Discuss about the Care for the Older Persons.
The challenges in the care for older persons have worldwide perspective. It is necessary to understand the current changes in national and/or international demographic trends regarding older people. Central Statistics Office in the PWC and Independent Health and Care Providers (2011) report indicate that the population of the old people in Ireland was 532, 000 and projections indicate possible shoot to 1.4 million by 2046. The increase in life expectancy in Ireland and in other developing economies among other demographic changes results in the need to find ways to sustain and promote the health of older people. Understanding these demographics can enable governments and voluntary care agencies to strategize on how to care for the old using quality and sufficient resources into the future. Among the factors that are currently contributing to the increase in the population of older people in Ireland and internationally include mainly, an increase in longevity and a decline in fertility rates (Standard & Poors, 2010). The underlying causes of longevity include improved health care, better diet, and compliance to health-care plans including physical fitness among others (PWC and Independent Health and Care Providers, 2011). This presentation comprises of a discussion on the need for care of the elderly, the different roles of health care providers, statutory and volunteer agencies, the community and families in the care of the older persons. It also includes a review on the different healthcare settings for the care of the aged, and the roles of the healthcare assistants in promoting positive attitude towards the older persons in the society.
Healthy aging refers to the optimization of opportunities available, for physical-social and even mental health so as to help the aged to actively participate in the society with no discrimination while enjoying independent and a good quality of life. Healthy aging thus is determined by the availability of several factors including nutrition, access to services, employment/volunteer services, long-term care, environment, and use of latest technologies (Standard & Poors, 2010). Aging presents with a number of physiological changes and these include loss of teeth due to gum infections, sensory stimulation loss leading to visual impairment, delayed digestion due to declined production of digestive juices, decline in the functionality of the musculoskeletal system leading to arthritis and osteoporosis, dementia also develops among other conditions. Psychological changes among the elderly on the other hand brings about anxiety due to depression, loneliness, dependency levels go high, and general stress resulting from deficiency diseases such as obesity, osteoporosis, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions among others(Chatterji et al, 2008). These conditions weaken the health status of the elderly, bring about a low self-esteem and deplete their initial financial savings.
Preparing for retirement and understanding individual ethnic and/or cultural influences of older persons is important. Preparation for retirement is important as it enables individuals to first, make a personal plan on the lifestyle they want to practice during retirement. Secondly, retirement planning gives an opportunity for individuals to make enough savings to cater for their lifestyles at old age. Further, retirement planning ensures that individuals cannot suffer from poverty and low self-esteem at old age probably as a result of lack of family support (Chatterji et al, 2008). It is important to understand the ethnic and/or cultural influences of the older person for health care assistants, the community and the family members in order to treat them accordingly. Culture and ethnicity define the behavior and preferences of an elder person. It is thus important to provide quality healthcare services and cultivate attitudes that are acceptable to these particular elders.
There are several social impacts of ageing on the elderly caused by varying attitudes to aging. One of the impacts of aging is neglecting of the old people and thus making them to be self-dependent. This eventually makes the aged feel unaccepted in society and in their families. Secondly, abusive behaviors are directed to the elderly due to a lack of education on their needs, and the existing misconceptions regarding the aged in society (Standard & Poors, 2010). Thirdly, attitudes that bring about ill-treatment of the elderly by disrespecting them impact their self-esteem negatively. Aging further limits the extent to which the problems of elders are recognized and managed by the healthcare providers. This is because the elders find it difficult to access the facilities for appropriate healthcare.
Health care assistants play important roles in promoting positive attitudes towards older person, and towards aging as a process. First, health care assistants need to identify and then eliminate any personal negative attitudes to aging through understanding aging realities and recognizing common misconceptions by contacting with the aged, their families and the community (Abegunde et al, 2007). Secondly, health care assistants should help disseminate accurate information regarding the required needs and the characteristics of the aged in the media. Thirdly, nurses working with elders need to act as the major role models to other staff and as advocates for the rights of the elderly. Fourthly, there is need to provide advice to family members through education and the elders on aging as a process and any related disabilities (DHSSPS 2010). Nurses can also inform families on the need to be involved in all aspects of the elderly lives. Further, nurses must educate staff members in nursing homes o common changes related to the elderly, misconceptions and the realities of aging.
Statutory and voluntary agencies play major roles in enhancing the quality of life for the elderly. First, the provide funding for the establishment of nursing homes for the elderly both in the community and in central centers. As a result, even homeless elders can access proper healthcare. The agencies provide nutritional needs and recreational facilities for the elderly in these institutions and in localities to encourage physical exercise. Rehabilitation of the mentally ill elderly individuals is also facilitated along with family trainings on the care for the elderly persons. Statutory and voluntary agencies also stage campaigns promoting positive attitudes towards the aged in the society (DHSSPS 2010). Further, these institutions provide opportunities for the elderly to give their services including volunteer work in order to feel accepted and needed.
