The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that by 2030, 1 in 6 people in the world will be aged 60 years or over.

At this time, the WHO states, the share of the population aged 60 years and over will increase from 1 billion in 2020 to 1.4 billion.

“By 2050, the world’s population of people aged 60 years and older will double (2.1 billion). The number of persons aged 80 years or older is expected to triple between 2020 and 2050 to reach 426 million,” the WHO states.

For the ageing population, this not be a phenomenon they are looking out for. You see, the golden years are not always ‘golden’ for many people with advanced age. As they grow older, physical weakness will sap their vigour. They will become more isolated.

They will start to have more mental and emotional challenges than they have had before. These challenges can often be attributed to diagnosis – such as dementia – which is common with advanced age.

However, mental function challenges that an older person may experience may not be necessarily be the result of a diagnosis such as dementia. In fact, some researchers observe that almost 90 per cent of all people older than 65 years are free of dementia.

For instance, Dr. Michael T. Levy, a behavioral scientist says that while some memory loss is common in later life, most elderly people live out their lives in complete control of their mental abilities.

Younger people will usually surpass the elderly in the rate and efficiency with which they recall particular facts, issues and matters.

However, neurologist, Dr. Richard Restak cites that if you take away the timer, older people generally perform at least as well as their younger counterparts.

This implies that with the necessary educational input and training, a healthy older brain will ably continue to learn, acquire, remember, and even improve on certain specific abilities.

Conversely, an elderly person may very well experience more serious memory problems. There are also other treatable conditions that occur in old age that can cause difficulties and lapses in memory or sudden unusual confusion.

A thorough medical examination may help to establish the underlying cause of such disorders.

General physician Dr. James Wahome says that sudden unusual confusion can be caused by malnutrition, dehydration, anaemia, head injury, thyroid problems, vitamin deficiency, side effects in medication, or even a disorienting change in environment.

“Infections and depression are also widely acknowledged for causing confusion in old age. Depression can also be a cause of memory failure. Memory problems can be caused by prolonged stress,” he says.

Often, an older patient may perceive these disorders as ‘old age’ or ‘senility’ and thus fail to seek appropriate medical treatment. However, the elderly should keep in mind that these are treatable disorders.

“The rapid onset of a confusional state should never be ignored or dismissed as hopeless senility,” Dr. Levy advises. Moreover, elderly people can move towards mental training and personal conditioning of the brain. There are a few ways that can help to stimulate and strengthen brain-cell connections. These may include:

• Cultivating interests in fresh new areas such as art, word games, crossword puzzles, or learning a new language.
• Recreational reading and regular quoting from the read materials to improve short-term and long-term memory and sharpen the mind.
• Recalling and relating bits of information such as news items.
• Interactions with a variety of people to avoid monotony.
• Usage of all senses to the largest possible extent.
• Use of the non-dominant hand (left hand if one is right-handed and vice versa) to operate single hand tools like the remote control or a tooth brush.

Depression in older people often remains undiagnosed or is misdiagnosed in totality. Admittedly, this is a result of prevailing misconceptions.

Old people are usually perceived as being prone to dejection and mood swings as they advance in age. This has made symptoms acceptable to many aging persons as a normal part of aging. However, this is not the case.

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Depression among the elderly is not a part of the normal aging process, the guide on mental challenges titled Treating the Elderly cites.

“The tragedy of depression in older patients is that the most treatable of all psychiatric illnesses is also the most lethal,” says Dr. Levy.

The degrees of depression vary among aged persons. For instance, an upsetting event may offer a sense of demoralization. Usually, the effects of this will wear out in a relatively short time.

However, if the depressed mood lingers and the elderly person has a general negative feeling, along with feelings of worthlessness, anxiety and anger, the effects can result into what doctors call low-grade chronic depression.

If not dealt with, this can progress to major depression. The most persistent emotion that is connected with major depression among the elderly is a deep sense of hopelessness.

An older individual may fear that he or she is no longer viewed as useful to his family or even community. Limitations that are due to poor health can easily contribute to feelings of inadequacy, and compulsory retirement may undermine their sense of self-worth.

Apart from seeking professional treatment, engaging in productive activities can fill any fundamental needs of an older person.

By concentrating on what he or she is able to perform rather than getting discouraged by what he or she can no longer do, an elderly person can retain a sense of self-worth and usefulness.

The World Health Organization recommends for a continuing growth through formal and informal learning, participation in community organizations and religious activities.

In the long run, such social involvement will provide a feeling of meaningfulness and fulfillment, and may also become a source of income.

If you have an elderly parent who is having health and social challenges, it might seem easy to decide to take them into your own home.

You may conclude that this will make their situation easy to manage. However, this type of decision can be counterproductive if it is rushed or based on emotions alone. Before you take them in, you may want to consider the following:

• What are her actual needs?
• Are there private or state-sponsored support services that offer an acceptable alternative solution?
• Do they want to move in with your family? If they do, in what ways will their lives be affected?
• How might such a move affect you, your marriage mate and your children?
• If there is needed assistant care, who will provide it? Can the responsibility be shared? What is the opinion of those directly involved?

It is important to preserve the dignity of your elderly one. This includes knowing when to show empathy and discerning when encouragement is needed.

Granted, the elderly may have emotional saps that can be more respectfully filled by their own friends or more elderly persons than yourself.

This means that you should consider the situation, to know where your input is needed and where that of an elderly member in the society is necessary. Recognize that like everyone else, older persons need love and reassurance – often desperately so.

They similarly need to feel valued, to know that their lives are worthwhile. However, allow your elderly one to make their own decisions to the most possible extent, especially where the matter at hand impacts them at a personal level.

Bear in mind that the less you try to control your elderly relative, the better your relationship with them will be. Also, every person craves for a sense of self-reliance and independence.

At the same time, set reasonable expectations for yourself. You must learn to balance the needs of your elderly parent, guardian or relative, and also of your spouse, children and yourself.