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Seniors and Social Issues

Seniors and Social Issues Explained

Seniors and Social Issues Explained

As an individual ages, he/she not only suffers from the deterioration of his/her mental and physical health, but he/she is often at the center of numerous social issues that surround the elderly. In many cases, elderly individuals lose the majority of their privileges and are stripped of their independence. This often has serious implications for an individual’s psychological health, as it limits his/her ability to take part in the activities that he/he once enjoyed.

A common misconception regarding the elderly is that they maintain a very minimal social existence. Human beings are social creatures, regardless of their age, and therefore, it is important that they maintain the ability to socialize with other people.

However, as an individual’s health continues to deteriorate, he/she may slowly lose the ability to socialize and may be confined to his/her home. Often, elders who are enduring the aging process suffer from depression, coupled with the inhibition to ask for assistance completing important tasks. In some instances, medical conditions will cause an elder to suffer from severe pain and discomfort.

Extensive debate has arisen regarding the best way to address these social issues.In a world that full of prejudice and discrimination, it is difficult for any individual to admit that he/she is gay. This is true regardless of his/her race, ethnicity, or age. However, gay seniors often experience problems and complications that the younger generation does not have to address. In general, the younger generations are more accepting and open-minded than their elders.

Elderly individuals grew up being taught that homosexuality is unacceptable and immoral. In many cases, they have been conditioned to perceive this practice to be abominable.Therefore, it is often difficult for gay seniors to confide in their friends and family about their sexuality. They often face more severe and frequent discrimination than younger individuals, because their peers are generally less accepting of homosexuality. One of the primary concerns faced by gay seniors is the lack of legal and financial protection that they are offered in comparison with heterosexual couples.

Understanding Prescription Drug Abuse Misuse

Understanding Prescription Drug Abuse Misuse

Most people are aware that illicit drug
experimentation and prescription drug misuse is a common practice within the
young adult population. Data suggests that at least half of the teenage
population will experiment with illegal drugs before they graduate from high
school. Despite this accepted realization, most individuals fail to recognize
the harmful issue of elderly drug misuse. Statistics indicate that prescription
drug abuse is a widespread problem within the elderly population. Whether done
intentionally or through accidental misuse, a large portion of the elder
population has partaken in prescription drug abuse or drug misuse.

These
improper uses of drugs can have extremely damaging effects on an individual’s
mental and physical health. Despite the severe consequences associated with
substance abuse, many medical professionals fail to confront elders about their
behavior. Some elderly individuals will employ extraordinary techniques in
order to ensure that they are able to obtain desired prescriptions and continue
their drug misuse. If this habit is not addressed, it may result in serious
medical complications and possibly death.

In many cases, elders are partaking in drug misuse without the conscious
knowledge that they are doing so. Elderly individuals are often left to their
own devices when it comes to regularly taking their prescription medications,
and what’s more, it is common for elders to loathe the thought of asking for
help. In most cases, they have already been stripped of a substantial portion
of their rights and privileges. Maintaining control of their day-to-day
activities is one way in which elders preserve a small portion of their
independence and control.

However, the reticence to ask for help may be
detrimental to an individual’s well-being, especially when it comes to
ingesting prescription drugs. One common complication that often results in
elder drug misuse is the failure to follow the specified instructions. Whether
an individual has purposely disregarded the instructions or has misread them,
this mistake may be fatal. For example, if an elder overdoses on medication
used to treat high blood pressure, his/her heart may slow and may eventually
stop beating, and he/she may stop breathing.

Overdosing on this and similar
medication can cause an individual to go into shock. Mixing various forms of
medications may also result in adverse medical consequences for the user. It is
essential for an individual to consult his/her physician before mixing any
types of medication. Likewise, if an individual is unsure about specified
instructions, he/she should ask for assistance.

Though accidental drug misuse is a widespread problem within the elder
population, prescription drug abuse is also a common and extremely dangerous
practice that is plaguing elders. The reasons that elders choose to engage in prescription
drug abuse vary a great deal depending on an individual’s specific
circumstances.

Regardless of the factors that lead to this dangerous behavior,
prescription drug abusers will often undertake extreme measures to generate the
means necessary to continue this practice. An individual may visit numerous
doctor’s offices in order to obtain multiple prescriptions to fuel his/her prescription
drug abuse problem. In many cases, physicians may expect an elder is abusing
drugs and fail to address the situation.

Often, physicians feel uncomfortable
confronting elderly patients about drug abuse and they often maintain the
mentality that elders should be permitted to do what brings them joy or
comfort, regardless of the harm they may cause. However, allowing this behavior
to continue may result in more severe medical complications, extensive medical debts
, and premature
death.

Quick Overview to Volunteering Employment

Quick Overview to Volunteering EmploymentAs individuals age, they
continue to require financial support in order to attain necessities and pay
their debts. Many individuals spend their entire lives saving for retirement,
and these individuals generally maintain the ability to retire comfortably and
securely. Employees are often provided with a pension plan
retire prematurelyage
discrimination



Assisted Suicide

Assisted Suicide

Euthanasia, or assisted suicide, is a subject that is currently at the center of intense debates in the United States. While suicide is no longer considered to be a crime, doctor-assisted suicide is illegal in the majority of states. It is common for people to fear death and to hope that further medical advances will allow them to remain alive for longer periods of time. However, individuals that are suffering from terminal illnesses These situations have sparked intense argument about the morality of assisted suicide. Some would argue that as long as they do not endanger another human being, individuals have the right to determine how to live their lives, and likewise, when and how to end their lives. As noted, if an individual wishes to prematurely end his/her life through suicide, there is no legislation prohibiting this behavior. 
However, in the large majority of states, assisted suicide is strictly prohibited, and individuals responsible for providing this assistance will be held criminally liable. Offenders who have led assisted suicide will usually face murder charges, despite the fact that their actions were only employed at the requests of the victim, with the sole intention to end his/her suffering. Individuals who support doctor-assisted suicide further argue that patients illnesses’ often strip them of the physical ability to end their lives with dignity. Supporters assert that no individual should be required to regularly suffer through intense pain when there is no chance of him/her being cured or ever reestablishing what he/she perceives to be a suitable quality of life. However, individuals that oppose doctor-assisted suicide argue that it is the duty of human beings to preserve and protect human life, and assisting in the destruction of human life would be immoral and unethical. 
Another serious issue that is often addressed during this debate is the obligation that laws permitting assisted suicide would place on doctors. Many doctors would not be able to cope with the idea of taking another individual’s life, or would be altogether morally opposed, and thus requiring them to do so would be unfair and unjust.  A few states, such as Oregon and Washington, have legalized doctor-assisted suicide; however, there are strict conditions governing this practice. In general, in order for a doctor to escape criminal culpability, a patient would be required to verbally ask the doctor for assistance to die and also provide a declaration of his/her wish in writing. Despite the strict laws that regulate doctor-assisted suicide, there will likely always be individuals who oppose this practice, and therefore, this procedure will continue to be argued over.