Understanding Myth and Reality About Elderly

In our society, it is common sense misconceptions and myths about the elderly, the elderly so much harm. Misguided is a false assumption and yet mistakenly pronounced and practiced anyway, so it's very harmful. In this case the aggrieved is the elderly, because it is a stigma (stigma) of the society and can affect people who actually have a concern to help the elderly. Misconception that often encountered in the community includes some of the following:

1. Elderly different from others
2. Elderly can not learn new skills and do not need education and training
3. Elderly difficult to understand new information
4. Elderly unproductive and a burden on society
5. Elderly helpless
6. Elderly can not make decisions
7. Seniors do not need love and not have sexual relations
8. Elderly do not enjoy life so can not rejoice
9. Elderly are weak, elderly, frail, ill or disabled
10. Seniors spend money for treatment
11. Elderly with dementia

In our society as the east with a very strong family culture; children, grandchildren and relatives of the elderly in general is not mind to accept the presence and the presence of elderly in the family. However, the wrong ideas as above can nevertheless affect family members in treating the elderly. This is what needs to be clarified so that it is not mistaken is prolonged and the need to find a way to promote understanding and correct understanding that the elderly have the same rights and obligations in accordance with the conditions, age, gender and social status in society. One way to reduce misunderstanding and wrong actions so that they can understand the elderly correctly is to look at the reality.

Elderly Different With Others

People who reach the stage of life's journey until they reach advanced age can be said to be a lucky person. They have received his life in a long time. In Indonesia, the government and senior management institutions, giving them the so-called benchmarks that are elderly who have reached the age of 60 years are represented by granting lifetime ID. But in developed countries were given more specific benchmarks: 65-75 years called old, 76-90 years old called - old and 90 years and over are called very old (WMRoan, 1990). Grouping these are theoretical means for scientific purposes but in reality for health care, social and so are not distinguished. Although the elderly are often given priority and facilities, for example, if a special plane to pieces, several attractions for visitors to give elderly free pass, at the airport or train station supplied counter / special roads for the elderly, it is not meant to discriminate elderly with others but rather to help smooth the services in accordance with the conditions and needs.

That the elderly should be respected of course we all agree. As the older east (read: older) is honored more than younger people. In older Javanese tradition as elders or elders are people who have a high honor and celebration when placed in a special place.

Elderly Can not Learn New Skills and No Need Education and Training

Reality in society, especially in universities that many seniors can complete their studies until the levels of S-2 or S-3, to compete with young people in an honest and objective. Even in the learning process along with the elderly it is often a model that provides motivation for his friends younger. It shows that the elderly can learn new skills as well as others, is only possible because of long practice and sometimes lack the confidence in his ability so take encouragement from others. For the elderly the drive and desire to learn new knowledge and skills is a matter of course, both the motivation to improve the quality of life and fills his spare time to be more productive and useful. The more knowledge and skills more and more elderly people are also things that can be donated to the community. This shows that the elderly are a source of knowledge and skills as well as excellent references and valuable, so it needs to be maintained. How to maintain it is to invite them to discuss, consult, ask questions and put the elderly as a resource in many areas of the loved and owned.

Based on the above facts are wrong when the elderly were considered unable to learn new knowledge and skills. Instead, they have remained a strong source of energy for learning, though it requires more motivator to convince that he is capable of. Erroneous view that older people are also saying that the elderly, frail, do not need to learn and practice, and not have to work, so it is recommended to take a break, feel-good, ongkang-ongkang leg at home. If the view is put into practice then it might sort of thing that will cause stress and distress and dispair (hopeless) in the elderly. It is a wise move if the family members continue to provide opportunities for seniors to conduct what he liked so while maintaining self-esteem, dignity and felt useful to others. In order for seniors to exist in families and communities that need education and training in terms of adjusting to the conditions and needs of personal and environmental demands.

Difficult Elderly Receiving New Information

In the elderly the opportunity to gain new information it is wide open, because it is relatively much spare time. Generally at this time are not required to work as hard as ever before. In the life of the elderly are generally hungry for new stories and new information, because they do not want to miss information than people who are younger. In fact we find that they are a lot of watching television, listening to the radio, reading newspapers, magazines or ask fellow seniors or younger people about about new things growing in the community. In fact seniors know better news from other people and are very pleased to deliver the news to his friends, as well as to younger ones. For the elderly that new information meant to stimulate cognitive function, affective functions and functions that make psikomotoriknya nerves continues to function normally.

Elderly and Being Unproductive Public Expense

Generally the elderly in developing countries and countries that do not have social security for old age, will continue to work to meet the demands of family life and provide for his dependents. So it is not entirely true to say unproductive elderly. In fact millions of people in this world work get paid, but there are also millions of people to work without getting paid as community leaders, scholars, teachers Koran, those who care for children, the sick, the disabled, the elderly, the very old, volunteer teachers and more. Both paid and that not all have a stake and contribute significantly in the development of society. Usually the elderly play its role as the people who work without getting paid but has a very important meaning in society because of the contributions of ideas and advice. In the process of aging itself they often find ways to appropriate and prudent in addressing the challenges faced. Therefore, it is not surprising that in many cases, the elderly are often the advisers are telling to address social problems in society. One thing to remember is that the very elderly need support or the support of family and community. Elderly is not a burden to the young, otherwise they often become role models for young people, for example, in manners, discipline, firmness of faith, honesty, spirit, and dignity.

