Final answer:
With the onset of old age, typically around the mid-60s, individuals may experience physical decline, including weaker muscles, slowed reflexes, and a less robust immune system, while societal shifts can lead to feelings of isolation and financial hardship. The elderly population faces challenges with chronic health conditions, cognitive decline, and the risk of mistreatment or abuse.
Step-by-step explanation:
As individuals transition into old age, typically starting in the mid-60s, a variety of changes and challenges can impact their quality of life. Physiologically, muscle strength declines, reflexes slow down, and the immune system becomes less efficient, leading to a higher susceptibility to illnesses like the flu and a greater risk for serious conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and cognitive impairments, including Alzheimer's disease. Social challenges also arise; older adults often face issues such as ageism, loneliness, and a potential increase in dependency due to physical frailty, which can result in mistreatment or abuse. Furthermore, financial constraints may hinder their quality of life as the elderly might live on fixed incomes post-retirement.
The impact of age can manifest in various ways, from the need for more intensive healthcare due to chronic health conditions to cognitive decline with fewer brain cells, resulting in conditions like Alzheimer's. In addition to health concerns, societal shifts have seen elderly individuals living apart from extended family, increasing feelings of isolation and altering familial support structures. The growing elderly population, including the Baby Boomer cohort, is also influencing the organization of social institutions, with increased demands for housing, elder care, and assisted living facilities alongside ongoing concerns about elder abuse.