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 Centre for Addictionand Mental Health |
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The Nature of AgingResponding to Older Adults with Substance Use, Mental Health and Gambling Challenges On this page:
Some say an older adult is anyone over 55 years old; others say it is anyone over 60 or 65. No matter where the starting line is drawn, the age of older adults spans up to 70, 80, 90, even 100 years or more. Older adults can be many years apart in age, with very different backgrounds and experiences. No two lives are the same, and no two older adults are the same. However, people experience some common changes and challenges as they grow older. As people age, there are natural changes to the body and mind. For example:
Certain health problems are more common among older adults. The older people who need your help are more likely to be frail or to have other health problems. These include:
Physical health, emotions and behaviour Physical health problems can also affect a person's emotions and behaviour. For example:
It's often difficult to know why an older person behaves in ways that seem odd or challenging. It's especially difficult if you don't know the person well and only see him or her for short periods of time. Even if you do know the person well, there can be more than one explanation for the behaviour. Often only a doctor can determine the cause. For example, illness, a substance use problem, a mental health problem or a combination of these factors may cause:
It's important to understand that the cause of these behaviours may not be part of the natural aging process. For example, the cause could be:
Each of these areas will be explored in this booklet. But first, try the quiz in the Aging Myths and Facts section to check your knowledge of aging.
In Responding to Older Adults : 1 The Nature of Aging 2 Substance Use, Mental Health and Gambling Challenges in Older Adults |
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Last updated: Dec 15, 2006 11:30 AM Published: Oct 10, 2008 8:01 PM ID#P18558 |