Aging, no matter how much people may deny it, brings a multitude of challenges impacting health, wellbeing, and so much more. From financial concerns to caregiving responsibilities, it can be overwhelming to navigate the complexities of aging.

But, fear not, for there is always light at the end of the tunnel. In a media briefing on October 6, hosted by Ethnic Media Services, experts shared insights on how to address these challenges and improve the quality of life for seniors.

Speakers

  • Dr. Louise Aronson, University of California San Francisco Professor in the Division of Geriatrics. Author of “Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimagining Life,” a Pulitzer Prize finalist.
  • Cheryl Brown, Chair of the Executive Committee for the California Commission on Aging. Ms. Brown is a key architect of California’s Master Plan on Aging 
  • Dr. Barry Reisberg, Professor of Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health and Adjunct Professor at the Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Dr. Reisberg developed the Global Deterioration Scale, which identifies the 7 stages of Alzheimer’s. 

The experts kicked off the briefing by stressing how essential affordable healthcare is. Cheryl Brown, a participant in the work groups that developed a master plan for aging, emphasized the need for affordable healthcare as one of the main goals. “One of the main things was being able to afford aging,” she said. “How do you keep your health? How do you afford health?” This sentiment was echoed by other experts, who stressed the importance of access to healthcare for seniors. 

Dr. Louise Aronson calls out the nation’s health care system. “That’s ageism,” she stressed, “The health care system has hospitals for adults … hospitals for kids. But what does it have for older people?” It’s called an age-friendly health system, where people at institutions will cater to what matters to older people and what medications they are taking. To understand how to help those aging, we need to know what happens to many of those aging. 

Dr. Brian Reisberg addressed the seven stages of Alzheimer’s Disease. People don’t show any cognitive decline in the first stage. The second stage is characterized by people not feeling like they remember things as well as they used to. The third stage is mild cognitive decline, with a decrease in job functioning. In the fourth stage, they have trouble with complex tasks such as planning for guests to come. The next stage shows people not being able to decide on clothing in relation to the weather. In the sixth, people have trouble bathing and using the bathroom without assistance. The seventh and final stage where speech is limited to a single word or less, however, every word is a delight to hear.

Another key topic was caregiving. Brown noted that caregiving was one of the five goals identified in the master plan for aging. “Caregiving was number four,” she said. “It was what the governor put forth for our goals.” The experts discussed the challenges faced by caregivers, who often have to balance their own needs with those of their loved ones. Caregivers too need to be taken care of, arming them with the proper resources and support.

As almost always these days, technology wiggled into conversation, with both the benefits and challenges being addressed. The potential benefits of technology are astronomical, with telemedicine and remote monitoring improving access to healthcare for seniors.

One of the most interesting topics discussed was intergenerational activities. Brown suggested that intergenerational activities could be a solution, so go on and mingle about with grandchildren. “I believe that there is a solution to all that people are thinking,” she said, “And one of the solutions could be to do intergenerational activities.” An idea met with enthusiasm by other experts, brought about benefits for both seniors and younger generations.

Overall, the media briefing provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of aging. The experts emphasized the importance of affordable healthcare, caregiving support, and intergenerational activities. Acknowledging the benefits and challenges of technology, they address the elephant in the palm of our hands.

Navigating through the complexities of aging, we must remind ourselves that we are not alone. There’s support available to help us and our loved ones, it’s just a matter of accessing it. As always, it’s key we work together, embracing fresh ideas, to truly improve the quality of life for seniors, you know, keeping them 65 years young.