The New Age of Aging, American Seniors versus Nigerian Seniors

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - March 28, 2016 - PRLog -- In her article titled 'The New Age of Aging,' released on February 22/February 29, 2016 in the 'Longevity' issue of Time Magazine, Laura L. Carestansin of the Stanford Center on Longevity touched on several hurdles seniors confront in the twilight of their lives.

Americans now live into their eighties, nineties and beyond, she said.  With the increase in longevity come medical and financial woes. For example, the number of Americans who suffer from Alzheimer's disease could reach close to 14 million in 2050, and lots of seniors outlast their financial savings.

The article couldn't have come at a more auspicious time. I found it by chance while in search of contents for a new nonprofit organization to help elders in my hometown of Akokwa, in Nigeria.

Preparation for a comfortable old age should start early in life, counseled Ms Carestansin. However, early preparation for an anticipated long life is new to the human species, an inclination she blamed on an evolutionary tilt anchored on our previous short lifespan going back over many thousands of years.

Wrong choices in food habits or lifestyle made at a young age contribute to discomfort in old age.  Habits such as smoking and a sedentary lifestyle are the two primary culprits. Cigarette smoking leads to debilitating lung disease and lung cancer, while a sedentary lifestyle contributes to obesity, diabetes, and dementia.

If Americans could exercise more, save more and socialize more they could improve their opportunity for a better quality of life in their senior years.  Strong social ties among older people help reduce stress, boost confidence, and have a positive impact on the aging process. Furthermore, she said, early life education improves both the quality and the length of life.

What surprised me is the commonality of problems between seniors in America and their counterparts in Akokwa.

Ms Carestansin reminisced about how a farming lifestyle used to keep Americans in good physical shape. Not any more, she regretted. The decrease in farm work is as noticeable in the United States as it is in my hometown, and probably in the whole of Nigeria.

Eating habits in Nigeria have degenerated to match the American proclivity for fast food. Fried chicken has replaced vegetables, and fried chips and potatoes have replaced fruits. Sudden death, hitherto rare in rural Nigeria, is on the rise.

Globalization and subsequent migration, the author pointed out, take relatives and friends away from seniors.

Nowhere else is the consequence of social dislocation more abrupt and costly than in underdeveloped countries. Gone are the days when old African men and women could expect their children to provide the social security nets their parents once envisioned.

Americans view the challenges of their elders as a collective societal issue worthy of addressing.  Nigerians, on the other hand, still see the elder predicament as primarily a family responsibility, and hence do not have a unified approach.

Senior centers do not exist in my town, or in my local government area, or in Imo, my state of origin. Every day is a struggle for elders who do not have a caring, capable family member. Even when they do, relatives caring for elderly parents tire after a while and need respite.

Furthermore, nowhere is the absence of children and relatives more detrimental to the elders than in my hometown, and I guess by extension the whole of Nigeria.

When ankles begin to ache, and knees buckle, and backs grind to painful immobility, older people become even more vulnerable. The comparative prospect of dealing with these problems is like day and night in developed and developing countries.

Seniors in Nigeria lack money to hire aides. Social security benefits, as occur in the United States, are a fiction in Nigeria. Care falls squarely on the family, and in no time they become exhausted caring for their elderly relative.

Tied to the misery seniors suffer in Nigeria is the absence of electricity. They cannot turn on a light with the flick of a wall switch.  Too frail to strike a match and light candles, seniors grope their way to beds and bathrooms, risking falls, head and hip trauma.

It is good to note the increase in American longevity. But what about the rest of humanity, especially those living in perpetually poor countries, who are still at the precipice of extinction?

The problems seniors in both worlds face are similar in nature, although unfortunately there is no concerted effort to address the problems facing Nigerian elders. In both worlds, older people could use more socialization, more exercise, and more money at their disposal.

Canes for short distances, a safe environment, access to timely medical care, and help with ascent and descent on staircases are all interventions that could make dramatic changes in the life of elders in Nigeria.

No older person should struggle because family members are incapable of taking care of them. Our organization is doing the best we can, sending motivated staff to help elders with vital household chores and personal hygiene.

Our aim is to one day build a recreation center for seniors in Akokwa, Nigeria. A place where older people can interact with their peers, dance to traditional music, play board games, do light gardening, exercise and bequeath their wisdom to posterity.

Now that really would be something worth celebrating.

Assisting elders in my hometown, Akokwa, and across the Imo State of Nigeria is what our organization does. We hope you will support us. Your donations (http://www.eldershelpinghands.org/donation/) will help expand our services to benefit more seniors.

End.