Describe about the Clinical Psychology and Gerontology for the Dilemma of Older Women.
1. Feminization of ageing refers to the dilemma of older women, which is exacerbated by a lifetime discrimination based on gender. The nature of the ageing women is such that the women have a tendency to survive longer in comparison to men. The “feminization of ageing” syndrome in Singapore is prevalent and is a rising issue with respect to the health and social services (Thang, 2014). In Singapore, the older women are not sufficiently prepared for old age. In Singapore, the roles based on gender, performance and outcomes of health are formed by societal, political, economic and cultural factors in comparison to the biological factor alone. Numerous data have revealed that, approximately women in the world survive longer in comparison to the men in Singapore (DiGiacomo et al., 2013). It has been observed that older men get married to younger women and as a result of this, the women are expected to live longer due to the death of their partners and this leads them to live in old age home as widows in Singapore. This makes them helpless and due to this, their health deteriorates. In Singapore, several older women are are facing inequities associated with health and are frequently imperceptible within the discourse of the policy of ageing.
The reasons of feminization of ageing in Singapore include the traditional practices that are associated with widowhood and lead the older women to encounter violence and mistreatment. It poses a risk to the health as well as being (Jain, Koolwal & Goel, 2016). In Singapore, an elderly woman living alone may not make out how or where to access the health care and services of welfare alone. Further, a woman who typically survives longer is more likely to experience disadvantages in accessing food, education, health care, work, political autonomy and social security over her life as compared to a man (Buys, 2014). The reasons of feminization of ageing in Singapore include the collective disadvantages, which indicate that the older women are more expected to be poor as compared to men. In addition, the older women are also probable to suffer from disabilities and encounter social disadvantages (Phua, 2014).
In Singapore, population ageing is predominantly rapid in case of women, which results in “feminization of ageing” due to lower mortality rates in the population of women (Shankardass, 2016). The older women who live alone in this country do not have sufficient resources and support and the most important reason, which makes them to live like this, is increase longevity. In a majority of residential aged care facilities, there is more number of women as compared to the men and they have distinctive concerns and issues. Approximately, in not less than thirty-five countries, women have a life expectancy of more than eighty years (Jain, Koolwal & Goel, 2016). They had to face the ultimate challenges, as most of them do not have sufficient support as well as resources. Due to this, they are not able to manage their own expenses of living. Women are adversely affected by widowhood in terms of their mental and physical health conditions. An older woman living alone is more probable to be at risk to experience social isolation, loneliness together with lack of societal support (Arun & Çak?ro?lu-Çevik, 2013).
The self-determination theory deals with the motivation as well as personality of humans, which involves the individual’s inbuilt tendency of growth as well as psychological needs. This theory is concerned with enthusiasm and supports the natural tendencies of humans for behaving in effectual as well as healthy ways (DiGiacomo et al., 2013). It involves the motivation behind the people’s choices, which they make without any interference or external influence.
This theory can explain the resilience and resourcefulness of older woman living in Singapore more effectively. In older women of Singapore, a view of their present life conditions can be expressed by means of resilience (Thang, 2014). The older women in Singapore are expected to possess the ability of regaining the functioning level at which they were operating before any challenge. Resilience can be defined as the capability of maintaining and regaining sufficient levels of functioning in terms of threats and losses. It consists of the resources, which can be activated during stress for aiding to return to the former state prior to trauma or stress. The self-determination theory can also demonstrate their life as children and younger females (Buys, 2014).
In older women of Singapore, a number of processes associated with them have an influence on their capacity to adapt with respect to their age. Several aspects of the psychological sphere of influence are concerned with resilience and resourcefulness in older woman (Phua, 2014). It has been indicated by a number of researches that the older women whose possess a multi-faceted self-sense such as using several self-associated processes like adjustment of goals and social comparison are not greatly affected by depression or physical condition (Shankardass, 2016). Several studies have reported that the older women utilize different self-protective mechanisms for maintaining their views and feelings concerning themselves. It has also been reported by a number of researchers that the determination of women enables them to remain strong in spite of the depressing circumstances (Phua, 2014). The older women possess the ability of transcending the hardships in their lives through caring relationships and forgiveness (DiGiacomo et al., 2013).
2. The level of stress experienced by two family caregivers of an elderly person above 65 years has been assessed by Zarit Burden Interview– 22-item scale. It consists of questions that are associated with the level of stress which is experienced by the family caregiver who provide are to the elderly person over 65 years. The two family givers has been provide with the questionnaire of the Zarit Burden Interview-2 scale and were told to give their individual responses. The responses of the two individuals have been provided in the appendix section.
One of the two family care givers has reported that he is suffering from higher levels of stress and depression while providing care to the elderly individual. On the other hand the second person does not feels that he is overburdened and is suffering from depression while provide care to the elderly patient. It has also been reported by the researchers that, there is a dramatic enhancement in the risk of consequences of mental health among the individuals who spends more than 36 hours in a week in providing care to the elderly person. According to the first individual, it is not less burdening as he is also suffers from physical and mental problems while providing care to the elderly person. He has reduced levels of happiness and comfort in comparison to their neighbors who do not have any elderly person in their home. A number of studies have reported the individuals who are involved with the caregiving of the elderly person have an increased propensity of developing serious illness and a weakened immune system that leads to recurrent infection and enhanced risk of other diseases (Richardson et al., 2013). The caregivers are less probable of being engaged in protective behaviors of health. The spouses who provided care to their counterparts more than thirty-six hours a week, are somewhat more probable to acquire the habit of smoking and consuming additional saturated fat (Ostwald et al., 2015). It has been reported by nearly 70% of the caregivers that they did not go the doctor as required by the elderly person and more than 56% of the caregivers have missed the appointments.
