Meaning of Wellness with Chronic Illness

Chronic disease refers to the long-term healthcare conditions which threaten well-being and functions in a continuous, episodic and progressive way for many years. Living for Many years with chronic disease is nowadays common and presents a progressing threat not only to people’s fitness but also to the country’s social and economic welfare (Doran, 2014). Therefore, wellness with chronic illness means that an individual lives relatively healthy but still has some complications. Since chronic diseases do not go away, the victim should take a new stance and actively choose to adjust lifestyles or options of creating a meaningful, happy life.

Consequences of Pain in Older Adults

Pain is one of the common complaints among the senior members of the community.  The increasing number of people older than 65 years has to lead to rising frailty and chronic disease which is linked to pain. Thus, care doctors are faced with significant trials in pain management for adults. The aging adults are most likely to suffer disease such as cancer, arthritis, and bone or joint ailments as well as various chronic disorders associated with aching (Aggarwal et al., 2014). Additionally, the consequences of pain undertreatment harm the health and quality of life for the elders and results in anxiety, sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment, depression, social isolation, and immobility.

Age-Related Changes Affecting Psychological and Cognitive Functioning

Understanding age-related changes in cognition are crucial due to the growing population of the elderly as well as the importance of perception in maintaining effective communication and functional independence with other people. The most critical cognition changes with normal aging involve declining performance on cognitive tasks and require one to fast transform or process information for decision-making including working memory, measuring processing, speed together with executive cognitive function (Aggarwal et al., 2014). For instance, experiential skills and cumulative knowledge are well maintained into advanced age. Besides, structural and functional changes in the brain are linked with age-related cognitive changes like loss of synapses, alterations in neuronal structure and dysfunction of neurons.

References

Aggarwal, N. T., Wilson, R. S., Beck, T. L., Rajan, K. B., De Leon, C. F. M., Evans, D. A., &Everson-Rose, S. A. (2014). Perceived stress and change in cognitive function among adults aged 65 and older. Psychosomatic Medicine, 76(1), 80.

Doran, N. J. (2014). Experiencing wellness within illness: exploring a mindfulness-based approach to chronic back pain. Qualitative health research, 24(6), 749-760.