“The unlikely numbers might shock you: 16% of people over 65 years old, which only amounts to 11% of the total world population, did indeed file a total of 44% of the complaints against consumer protection bodies. “Such a tendency is not limited to the one state, culture, and nation, and studies show that across the world, starting from the US, Europe, Asia onwards, the oldest adults are in the majority among the people who complain about everything starting from healthcare through customer service to the policies. Why is it that the elderly, who have experienced some of the most momentous events in human history and have amassed a lot of knowledge and insight, are so much more likely to complain?”
The hook which serves the dual aim of stepping on the suspense button and making the large problem shocking, also releases the curiosity beyond this big issue. A key part of the introduction includes expounding the global nature of this issue as this would open up discussion that dives deep into the complexities and intricacies of aging and complaining, rather than dealing with aged people from a single country or culture.
With the passage of time, we anticipate to undergo a variety of physical and emotional alterations that can affect our way of life. What we know about aging starting from joint pains to memory lapses, these challenges of the elderly have indeed been well-recorded. But there’s another phenomenon that’s often overlooked: the diversity of elderly population grouses more commonly and wider: this is a common phenomena among the older adults. From grumbling about the weather to complaining about the government or just being a general pain when it comes to the world, older adults seem to have a special talent for finding flaws and expressing their anger.
This article will discuss the reasons for the fact that elderly people, as a rule complain much more often than their much younger fellows. The article will also explain the variety of the factors which contribute to this old age phenomenon. We decide to disclose the psychological, social, and environmental determinants of this behavior, an also learn the possible implication of the emotions for the mental and physical health, or even the situations with other people. The main reason why older adults complain so much is because we still don’t know why they do so. By knowing why they complain so much, we can then work on finding ways to support them in managing their frustrations and living happier, healthier lives.
Communication Challenges
Aging is associated with a range of changes to our communication styles that can lead to a more whining attitude. Firstly, older adults may experience diminishing of their hear, sight and thinking abilities. This may affect them at the level of communication. Secondly, because of this they may develop depression, social isolation and loneliness. For instance, hearing loss can result in misinterpretations and anger, while cognitive decline can cause difficulty in expressing thoughts and feelings. They can sometimes result in a person severing social contacts, which is a sign of burning out on the tedious facets of life.
Not only that but older people they could have worked out their communication styles, and it could be that it’s defaulted into a coping strategy that includes a lot of complaining. For instance, they might have improved their skills at expressing themselves more forcefully or assertively in order to get their needs met, which can sometimes be mistaken for complaining. Hereby, elder people could have built an acknowledgement or guesswork might happen because of what they went through, which can result in their feeling demoralized when things don’t go well and they are likely to vent such feelings through complaining.
Cultural Perspectives View about Aging
Cultural views on aging and complaints can also be among the reasons why the elderly tend to complain more often. In most societies, the elderly are regarded as a blessing of life and are treated with the highest honor because they possess wisdom and experience from the life they have lived. In such ways, older persons might be accustomed to or tend to see complaining as the legitimate means of their expression, sentiment, or justification.
Contrary to this, in some societies, aging is seen as a descent or loss of status, and the older people are expected to be submissive and less vocal about their needs. Such cultures may regard complaining as a “weakness” or non-respective behaviour and older adults are likely to remain voiceless of their unhappiness.
However, cultural disposition toward complaining can also serves as impediment in the process of expression in case of older adults. For instance, in some societies, complaining may be considered as a way to establish relationships and solidify social bonds, whereas in others, it may be seen as a way to show one’s individuality and assert one’s independence.
We can be culturally bound in that the perspective of the elderly depends on how our culture views them, and knowing that if we try to see the world from different cultures, it can help us support and communicate better with the elderly from different backgrounds.
Dealing with Complaints: Methods
Handling complaints from the elderly people can be difficult sometimes, but there are some strategies that can help a lot. The other way may be just to be with the person in a non-judgemental way; be with her without interrupting or imposing our way. This can enlighten older persons about the fact that someone has been paying attention to them and this can make them feel that they have been listened to and understood a very big thing that can reduce their need(s) to complain.
The other way of dealing with the complaining is to find the core reasons or the concerns that are the cause of it. Some of the reasons for which an elderly adult might be complaining about the weather might be because they find themselves isolated and alienated from other people’s company. When you handle the issues causing the older adults to complain, you contribute towards the reduction of the complaining and in the generation of happiness in the aged people.
It is also essential to determine the clear boundaries and the expectations when it comes to dealing with complaints. Elderly people may not always realize how their complaints can hurt others, so the most appropriate way to help them understand this would be by giving them a constructive feedback that would address their requirements while also noticing how their behavior is affecting you. It is established by dishonor boundaries you can assist to avoid a habit of complaining.
In the end, it is necessary to understand that the complaining is a natural part of life and it does not necessarily mean that you are weak or a failure. Through empathic and understanding reactions you bring to the complaining, you not only make older adults more comfortable in voicing the issues that concern them but also prevent the stress and tension that sometimes can be part of the complaining process.
