What Happens When the Elderly Are Not Taken Care of Properly?

Age and disease can take away freedom and independence from senior citizens and make them dependent on others for their everyday care. This puts seniors' welfare into the hands of either family members or an outside caregiver. Understand the consequences of not properly taking care of an elderly person in order to best safeguard their health and well-being.

Weight Loss

• Some elderly people will suffer from involuntary weight loss due to psychosocial, medical and age-related factors. Without careful supervision, the weight loss can become extreme. An elderly woman may have difficulty remembering what her food intake should be, and needs watchful oversight to make sure she is eating enough. An elderly man may have difficulty swallowing, and will choose not to eat due to the challenge. When food intake decreases, it not only causes weight loss, but also can result in an increase in falls, altered mental status, loss of consciousness, fragile bones and numerous other health problems.

Problems With Medication

• Receiving the correct medication is crucial to optimal health for the elderly.

  Some elderly people are not able to take their medication independently. If an elderly person has a serious medical condition, it is critical that she receive the medication at the right time and correct dosage. Failure to take the prescribed medications as directed could lead to catastrophic problems including loss of appetite, digestion problems, altered mental status, seizures, breathing difficulty and death. These problems are serious and life-threatening if the elderly person is not taken care of appropriately.

Bedsores or Pressure Sores

• Bedsores can occur in individuals who are unable to change positions while sitting or lying down. These sores can be very painful and difficult to treat. If an elderly person is bed- or wheelchair-bound, he needs to be repositioned frequently---failure to do so will result in sores. These sores can range from topical sores to deep tissue decay. They can also be caused by incontinence and a lack of being changed regularly, sweat, friction and skin breakdown.

Death

• Death can occur from any or a combination of the above problems. However, an elderly person may also die naturally, and her death does not necessarily mean that she was not taken care of properly. To prevent any form of untimely death, consult your physician, social worker, physical therapist and other healthcare professionals with any questions regarding the care of an elderly person.