Young children and very elderly people represent opposite extremes of the life cycle, but their similarities are striking. All children are physically and mentally dependant on others. Likewise, many elderly people need assistance with eating and dressing. Just as a toddler cannot be left unsupervised at home, an older person suffering from dementia must be under constant watch. Both are apt to fall, although the danger for an elderly person is much greater than that for a child, whose extra padding protects him or her from injury.
Interestingly, however, the young and old possess more proportional body fat than a normal adult. Both groups are at greater risk for physical abuse, disease and illness, and all medication must be modified to fit their unique needs. Because the health concerns of children and elderly can be radically different from those of adults, medical practice for these patients has developed into two special branches, pediatrics and geriatrics.
Socially, children and senior citizens share a common plight, usually depending on others to get them out of a house. Elderly people who still work can face job discrimination, and many establishments have “no-children” policies. In addition, children and the elderly often find that their opinions do not hold as much weight in society as those of adults, and they frequently have decisions made for them.
Young children and very elderly people represent opposite extremes of the life cycle, but their similarities are striking. All children are physically and mentally dependant on others. Likewise, many elderly people need assistance with eating and dressing. Just as a toddler cannot be left unsupervised at home, an older person suffering from dementia must be under constant watch. Both are apt to fall, although the danger for an elderly person is much greater than that for a child, whose extra padding protects him or her from injury. Interestingly, however, the young and old possess more proportional body fat than a normal adult. Both groups are at greater risk for physical abuse, disease and illness, and all medication must be modified to fit their unique needs. Because the health concerns of children and elderly can be radically different from those of adults, medical practice for these patients has developed into two special branches, pediatrics and geriatrics. Socially, children and senior citizens share a common plight, usually depending on others to get them out of a house. Elderly people who still work can face job discrimination, and many establishments have “no-children” policies. In addition, children and the elderly often find that their opinions do not hold as much weight in society as those of adults, and they frequently have decisions made for them.
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