While elderly people have accumulated much wisdom through their life experiences, it still doesn’t change the fact that aging can emotionally affect them. Seniors tend to feel they have made their share of mistakes in life and are usually quite cautious during their golden years. They also tend to live in the past, reflecting on their memories and who they once were, because they realize they may not be a part of the future for much longer.
The elderly are also experiencing the loss of the important role as parents to their children, as their own children have grown up, possibly moved away, and now have families of their own to care for. Perhaps their own children are even grandparents now. This can make the elderly feel as if their role in their children’s lives has somehow diminished.
Elderly people also experience the loss of very important relationships in their lives, as they may experience the death of a spouse, close friends or siblings. Physical attractiveness also begins to fade, and this can leave the elderly with feelings of low self-esteem, feeling they are not what they used to be.
Most elderly people have had to give up their careers through retirement because they can no longer work and compete with the younger generation. This can make an elderly person feel as if they are no longer useful and robs them of their sense of purpose.
Capabilities diminish, and the elderly person begins to realize they cannot see or hear as well as they used to. They may begin to view themselves as a “frail old person,” and start to limit their physical activity, which in reality only causes them to become more frail. As time goes on, the elderly become increasingly dependent upon other people, and this may make them feel they’ve lost control over their own life. They may also feel a loss of privacy and dignity.
If you have an elderly loved one in your life, make sure you let them know how much you value them and how important they are to you. Take the time to listen to them and even seek their advice on matters in your own life. Not only do they have much wisdom to impart since they have lived and loved longer than you, it will let them know they still have an important role to play in your life.
For more information on aging parents, please refer to the book As Parents Age: A Psychological and Practical Guide, by Joseph A. Ilardo, Ph.D., L.C.S.W.