comes from the emergence of the most severe psychosocial stressors, such as death of spouse, death of close relatives, forced to deal with law enforcement, or psychic trauma.
There are several factors that affect the psychology of the elderly. These factors should be addressed wisely so that the elderly can enjoy their old age happily. As for some of the factors facing the elderly, which obviously affects their mental health is as follows:
1. Decrease in Physical Condition
After entering a period of elderly people generally begin to feel a presence of physical condition that is pathological regression (multiple pathology), such as reduced energy, decreased energy, the more wrinkled skin, the more tooth loss, bones more fragile, and so on. In general physical condition of a person who has entered the elderly has decreased exponentially. This all may cause interference or physical dysfunction, psychological or social, which in turn can cause a state of dependence to others.
In the life for the elderly to maintain a healthy physical condition, it is necessary to align with the physical needs of the psychological and social conditions, so that inevitably there must be efforts to reduce activities that are memforsir physical. An elderly should be able to adjust its way of life well, such as eating, sleeping, resting and working in a balanced manner.
2. Decrease Sexual Function and Potential
Decreased function and sexual potency in the elderly is often associated with various physical disorders such as cardiovascular disorders, metabolic disorders, eg diabetes millitus, vaginitis, just finished the operation: for example, prostatectomy, malnutrition, due to imperfect digestion or appetite is less, the use of certain medications, such as antihypertensives, steroids, tranquilizer.
Psychological factors that accompany the elderly, among others:
* Sense of taboo or embarrassed when sustain sexual life in elderly
* The attitude of families and communities who lack support and reinforced by tradition and culture.
* Fatigue or boredom from lack of variety in life.
* Couple living dead.
* Sexual dysfunction due to hormonal changes or other mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, dementia, etc..
3. Psychosocial Aspects of Change
In general, after the man entered the elderly then it has decreased cognitive and psychomotor function. Cognitive function involves the process of learning, perception, comprehension, understanding, attention and others that cause reactions and behavior of the elderly becomes increasingly slow. While psychomotor function (conative) covers matters relating to the will of encouragement such as movement, action, coordination, resulting in that the elderly become less nimble.
With a decrease in both functions, the elderly also experience changes in psychosocial aspects related to the state of elderly personality. Some of these changes can be differentiated based on 5 personality types elderly as follows:
1. Constructive Personality Type (Construction personalitiy), usually this type did not experience the turmoil, calm and steady until the very old.
2. Personality Type Mandiri (Independent personality), there is a tendency in this type of experience post-power syndrome, especially in the elderly if not filled with activities that can grant autonomy to himself.
3. Personality Type Depending (Dependent personalitiy), in this type are usually strongly influenced family life, where family life is always in harmony then at the elderly are not volatile, but if the spouse dies, the spouse left behind will be miserable, especially if not immediately rose from her grief.
4. Hostile Personality Type (Hostility personality), in this type after entering the elderly remain dissatisfied with life, many desire that is sometimes not considered carefully so that cause economic conditions to be messy.
5. Personality Type Self Critique (Self Hate personalitiy), the elderly are generally seen this type of passion, because their own behavior hard to help others or tend to create trouble himself.
4. Changes Related Work
In general, this change begins when retirement. Although the pension is the ideal destination for the elderly to enjoy old age or retirement benefits, but in reality often means the opposite, because retirement is often defined as loss of income, position, position, role, activities, status and dignity. Reaction after people retire more depending on the model of personality as described in point three above.
How to get around is not a pension for mental burden after the elderly? The answer really depends on the individual’s mental attitude in the face of retirement. In fact there are receiving, there is a fear of losing, there is a feeling pleased to have the pension and there is also that seems indifferent to retirement (resigned). Each of these attitudes actually have impact on each individual, whether positive or negative. The positive impact is more reassuring themselves elderly and the negative impact would disrupt the well-being of elderly life. To be more positive impact retirement pension preparation should there really be filled with activities to prepare themselves, not only given time to come to work or not to obtain a full salary.
Preparation is done in a planned, organized and focused for each person who will retire. If you need to do an assessment to determine the direction of his interest to keep a clear and positive activities. To plan activities after retirement and the elderly may be entering a period of training that its interest in establishing direction respectively. For example how to be entrepreneurial, how to open their own business are very many types and kinds.
Training model should be practical and immediate visible results so that the conviction of the elderly that in addition to the work that had been practiced, there are other alternatives that are quite promising in the face of old age, so the elderly do not imagine that after retirement they become useless, idle, reduced income and so forth.
5. Changes In Social Role in Society
As a result of reduced function of the sense of hearing, eyesight, physical movement and so it appears functional impairment or even disability in the elderly. For example, his body became bent, greatly diminished hearing, blurred vision and forth so often lead to alienation. It should be prevented by always invite them to do activities, as long as he is still able, so as not to feel alienated or exiled. Because when alienation occurs will increasingly refuse to communicate with others and sometimes continue to appear kdang regression behavior such as crying easily, shut himself, collecting things and useless whining and crying when other people see that their behavior as a child.
In the face of various problems above are generally elderly people who have families of our men (Oriental culture) is still very lucky because a family member such as children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives and even relatives usually help to maintain the (care) with great patience and sacrifice . But for those who have no family or relatives because celibate, or have a spouse but no children and spouses have died, let alone live in his own overseas, often to be neglected.
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