The Aging Process
The aging process is a complex and multipronged phenomenon that can involve the intervention of various factors in older adults resulting in many different implications. With time, body gradually gets changed and it affects the way people live. Such as in older people strength and flexibility can decrease resulting in a phenomenon that they would find difficulty in dealing with the basic life activities. Such people can suffer from some sensory deprivation, for instance, they may hear worse or their sight can fail, which makes communication or moving in a new atmosphere very hard.
Besides the physical changes, aging also influences the mental and emotional health of older people. Such situations could be depicted less accurately as when old people may be facing age-related mental decline, which may cause their learning process to become more and more difficult or their decision-making capability to weaken. It is possible that they will encounter also some mood and emotional regulation issues that often provoke mood changes, depression, and irritation.
Besides the physical changes, the aging process can also change the social and emotional relationships of the older adults. Such as the loss of a friend or a family member, which the bilateral abandons here the anguish and isolation. They may not only struggle with personality changes but also their relationship with others, such as the mourning of close friends or the need to adjust to new social standards.
Cognitive Changes and Complaints
Cognitive changes that come with aging can also be a factor of complaining. One of the ways in which older adults may be most affected is executive function decline. Memory and the ability to regulate their behaviors and emotions are among the executive functions that can be a victim of this function decline. This could make them have a short heap, valuing and belittling anyone on its way to life.
Besides, seniors are likely to have alterations in their attention and memory, which may make it harder for them to concentrate on the present and control their emotions. This may result into enlarging the feelings of irritation and defeating spirit being shown among the employees.
However, older people are also likely to encounter issues related to solving their problems because their mind may not be so sharp as it used to be hence they find it difficult to find solutions. Such attitude gives rise to a lot of irritation and frustration.
The Big 5 personality traits and complaint predisposition
This also considered as a contributing factor that that certain personality traits can be, too. For example, those elder adults who are more neurotic or anxious may be more prone to complaining because they are more sensitive to stress and tend to ruminate on negative thoughts.
However, the elderly who have this trait and who are more extravagant and assertive might be more likely to complain because of their need for socialization and tendency for expressing themselves assertively.
Moreover, among older people who are more full of delusional satisfaction and no tolerance to the shortcomings may be more easily to grudge due to the high expectations and focus on the imperfection.
Family Dynamics and Complaint Behavior
The way family live in the house may also be a reason causing increase in complaining among seniors. They may be a good illustration of the older individuals who have a family conflict and criticism background might be much more likely to complaining because of their behavior learned by experience.
Besides, those older adults who are eager to please their family and obey their instruction might be more likely to complain because of their sense of responsibility and duty to the family.
Moreover, those parents who used to overprotect or did allow control will be more likely to complain since they may need more control and focus on the problems more intensively.
Moreover, family relationships might be even more decisive than the type of dementia, to the way that the older adults are perceived and responded to, by their caregivers, and family members. For instance, if an older adult is perceived as complaining a lot, they may be given the feeling of frustration or be simply brushed aside, which will only make the problem worse.
Diseases come with the symptoms
Another health-related factor that may contribute to their tendency for complaining can be the physical well-being of an older adult. For instance, the cases of chronic pain, arthritis, or other physical health problems often cause individuals to feel frustrated, angry, and complain.
Moreover, psychological issues are not the only thing that affects the level of activity of a seniors, but it can also cause in them weaker desire to participate in the activities they enjoy, which is like boredom, restlessness, and complaining.
On the other hand, physical health problems, of course, will not leave lack of proper sleep for a senior person which as a result becomes the motive for their fatigue, irritability and complaining moods.
Besides the fact that physical health problems can also have an impact on an older adult’s mental health, which may lead to depression, anxiety, and complaining.
Mental Health and Complaints
Psychological health can provide a key to the presence of complaining behaviour in the aged. Stemming from the disease, conditions such as depression, anxiety, or even other mental health problems may produce a subjective feeling of hopelessness, helplessness, or whining.
Besides, mental health problems may also affect an older person’s self-esteem thus, he/she may feel unworthy, ashamed, and complain.
Besides that, mental health deterioration might vary a person’s social connection, which may cause loneliness, social isolation, and complaints.
Generally, it should be noted that mental health problems do not only influence the older adults’ physical health, they may result in chronic aches, fatigue, and were the older adults complain about their health more often.
Conclusion
To sum up, complaining is a multifaceted phenomenon that can be affected by various factors including physical health, mental health, personality traits, family dynamics, and cognitive changes. The knowledge of these key points will let us to create a better environment for our seniors and will, also, help to find an effective and communicative ways for the management of the complaining behavior.
One needs to take into consideration that complaining is characteristic of regular life, and in no way corresponds to inability or deficiency. But, on the other hand, the over complaining can be a real problem for a senior citizen’s mind and body, also his/her relationships and finally the quality of his/her life.
Through effective and non-judgmental identification of the root causes of their complaints and a compassionate and nurturing type of treatment of them, we can help the older adults to decrease complaining and improve their quality of life.