Working in a facility that emphasizes and practices quality assured care plays an important role in developing the basic understanding of best practice for health care practitioners. First, healthcare providers learn to incorporate the latest relevant and/or helpful nursing interventions to be used in solving or ameliorating health problems (Nelson, 2010). Secondly, individuals understand the need to rely on research to translate the acquired research-based knowhow into the real-life nursing practice. Further, individuals are able to understand best practice through mentorship and learning from role model staff members, only when working in these qualities assured care settings.
It is important to promote the quality of life among the older people in different healthcare settings because of different reasons. First, older people are supposed to have a number of healthcare facilities to choose from in terms of their own convenience. According to research published by Age Concern Help the Aged NI (2009), majority of older persons prefers home-based care, in order for them to interact closely with their family members. Another reason to use different healthcare settings enables individuals to choose facilities that have resources that match their health conditions. While home-based care could be necessary, older persons may be forced to be based in hospitals for closer health monitoring and treatment. Further by using different health care setting for the elderly, the community, staff and families are sensitized to develop positive attitudes towards ageing and the aged in society.
There are different ways that health care assistants can promote the quality of life to older persons. First, there is need to promote positive attitudes within the community, the families and the healthcare staff towards the elderly (Abegunde et al, 2007). Secondly, one needs to encourage & assist them to perform regular physical exercises to stay fit. Another important role should be focused on treating of depression among the aged through different relevant therapies. Elders can also be embraced by actively engaging them in community service activities like volunteering, to feel needed, apart from assisting them to be mentally active-use (Christensen et al, 2009). The later can involve the provision of crossword puzzles, writing contests, brain games among others. Further, provision of proper diet among other nutritional needs is important in maintaining their good health.
There are different care settings for the older persons consisting of relevant particular healthcare teams. These settings include hospitals, nursing homes particularly for the elderly and home-based setting (Age Concern Help the Aged NI, 2009). Hospitals have special gerontology sections where the elderly are taken care of. Among the staff members include registered nurses, specialized doctors, clinical psychologists/counselors, physiotherapists among others. Nursing homes for the elderly can also have Registered nurses, physiotherapists and a number of regularly visiting doctors apart from psychological counselors (DHSSPS 2010). Home-based care for the elderly can comprise of a registered nurse, a community health worker and family members trained to take care of the elderly.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the discussion above brings out the need to understand the demographic changes in the population of old people in Ireland and around the world. The discussion reviews the roles of health settings in providing services to the old people. These include helping the elderly overcome depression, boost their self-esteem, acquire nutritional requirements, participate in community service to feel accepted, and to engage actively in their family issues that keep them living longer. Among the care settings for the old persons include hospitals, home-based care services, nursing homes (domiciles) among others. These institutions according to the discussion; fund the health care facilities, provide opportunities for the old to serve the society, foster positive attitude towards aging and ensure that the needs of the aged people are taken care of in the existing programs.
From the assignment I have learnt first, the necessary roles of health care settings for the old people in Ireland and the world. Among them are helping them overcome depression, boost self-esteem, proper diet, involving them in community service, and engaging them actively in their family issues to keep them living longer. I have also learnt the different care settings for the old persons and these include hospitals, home-based care services, nursing homes; among others. Further, I have learnt that these care settings fund health care facilities, provide the old people with opportunities to serve the society, inculcate a positive attitude towards aging while ensuring that aged population is provided with basic needs in the existing programs.
References
Abegunde DO, Mathers CD, Adam T, Ortegon M, Strong K. (2007). The burden and costs of chronic diseases in low-income and middle-income countries. The Lancet 2007 (December 8); 370:1929-1938.
Age Concern Help the Aged NI (2009), One Voice: shaping our ageing society in Northern Ireland, Belfast: Age Concern Help the Aged NI.
Chatterji S, Kowal P, Mathers C, Naidoo N, Verdes E, Smith JP, Suzman R.(2008) The health of aging populations in China and India. Health Affairs; 27/4:1052-1063.
Christensen K, Doblhammer G, Rau R, Vaupel JW.(2009). Ageing populations: The challenges ahead. The Lancet 2009; 374/9696:1196-1208.
Crimmins EM, Preston SH, Cohen B., eds. International Differences in Mortality at Older Ages. Dimensions and Sources. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2010.
DHSSPS (2010), Domiciliary Care Services for Adults in Northern Ireland 2010, Belfast: DHSSPS.
Nelson, Julie A. (2010). Best Practice Mistake Management: Home Health Care Management & Practice 22.6 : 424-426. Web.
PWC and Independent Health and Care Providers (2011), Social Care in Northern Ireland: A Better Future for Us All, Belfast: PWC
Standard & Poors.(2010) Global Ageing 2010: An Irreversible Truth. United Nations General Assembly Resoultion 46/91.
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