Elderly Helpless

Not true argument that it is helpless elderly, because in reality the elderly still exist and continue to struggle for a better life. If an elderly person needs help he usually knows exactly what is reasonably necessary. They have a lot of experience in life, so that in everyday life we ​​often find that the elderly do not want to stay silent, there's all she wanted to do. Sometimes there are to be sluggish or resigned, they are generally elderly who in his youth has been depleted by heavy tasks and education levels are relatively low, resulting in a period of helpless elderly. To deal with such models elderly, the environment should always provide support and a sense of caring, so they do not feel left out and still have dignity. False is always accompanied elderly family members, prohibiting them to communicate with fellow seniors, forbade them to travel to a place for fear of exhaustion, and encourage the elderly to rest at home. Doing so will only worsen the condition of aging that result that they end up feeling helpless.

Elderly Can not Make Decisions For Life Himself

Everyone is sometimes difficult decisions. This applies to anyone, whether for young people or the elderly. However, this does not mean that older people can not make decisions for their own lives. Even the elderly as being honored, it is often used as a reference for the asked for advice by children, grandchildren and relatives, in making decisions. For example, a child or grandchild if they have grandparents, when will be holding a celebration would always ask for the blessing and nesehat in taking important decisions. Advice from parents who are elderly will be upheld and implemented by his descendants. Things to note that the elderly are able to take decisions for the benefit of life itself is often invited to discuss how new things and often ask for directions or petuahnya that he feels still exist and have confidence.

Elderly Do not Need Love and Sexual Relationships

Psychic functions well everyone cognitive, affective and conative (psychomotor), and combinations thereof, are contained in the body for life is still functioning. The process of thought, feeling and volition continue to function properly, especially when frequently stimulated regularly in life. Even relationships seksualpun keep running if they have a partner. Therefore, it is a wrong action if the elderly are encouraged to isolate themselves so as not to have a mind that is frustrating for him or troublesome desires of others. In order to keep burning passion elderly need to interact with young people to discuss, communicate or merriment. Unfortunately, often young people are not interested in doing that. However, when young people have a true understanding of the needs of the elderly and mental well-being willing to help them, should the young (especially family members) want to do good for the benefit of the elderly.

Elderly Not So Enjoy Life Can not Rejoice

Basically no one in the world had planned to stop having fun, unless that person is in a state of depression or distress. Everyone wants to live happy, happy and prosperous, including the elderly. Elderly now actually crave the pleasures of life in the old days. That is why since young people have been working hard, so that in old age pensions or savings are enough to enjoy old age. Hope it is a dream every person, so motivated to learn from elementary school through college and even now all racing to learn to S-3. It would endeavor to seek knowledge aiming to get a steady job, so it will have a prosperous old age, old age can enjoy life and be happy or elderly who can rejoice.

In order for the elderly to enjoy life in the old days so it can be joyful or happy, it needs the support of those close to them. This support is intended to allow elderly people can still carry out daily activities on a regular basis and not excessive. Support from kin may have been a suggestion that the elderly are warned not to work excessive (if the elderly are still working), provides the opportunity for seniors to make the activity a hobby, provide an opportunity for seniors to run properly worship, and give time a break enough to him so that the elderly are not easily stressed and anxious. It should be understood that once people reach older age, physical or mental, social is slowly changing, but it can be held that the change is not too perceived as obstacles in life. The changes that occur should not be a source of stress but to watch the periodic health examination. If people believe that he is healthy, then he will have a good passion for life and do not show excessive worry.

Weak Elderly, Elderly, Vulnerable, Sickly or Disability

It is not entirely correct notion that the elderly frail, elderly, frail, ill or disabled, because in fact many elderly are still handsome, still able to work hard and even many who still have an important position in an agency. Indeed, there is sometimes a frail elderly (easy to fall, easy to get sick) or ill or disabled but it applies to everyone, whether young people are also there who have such conditions. The health condition of people in the community according to current medical paradigm graduated from: more healthy, healthy, healthy sick (ill health), illness and disability (impairment â € "disability â €" handicap). Health conditions that apply both to children, adolescents, adults and the elderly, so it is actually not the elderly are sick or disabled, so that others can

Elderly Spend Money for Treatment

It is true that the elderly need to perform periodic health checks, but that does not mean that they are ailing. To maintain health would also require medication, but that does not mean exhaust the money for treatment. It should be understood that the way people live to the age of 70 upwards definitely sugar, salt and fat in the body is a lot more, so it's easy to be vulnerable to diabetes, stroke, heart or other. But everything will be controlled if people are diligent health check. Elderly who are aware of the conditions he must also be set to better their lives, such as excessive eating, dieting, do not do excessive activities, thus minimizing the occurrence of disease. Seniors generally know and understand themselves in maintaining and preserving the health of her that indicated a mild form of exercise diligent, diligent prayer and care for them.

Elderly Same With Senile

This view is wrong because not all older adults experiencing dementia (senile). This dementia is a disease (pathological) in the elderly, which is characterized by a decrease in short-term memory. In memory of human life will change with age, so that after a person becomes older he was quickly able to remember something, particularly something new. But the assumption that older people with dementia is a mistake. Many ways to adjust to changes in memory and a lot of things that affect human memory, at any age memory will be less sharp if the trsebut in a state of fatigue, stress, anxiety, worry, depression, pain or restless soul.

In order to keep the memory rapidly changing elderly do not frontally, because the physical condition and age, it should be avoided or at least reduced from things that can cause fatigue, worries, anxiety, emotional excitability, depression and pain. This is where the concerns of younger people is needed as a control so that the elderly do not do things that harm themselves.