Susan Drysdale, PhD

Senior Citizen Issues

Seniors must deal with all the issues that other adults face. But we also have to deal with problems associated with our age and stage of life. For example many senior citizens have to cope with various chronic medical conditions. We need to learn how to weave the life adjustments these illnesses entail, into the fabric of our lives.

Senior citizens encounter more than their share of losses: of family, friends, careers, pets, homes, etc. Seniors have no choice but to cope with grief at various times. We need to learn how to adjust to experiencing intense emotions, how to form new networks, and how to deal with loneliness. Along with this, existential concerns are also significant for many seniors, since we can no longer escape the reality of finite time. We can work to find solutions.

More than any other age group, seniors need to learn how to take care of our bodies, minds, and spirits. We need to understand the importance of making exercise, healthy eating, and routine physician visits a part of our lifestyle. We need to work at keeping the mind as sharp as possible by learning new skills or growing in some new direction. Also, research has shown that people who have some type of spiritual practice (e.g. prayer, meditation, or church attendance) in their lives are generally healthier and happier than those who don’t.

In addition to taking care of ourselves, many seniors have caregiving responsibilities for other family members. We may be involved with the care of partners, parents, and sometimes adult children who are not fully independent. We are faced with a difficult balancing act: caring for others as well as dealing with our own personal needs.

The counseling office provides a safe place, where as a senior, you can learn to make peace with the uncontrollable facets of your life. You may also discover that growth and change are still possible and also that there are actually some advantages to growing older (e.g. worrying less about the opinions of others and increased wisdom).