The aging through the ages
BALOYANNIS S.J.

The man during the history considered the senile age as a period of decline of the human life, decrepitude or as a preparation for infirmity and eventual death. Several factors have modulated attitudes towards the elderly people, through the ages in various civilizations. However, in highly civilized societies the old men were respected and honoured for their wisdom, experience of the life, prudence, achievements and spiritual, political or economical, contribution to the society. In addition, elderly people have left us testimony, particularly in the form of literature and art, in which they stressed the importance of their continuous role in the society. In biblical era, senescence has been considered as a special blessing, although by some authors it has been regarded slightly pessimistically. In ancient Greek era elderly people were highly respected either as philosophers, poets, authors, artists, scientists and physicians or as civilians involved in politics, administration, as well as in military action. Crucial in this context has always been the physical and cognitive well-being of the aged. Nestor in Homeric Iliad, Sophocles, Socrates, Euripides, Plato, Carneades, Agisilaos king of Sparta and many others are among the notable old people, who merit to be mentioned. In Athenian Democracy as well as in Sparta's Oligarchy many officeholders were elderly and they have continued to serve the country beneficially until very advanced age, due to their outstanding mental and professional capacities. Old age welfare rested with the members of one's immediate family, a moral obligation, which in Athens, Sparta and the majority of Greek state-cities was reinforced by law. Medical authors, such as Hippocrates and Galen, insisted that old age is a natural process, although the body is relatively cold and dry. In order to counter the dryness and coldness of old age, Galen and Alexandrian physicians proposed warmth and humidity to the body for restoring the balance of the humors. For the physical and mental complaints of the elderly Hippocratian and Galenian schools offered special remedies, such as work therapy, physiotherapy, psychotherapy, baths, sleep programs and special diets. Wine was thought to be beneficial since it has positively rejuvenating effects, making the body warm and releves the depression and anxiety, which not uncommonly characterizes elderly peole. In Rome, senior citizens were mostly respected and public officers, senators and iudices have been able to serve until late 70, if they might fight for themselves, maintain their own rights, avoid dependence on anyone and assert control over their own, as Cicero has pointed. The pater familias, namely the senior male member of the family, had always had the duty to observe the customary religious rites, Unfortunately there were neither an institutionalised system of retirement or of pensions nor any special economical or social benefits for elderly people in Rome. In Byzantine era, charitable institutions, including "gerocomeia" for elderly people as well as hospitals functioned with highly specialized medical personnel were founded in Constantinople and many other cities of the Empire. Pantocrator Xenon was a highly organized hospital of charity, in a monastic community providing nursing care both day and night, which won the praise of any physician and health officer who studied its sophisticated rules for medical care, staff organization, infirmary equipment and educational programs. Constantinople's hospitals and philanthropic institutions became models for the Arabic medicine and welfare. By the end of Middle Age a venerable literature existed on the topic of Aging. Among the various poems and literary texts the "Gerontocomia" by Gabrielle Zebri incorporated texts by Galen, Latin authors, Byzantine physicians and Avicenna and described properties of drugs and foods, which might regenerate and restore decaying parts of the body. In the Renaissance, the scholars were influenced by the Neoplatonic ideals, referring to the basic eternal principle of love, which defeats aging, death and the vagaries of time. Leonardo da Vinci has proceeded to post mortem anatomical studies in elderly people and attempted to hypothesize the causative factors which induce visceral decay, infirmity and death in advanced age. Today the society and the medicine have focused all their efforts in order to protect the dignity of elderly people, improve their physical and mental condition, ameliorate the quality of their life and elevate their social, economical and legal status.

Key words: Senility, advanced age, history, society, medicine.