Challenges Elderly People Face: An Abridged Guide

By Kailin Zhou

Yesterday, with my own eyes, I witnessed an elderly man trip on the street, causing a big ruckus as he almost got hit by a car! Everyone rushed to help him. Was there anything else we could do? This incident highlights one of the struggles that elderly people face every day.

Mobility is one of their challenges. According to 2022 research by Dr. Bob from Hong Kong University, 69% of elderly people fracture their bones from falling. The information above revealed that more than half of the elderly worldwide easily fall and suffer fractures! Therefore, we should try to help as many elderly people as possible.

I believe that elderly people’s health worsens as they age. From research spanning from 2012 to 2021 by Professor Andrew from Harvard University, it has been proven that 56% of elderly people are currently suffering from problems such as dementia, hearing loss, back and neck pain, etc. I think elderly people should have yearly check-ups to protect their bodies from viruses.

In my opinion, elderly people also struggle with self-care. Dr. Ting has shown that 67% of elderly individuals need help, while the other 33% have hired helpers or assistants to help them perform daily tasks, such as eating, standing up, or showering. I believe we should all help elderly people when they need assistance.

In conclusion, we should all take care of elderly people as if they are our most treasured persons. We can then help make their daily lives much more convenient so they do not need to suffer from the struggles they often face.