MEDICAL SELF-CARE

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

Furthermore, in the interest of the institution's convenience, all civil rights—to privacy, sexuality, making phone calls, keeping one's own money and even one's clothes—often have to be surrendered at the door. There are a number of excellent facilities where the care is genuine . . . but most old-age homes are expensive, abominable places where food, sanitation, medical help, and—above all—the treatment of the inhabitants as people are totally inadequate. Therefore, most seniors view the nursing home with terror and disgust. They rightly see it as the anesthetic room at the door of the funeral parlor.

FERGUSON: Will you talk a little about the physical changes of aging?

COMFORT: It's a tragedy that the mind, which is itself unchanged by aging, has to live with the transformation of the physical body. It's like an involuntary change of dress, because the "wearers" may well not feel "old" . . . since few people who aren't sick or depressed do. But in our culture we often forget that there's a young person—the same person—inside. Older people are, in fact, young individuals inhabiting old bodies and are, worse yet, confronted with the physical problems of reduced vigor, changing appearance, and possibly specific disabilities that may affect such things as sight and agility.

FERGUSON: What sexual changes can we expect as we grow older?

COMFORT: Aging does affect human sexuality to some degree. However—compared with, say, its impact on running ability— the changes are functionally minimal and actually tend toward greater, if less acute, satisfaction for both partners. In the absence of two disabilities—actual disease and the belief that "the old" are or should be asexual—both the needs and the capacity are lifelong. And even if actual intercourse is impaired, other sexual needs persist . . . including the desire for closeness, sensuality, and feeling valued as a man or woman.

FERGUSON: Is there any other advice you could offer about growing older?

COMFORT: I strongly urge that people begin making plans for their later years at around 45... during that period we call middle age. This time is now quite commonly marked by an identity crisis similar to that of adolescence. Some people react with depression or illness . . . some by thrashing about or by breakaway actions, such as taking a new job or new mate. But, as is the case with adolescence, some of this midlife turmoil can be put to constructive use. I would certainly encourage anyone planning to retire to have a second-string area of work in mind . . . not necessarily paid work, but something he or she really wants to do.

I would also encourage people to continue their education. Contrary to folklore, there's no change in the ability of healthy people to learn, up to and beyond the ninth decade of life. There's strong evidence that, as with other capacities, using the mind helps to preserve it.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print