Factors that influence ageing
There are lots of different factors that affect the ageing process in individuals. Some of these
factors include the individual’s health and wellbeing, whether they are socially isolated or not,
any changes they face in later life, changes and diseases the individual will face due to their
age, and people’s attitudes. This essay will explain how and why these different factors affect
the ageing process.
Old age is usually defined as when somebody is over the age of 60 or 65. Old age is the last
life stage in most people’s lives, before they pass away (www.britannica.com). Life expectancy
within the UK is predicted to rise to 85.7 years in baby males and 87.6 years in baby females
that are born in 2030. Living to the age of 90 is expected to be the norm in some wealthy areas
of the United Kingdom by 2030. This statistic was predicted because of the improvement of
public health (www.nhs.co.uk). Because of this, society will be affected as taxes will have to be
increased to support the elderly in retirement for example, and if people remain working
throughout old-age, it will be harder for the younger generation to get jobs and houses, as
they will still be occupied. However, it will mean that they will be able to spend more time with
their family and will be a lot more common to have your great-grandmother/father still around
as they watch you grow up.
Health and wellbeing
In 1946, the World Health Organisation said that "a state of complete physical, mental, and
social wellbeing and the absence of disease or infirmity." i.e. not having any physical or mental
faults and remaining social with no issues (www.ageuk.org.uk). Health and wellbeing is an
important factor that influences ageing both positively and negatively, depending on the
person. If an ageing person possesses good health, it will result in their life expectancy being
increased because they don’t suffer from conditions such as diabetes, which increases the
individual’s risk of stroke and heart disease. If the individual has good mental health and
wellbeing, they will be generally happier and will not feel so sad about becoming older and
coming to the end of their life. Socially, health and wellbeing will help to ensure that the ageing
individual remains socially active and stays in good contact with friends and family members.
This way, they will have a slower progression of health declines over those ageing people who
do not remain their social interactions (www.cfah.org). By having a good health and wellbeing as
you age, it helps to ensure that they can continue to learn new information and not becoming
intellectually disconnected. If their brain is healthy, they won’t have problems with their
memory and cognitive skills.
Social Isolation
Social isolation is when the individual cuts themselves off from society and becomes secluded.
This could be because they do not have the opportunities and abilities to be social, or it could
be because they feel like a burden for example, and feel it is the best thing to do for the people
around them. Becoming socially isolated could lead to the individual affecting their physical
health, as they may begin to put on a lot of weight if they are not getting out a lot and not
getting any exercise. This could contribute to weight related conditions such as high blood
pressure or cancer (www.mediweightlossclinics.com). Emotionally, social isolation will result in the
person becoming lonely and depressed – they may feel empty, and feel like they have not
There are lots of different factors that affect the ageing process in individuals. Some of these
factors include the individual’s health and wellbeing, whether they are socially isolated or not,
any changes they face in later life, changes and diseases the individual will face due to their
age, and people’s attitudes. This essay will explain how and why these different factors affect
the ageing process.
Old age is usually defined as when somebody is over the age of 60 or 65. Old age is the last
life stage in most people’s lives, before they pass away (www.britannica.com). Life expectancy
within the UK is predicted to rise to 85.7 years in baby males and 87.6 years in baby females
that are born in 2030. Living to the age of 90 is expected to be the norm in some wealthy areas
of the United Kingdom by 2030. This statistic was predicted because of the improvement of
public health (www.nhs.co.uk). Because of this, society will be affected as taxes will have to be
increased to support the elderly in retirement for example, and if people remain working
throughout old-age, it will be harder for the younger generation to get jobs and houses, as
they will still be occupied. However, it will mean that they will be able to spend more time with
their family and will be a lot more common to have your great-grandmother/father still around
as they watch you grow up.
Health and wellbeing
In 1946, the World Health Organisation said that "a state of complete physical, mental, and
social wellbeing and the absence of disease or infirmity." i.e. not having any physical or mental
faults and remaining social with no issues (www.ageuk.org.uk). Health and wellbeing is an
important factor that influences ageing both positively and negatively, depending on the
person. If an ageing person possesses good health, it will result in their life expectancy being
increased because they don’t suffer from conditions such as diabetes, which increases the
individual’s risk of stroke and heart disease. If the individual has good mental health and
wellbeing, they will be generally happier and will not feel so sad about becoming older and
coming to the end of their life. Socially, health and wellbeing will help to ensure that the ageing
individual remains socially active and stays in good contact with friends and family members.
This way, they will have a slower progression of health declines over those ageing people who
do not remain their social interactions (www.cfah.org). By having a good health and wellbeing as
you age, it helps to ensure that they can continue to learn new information and not becoming
intellectually disconnected. If their brain is healthy, they won’t have problems with their
memory and cognitive skills.
Social Isolation
Social isolation is when the individual cuts themselves off from society and becomes secluded.
This could be because they do not have the opportunities and abilities to be social, or it could
be because they feel like a burden for example, and feel it is the best thing to do for the people
around them. Becoming socially isolated could lead to the individual affecting their physical
health, as they may begin to put on a lot of weight if they are not getting out a lot and not
getting any exercise. This could contribute to weight related conditions such as high blood
pressure or cancer (www.mediweightlossclinics.com). Emotionally, social isolation will result in the
person becoming lonely and depressed – they may feel empty, and feel like they have not
