I was looking through the classifieds while sipping coffee at my local coffee shop. Yes, the classifieds in an honest-to-God newspaper. I’m also one of those people who still types her letters on a typewriter—unironically. But that’s beside the point. I was sifting through the classifieds because in my spare time I like to do commissioned work for the elderly. They happen to be the only ones who still subscribe and write to the actual newspaper. As I was perusing past the “clean my house’s” and “walk my pampered pooch’s,” something caught my eye:

Did you know that 7 out of 10 seniors have stability issues and actually fear they will lose balance and accidentally fall? To some, the fear of falling may seem trivial. Yet to the 65+ age group, this can be a stressful thing.

Perceptions of aging influence societal behaviours and expectations towards Older People as well as older adults’ well-being and coping with the aging process.

THE WELFARE OF OLDER PERSONS IN ZAMBIA

Heart failure in Older Patients

The Zambian ELDERLY Makers, Planners, Politicians, and Service Providers too need to be educated so that they can view the elderly positively. They need to understand the ageing process in this Nation if we are to provide for our Senior Citizen’s needs in Communities, and perceive them as fellow human beings with common feelings and needs as others. Work Job opportunities through sheltered workshops and cottage industries where the elderly can work at their own pace assisting the elderly to adjust themselves to new job situations. Zambia, as we move into industrialisation, should tap the wealth of experience and wisdom accumulated over the decades by the elderly, especially the professionals and top management personnel. This will be of mutual benefit to the elderly and the Nation at large. Health Care Primary prevention should not be directed solely at the elderly but also at all other age groups as well, so that the benefits gained when young will facilitate healthy ageing in later years. Healthy ageing depends on health promotion, and disease and injury prevention. A healthy lifestyle is an important thrust of health promotion. Good health maintenance in early life and later years via a healthy lifestyle, avoidance of smoking and alcohol, prudent diet, and regular exercise can help the social and cultural life of the elderly, including fewer physician visits, and fewer medications taken. Health education and counseling must be provided at all opportunities that ageing is not a disease, and that early treatment can prevent disability. Regular and planned fitness programmes are important not only in primary prevention but also in tertiary prevention during rehabilitation after chronic disease has occurred e.g. stroke, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases.

Getting older is a double-edged sword. The potential is there for great wisdom, expanded opportunities, and a comfortable life. But at the same time, your health can begin to decline if you don’t take care of yourself properly. As you age, you will also inevitably undergo physical changes like wrinkles and hair loss. There is no avoiding getting older, but that doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to a reduced quality of living as you age. By taking a few precautions, however, you can set yourself up to age with grace and dignity, ensuring that your best years will never be behind you.

Losing your hair sucks, but it’s a common ailment that affects an increasing percentage of adults. While hair loss is commonly associated with old age, it affects a significant number of younger adults as well. An estimated forty percent of men will experience hair loss by the time they reach their mid-thirties. While much more common in men, hair loss also affects women. Permanent or temporary hair loss is especially prevalent in women over the age of forty and women who have recently given birth. Regardless of age or gender, however, hair loss is often a cause for concern in anyone affected by it. Thankfully, modern medicine provides numerous options for those looking to restore their full head of hair, from topical medications to laser therapy to hair transplant surgery.

I’m sure you’re familiar with the old adage: the best offense is a good defense. Likewise, the most effective way to stave off hair loss is to take preventative measures before you begin to lose your hair. Bad habits such as drinking and smoking can cause you to begin going bald at a much younger age. The same is true for a poor diet and poor hygiene in general. But even with a healthy lifestyle, male pattern baldness is a near-inevitability for most men. Two-thirds of men will begin losing their hair by their 35th birthday. By the age of fifty, a staggering 85% of men will experience visible hair loss.

Being a young twenty something - it’s not the easy roller coaster you’re probably thinking it is. I can just imagine the thirty somethings rolling their eyes (yes, I am speaking to you). Yeah, yeah, I get it, we don’t have wrinkles, a house full of mouths to feed or a mortgage that requires us to make decisions based around “said” responsibilities.

While getting older can be scary, there are plenty of ways to age in a healthy and active way—but it's important to act sooner rather than later. So whether you're worried about your own aging or your parents, here are a few simple tips to help.