According to the Maryland Department on Aging, in 2015, more than 18,000
residents of Calvert County were over the age of 60. In 2030,
that number is expected to increase 63 percent to nearly
30,000 residents.
Remaining independent as one ages is the number one
concern for seniors--with the goal being to stay in their own
homes. We asked Calvert Internal Medicine Group’s geriatric
specialist Dr. Jonathan Lowenthal for advice on what actions
individuals can take to maintain their independence.
There are two very obvious things that people need in order
to be independent: mental capacity and physical capacity.
Mental Capacity
“The mental capacity needed for independence is, for most of us, out of our control.
We can develop dementia, or we can develop other health issues that affect mental
capacity. Unless affected by alcoholism or substance abuse, our mental capacity to
live independently is not really under our control,” said Dr. Lowenthal.
The difference between age-related memory loss and forms of dementia in
part, relates to an individual’s capacity and awareness of problems with memory.
In the former, individuals are aware and tend to worry about memory; in the latter
one lacks insight of the problem.
“If, as an adult, you can’t remember why you walked into a room, or you lose
your keys, those things are not usually indicative of dementia,” said Dr. Lowenthal,
adding, “with dementia, a person can get very angry if a family member brings up
problems with memory.” When a patient doesn’t sense they have a memory
problem, it is more difficult because it is usually a more serious problem.
Physical Capacity
Although many people have limitations or disabilities as we age, in most cases we
have some control of our physical capacity.
“You really have to have a physical capability in order to live independently, and
in order to have the physical capability the human body has to stay active,” said
Dr. Lowenthal. “I tell all of my patients, even if they have a disability of some kind,
they will have the ability to remain physically fit.”
Transportation
The 2020 Calvert County Health Needs Assessment indicated the Baby Boomer
generation is the largest demographic in the county with nearly 50 percent of
those surveyed for the assessment noting transportation for seniors is a top
community issue.
“As physicians we cannot tell a patient ‘You cannot drive,’” said Dr. Lowenthal.
Physicians can make recommendations, but if someone refuses to hang up their
keys, and there is no family around or anyone to help prevent them from driving,
the only recourse is to contact the motor vehicle administration to assess a person’s
ability to drive.
“We’ve all seen an elderly driver do certain things that make you cringe, but there
are a lot of young people who do things that make you cringe, too,” said Dr. Lowenthal.
Community
Living independently also requires some level of community or family support, which
can be a problem for people who live in a rural area. According to Pew research, older
people are more likely to live alone in the U.S. than elsewhere in the world. Nearly 30
percent of adults in the U.S., age 60 and older live alone, nearly half in that age group
share a home with only one other person—a partner or a spouse. Even before the
pandemic, loneliness among seniors was a problem.
Loneliness affects up to 60 percent of older Americans and puts millions of
Americans age 50 and over at risk of poor health from prolonged loneliness, according
to a recent Harvard study.
“Loneliness has become a huge problem for the elderly. When you are 80 years
old and you live by yourself and you can’t get out, your quality of life and health really
suffers,” said Dr. Lowenthal.