Something So Simple Can Be Devastating for Your Health

I’ve really enjoyed talking to a bunch of you recently on Zoom calls. You’ve really helped me understand what you’re going through with taking care of an elderly parent or relative at home.

Some of these emails I send out now will be because of you. Thank you for that.

This one comes from Susan - a long-time physical therapist. Thanks Susan!

It has to do with a problem that is very prevalent in elderly people. It can also affect people of any age.

That is..embarrassment.

Embarrassment about your health. Or your looks. Or your finances. Or anything else in your life. I will concentrate on elderly people. However, you can see it in young people as well.

Ever heard of filters on Instagram? You can take your picture and make yourself look a whole lot better before blasting it out to the world via the internet. Maybe because you’re embarrassed at the way you look?

It’s easy for elderly people to be embarrassed. Maybe their memory is not so good. They forget to pay for an item before leaving a store. They realize they are forgetting to take their medications and don’t want to admit they’re slipping.

Also nobody wants to admit they are growing old.

“I can still do things today I could do 20 years ago” we often like to tell ourselves.

But..you can’t. That’s the nature of old age.

Sometimes you need a cane or a walker to help prevent falls. You need to go to the dentist to have your teeth cleaned periodically.

Don’t be embarrassed about needing some assistance walking. Or if the teeth don’t look so good. Get them fixed.

Falls can lead to lots of other problems. Dental decay can contribute to dementia and other chronic diseases.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m all about fighting every day for your health. You don’t have to just accept your condition. You should do everything you can to improve it.

Part of improving it though, is admitting you have a problem. Like alcoholics admitting they have a problem before the healing begins.

Caregivers also need to be aware of someone’s embarrassment. Or friends. Someone needs to notice when others are not as sharp as they used to be. Or they seem more withdrawn. They need to help create an environment where it’s perfectly ok to talk about issues without embarrassment.

One way to help is to let your elderly parent, relative or just friend at any age know you’re not perfect either. You have health issues, embarrassing stories or maybe are struggling with some issue.

Even if you’re just addicted to Diet Coke.

Because once the issue is out in the open, it becomes a whole lot easier to work on. And possibly to fix.

And many times when people get these issues off their chest, they just feel better for confessing it.