[Aging
Changes]
Aging with a Disability
All of us are aging. We have no choice but to age. Think about the alternative... The key is not to avoid aging, but to age in such a way that we can still function and do the things we want. To maintain this function, we have to think about how we can stay healthy while we are aging.
As we get older, our bodies change in many ways. These changes can be physical, emotional, or social. If you have a disability, you must keep in mind that you will still have the effects of normal aging.
Many of the changes that occur as we
age may have an effect on the disability. In turn, the disability may
have an effect on aging. For example, people with certain conditions
such as spinal cord injuries or polio survivors can begin to show the signs of aging
earlier than those without disabilities. Some people with cerebral palsy
say they have an increase in spasticity as well as musculoskeletal, urinary and gastrointestinal
problems as they get older. It
is not always clear if these changes result from the disability itself or
from having a disability for a long
time.
Health
care providers who do not know about the effects of aging on a disability may
think that
vague and non-specific complaints are normal. This can
lead to problems if these symptoms are not treated and allowed to
get worse.
As a woman with a disability, you and your doctor or
nurse need to think about the
effect that aging may have on you,
given your disability.
This web page will discuss the issues that go along with
aging and their effects on women with
disabilities.
You can click on the topics on the top left of this page to find out more about the effects aging
may have on your disability. You will find ways to deal
with these changes so that you can
continue to function at your best.
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08/11/2003 12:52 PM