Aging comes with a wide range of stereotypes and assumptions. The link between age and cognitive decline is one of the most common examples. It’s easy to assume that people become less capable as they age, that their ability to understand and reason naturally decreases.
We can even find ‘evidence’ if we look hard enough, like the way that short-term memory often decreases with age or how seniors sometimes struggle to pick up new concepts.
Despite these patterns, aging and cognitive decline aren’t as well linked as you might expect.
Instead, older adults learn and adapt in many different ways. They often remain fully competent throughout their lives. Many even embrace new concepts and technologies, becoming as engaged as individuals from younger generations.
Age and Cognitive Decline – The Implications for Caregiving
This topic is particularly relevant to caregiving – and for anyone with aging parents (even if they’re not in the caregiving role).
It’s very easy to assume the worst. We’re bombarded with messages about Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness. Most of us have little idea what dementia even looks like or which behaviors are perfectly ordinary as people age.
- For example, caregivers are often told to check their parents’ fridge and pantry for expired food. But, let’s be honest. Most of us have some expired food sitting around that we’ve forgotten about.
- Likewise, we all have limits to our short-term memory. Who hasn’t walked into a room and entirely forgotten what they planned to do?
This often creates a tendency to try and protect.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to protect the ones that you love. But, this form of protection often involves attempting to control areas of the senior’s life, areas where they may not actually need any help.
That pattern can have many negative impacts, like decreasing self-esteem or contributing to depression. It can also create a feedback loop, where seniors do less because they feel less capable. Doing less can contribute to a health decline over time, potentially decreasing the senior’s functionality.
Yet, in reality, many seniors retain their cognitive abilities – even in the face of physical challenges.
For example, some seniors remain teachers and writers well past the traditional retirement age, without any significant issues. Even seniors who need significant physical support may maintain full mental function.
Memory changes aren’t always bad anyway.
Seniors often experience decreases in short-term memory and fluid intelligence, while also experiencing increased crystallized intelligence. After all, seniors do have a lifetime’s worth of experience. It’s reasonable to expect their brains to behave differently than the when they were younger.
What You Can Do
Being aware of cognitive decline and symptoms of dementia are important patterns. There are also tests that can help determine whether a senior may be developing dementia.
It’s even more important to look for a balance. Don’t assume that a senior is cognitively limited simply because they are aging.
Focusing on their strengths is good for them and for you. It can help promote a healthier relationship, while also meaning less stress. This also means that you can focus on any areas where the senior does need help, rather than the ones where they do not.
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