Health in later life(health promotion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Health in later life(health promotion - Essay Example Despite knowing how to prevent diseases and promote well-being, the difficulty of health promotion really lies on transferring it in a manner that can be readily used by its target population (World Health Organization, 1986). After identifying the physical, psychological, financial and social changes associated with aging, this study focuses on discussing health promotion’s importance, methods and issues, in terms of it being directed to the elderly population. It should be noted that with the advancements in medicine, life expectancy has been continuously increasing dramatically (Schoeni, Freedman and Wallace, 2005). Statistics show that certain diseases, such as cancer and heart diseases, are more prevalent among the elderly. Physiologic aging causes changes in taste sensation, bone and muscular weakness, resulting in a loss of appetite, poor nutrition and decrease in mobility (Saxon, Etten and Perkins, 2009). In fact, muscle strength decreases by 15% per decade for those older than 50 and by 30% for those aged 70 and above, primarily due to sarcopenia, or loss of muscle mass, which is common among women than men (Nied and Franklin, 2002). Limitations in activities of daily living had been found to decrease life expectancy by almost three years (Lubitz, et al., 2003). Malnutrition contributes to weaker immune system, making them more at risk of acquiring infections such as high-risk community acquired pneumonia (Saxon, Etten and Perkins, 2009). Financial status is also an issue for the elderly, because they are usually retired or unemployed, limiting their resources (Naduva, 2007). In addition, those with difficulties in activities of daily living have an expected cumulative expenditure greater by almost $10, 000 than those without functional disability. Those who were admitted in institutions also spend considerably greater than those