Now, let me tell you, the origin of the topic above. An old friend and a colleague, a fellow retired Permanent Secretary came to my hospital in Umuahia two weeks ago. He wanted to know if he could go home and bring his father, to the hospital for review. The father had come from the village the previous day. When I asked what was wrong with his dad, he said, and I quote, “my dad is suffering from old age”. I was mad. “Come again?” I shouted. “Are you out of your mind. Your father is suffering from old age. Please tell me, what illness is that? For your your information – old age is not an illness!. I now exploded, and with expletives, I gave him a piece of my mind. When he saw I was very hurt by his choice of words. He apologised profusely, and said he was only cracking a joke.
We know as we age baring any complications from chronic illnesses like hypertension, diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, majority of people age fine, but some manifest diminished functions, appropriate for that age. So my duty in these two-part-serial expositions, is to let elderly people know, what diminished functions are appropriate and normal for each age, so that if it deviates from expectations, they would alert their doctors.
What are the expectations of ageing and the society?
1) ♥ According to research on “Man’s Body”, by the “Diagram Group”, changes in temperament and behaviour in old people may be accepted as inevitable. But how far they are really due to neurological and mental deterioration is often hard to judge. The changes may rather be a psychic reaction to the person’s social, psychological, and physical situation.
2) ♥ Old age often brings with it, a dramatic change in a person’s experience of life. a) Declining physical ability and efficiency. b) Perhaps involving being looked after by others. c) The end of the working life. And d) Isolation, due to the disappearance of work contacts, family, mobility, and death of friends – all these can affect an old person’s self-esteem, and lead to depression and melancholia.
3) ♥ Old people find that they have no role to fulfil, and no social label or way of identifying themselves, other than by that derogatory term, “old man or woman”. The associated stereotypes of which are not inspiring.
4) ♥ Society’s subtle message can seem the same: you are no longer really useful, and though you are enjoying the deserved fruits of your labour, your difficulties and incapabilities are something of a problem for us.
5) ♥ Of course, many old people keep up a wide range of active interests – but for others it is difficult, due to lack of finance, isolation, pysical incapacity, and lack of mental stimulation.
6) ♥ The rate of change in modern society, adds to their disorientation; and the way of life in many extended family homes do little to help. All this, can result in apathy, listlessness, resentment and mental stagnation, which others then dismiss as inevitable senility.
Kharmic Caveat.
There is an unwritten law of retributive-justice, which states that if we neglect, abandon or disrespect our aged father, mother, uncle, aunt or relatives, maybe hoping to compensate the society with a befitting glamorous and obscene burial. That somehow we harvest the same treatment, when we are old, in equal measure, or even worse. Here is an order to all us, “if you have any living aged relative anywhere in the world, get up now, take action today, in cash and kind, and make the remaining part of their lives better. Or your conscience will flog you forever”.

FROM Sunday Sun
Dr Sun, old age is an illness, according to some of your colleagues. We consulted them at Surulere General Hospital, Lagos and at a private medical facility, while in search of help for a relative who was close to 80 years. Such a pronouncement was so annoying, we felt we needed to make an input, in effect teach them their job. We suggested to the senior female doctor at Surulere General Hospital, that a scan might be useful. We spoke in English, and she opened her mouth to reply in Yoruba, “Are you capable of paying for scan?” It looked like, she was trained in a Yoruba language medical school, wherever that exists.
The other doctor, at the private medical facility, was also advanced in years, but not as old as my relative. He told us, that much. He however, did not live long enough, to reach my relative’s age. The nigga could not cure himself of old age. Can you see why there is self-medication and medical tourism and alternative medicine?
As at present time, the Chief of Staff to Mr. President, Mr. Abba Kyari, is receiving treatment abroad. He was flown there after taking ill in Nigeria.