1.The elderly lonely aunt, a woman in her seventies, was frail, but during her hospitalization, she found that her relatives had not come to visit. Looking back on her life, she was a mother who gave silently. After getting married and having children at the age of 23, she has been the breadwinner of her family, juggling work and family, and working hard to care for her ailing husband.
After losing her husband at the age of 60, she resolutely left her hometown to live in a foreign country for 9 years in order to take care of her young grandson. During the hospitalization, the son came in a hurry, but there were more complaints and blames. The aunt expressed her understanding for the children, did not want to be a burden to them, and chose to face the old age life alone.
Unlike the aunt, there is also an old man who experiences a different kind of loneliness. Alone, he struggles to remain independent, but his conceit and loneliness eventually lead to alienation from those around him. The children are so focused on meeting his material needs that they ignore the importance of genuine communication with him. This old man's story illustrates the loneliness and estrangement that older people can face when they are with their loved ones.
After retirement, many people face a psychological gap in life. The glory and status of the past are gone, the network resources are reduced, and the social circle is shrinking. Some people choose to distance themselves from their relatives and friends in order to maintain their dignity and avoid facing an unchangeable reality. This psychological gap is also a common problem for the elderly in their later life, and everyone has different attitudes and ways of adapting to this change.
In the workplace, people maintain intimacy for their own benefit. However, after retirement, people may find that their relationships with friends and colleagues have changed with a change in status. Some people will be alienated and become former passers-by. This sudden change in relationships is also one of the challenges that older people often face in their later years, requiring them to re-examine their position and role in society.
Family relationships can also undergo fission in old age. Children's attitudes towards their parents and affection can be complicated for a variety of reasons. Some children may be disgusted, blamed, or even sent to a nursing home when their elderly parents are sick. This change in the family has brought more loneliness and psychological burden to the elderly. It also reflects the various challenges and distress that family relationships can face in old age.
When adjusting to a new state of life, some seniors choose to self-adjust. They may withdraw from social groups and live independent and free lives. However, this adjustment can come with feelings of loneliness and psychological burden. Seniors need to face changes in their networks and social circles after retirement, while finding new meaning and fulfillment in life. It's also a way for older people to positively face the challenges of later life.
The loneliness and psychological distress of the elderly in their later years is a matter of great concern in society. After retirement, changes in interpersonal relationships, fission in family relationships, and different attitudes towards loneliness all contribute to the complexity of the problem. Society needs more attention and care to help older people better cope with the challenges of later life.
The mental health of the elderly is not only an individual problem, but also a shared responsibility of society. We need to work together to provide a better living environment and support system for older people with a more caring and understanding attitude.