One of the caregivers has reported that the procedure of caregiving has made his physical health worsened. Few days back, the other caregiver has exhibited an exaggerated cardiovascular response towards the stressful conditions which is putting the caregiver at an enhanced risk. It has also been reported by one of the caregivers that he is using is psychotropic drugs in order to get relief from the stress which is being experienced by him on a daily basis while providing care to the elderly patient. The family caregivers possess a greater risk to develop high levels of aggression in comparison to the non-caregivers (Padierna et al., 2013). The higher rates of the symptoms of depression along with problems of mental health among the caregivers, together with the fatigue of caring for the elderly, who are not capable of performing the activities of daily living, put several caregivers at a severe risk for the outcomes of poor health (Hou et al., 2013).Certainly, the effect of giving care to the elderly person can result in enhanced in healthcare requirements of the caregiver (Caqueo-Urízar et al., 2014). According to one of the two caregivers, he is suffering from a physical stress while providing care to the elderly as the elderly person is not able to walk and take bath on his own.
The second caregiver feels positive as he is having a sense of contentment for a number of reasons like observing the improvements in the health of elderly person, fulfilling a responsibility of being a son and caring for his parent. The association between satisfaction and physical care is has been explored by a number of researchers among middle-aged children caring for their aged parents in late life (Walsh, 2015). It has been found that the satisfaction level is reduced as the level of physical care gets increases (Bakas & Burgener, 2015).
In some of the cases, it has been observed that the caregivers are not prepared for providing care and possess insufficient knowledge for delivering proper care to the elderly person (Richardson et al., 2013). In addition, the healthcare professionals give limited help to the caregivers to manage their duties of giving care to the elderly person. Several studies have reported that the individuals who are involved with caregiving of the elderly person have an increased tendency of developing serious illness. One of the biggest challenges, which they face, involves the interaction with the doctors and the nurses in the hospital settings when the elderly person is hospitalized and at the time of discharge (Roth, Fredman & Haley, 2015). Besides all these, the caregivers do no find time for themselves as most of the time they are busy in taking care of the elderly person. A research outlook has stated that around forty percent to seventy percent of family caregivers suffer from severe depression (Li, Mak & Loke, 2013). This stress has the potential to reduce the life expectancy of the care givers by ten years. The caregivers are less likely of being engaged in protective behaviors of health. The caregivers of a family have a greater risk for developing higher levels of anger in as compared to the non-caregivers (Padierna et al., 2013). The higher rates of the depressive symptoms together with problems of mental health among the caregivers, and the fatigue associated with the care of the elder persons, who does not possess the ability to perform the activities of daily living, put numerous caregivers at a serious risk for the outcomes of poor health (Caqueo-Urízar et al., 2014). The burden of caregiving together with strain has been associated with the poor healthy condition of the caregiver, high use of drugs and increased risks in health behaviours (Bakas & Burgener, 2015). It has been reported by several researchers that the caregivers poses a risk foe experiencing sleep disturbances, fatigue and reduced functioning of the immune system (Richardson et al., 2013).
In my opinion, the Zarit Burden Interview is easy to use as from it, the caregiver’s responses can be known with respect to the process of providing care to the elderly person. ZBT is a popular self-report of the caregiver which is used by a several ageing agencies. In my opinion, it questions has helped me in knowing the response of the two individuals in terms of care giving to the elderly person. Between the two family caregivers, one of them has scored high in the interview and can be referred to the NTUC Eldercare Singapore (Li, Mak & Loke, 2013). It has been established in the year 1999 and it provides eldercare services that reasonable to the individuals who earn a limited income. It serves as a place where the elderly persons can be provided care by the professionals. This individual should be referred to this agency since he is not able to take care of the elderly person in a proper manner and he is frustrated as he is not able to concentrate on his career and health needs. Many of the times, he missed the doctor’s appointments. Hence, he needs to take the elderly patient to this agency so that they can take care of him in an appropriate manner.
References
Arun, Ö., & Çak?ro?lu-Çevik, A. (2013). Quality of life in an ageing society.Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie, 46(8), 734-739.
Bakas, T., & Burgener, S. C. (2015). Predictors of emotional distress, general health, and caregiving outcomes in family caregivers of stroke survivors. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation.
Buys, Y. M. (2014). Aging and feminization of the physician workforce in Canada: Comparing ophthalmologists to all other physicians. Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology/Journal Canadien d’Ophtalmologie, 49(3), 291-296.
Caqueo-Urízar, A., Miranda-Castillo, C., Giráldez, S. L., Maturana, S. L. L., Pérez, M. R., & Tapia, F. M. (2014). An updated review on burden on caregivers of schizophrenia patients. Psicothema, 26(2), 235-243.
DiGiacomo, M., Lewis, J., Nolan, M. T., Phillips, J., & Davidson, P. M. (2013). Health transitions in recently widowed older women: a mixed methods study. BMC health services research, 13(1), 1.
Hou, R. J., Wong, S. S., Yip, B. K., Hung, A. T., Lo, H. M., Chan, P. H., … & Mercer, S. W. (2013). The effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction program on the mental health of family caregivers: a randomized controlled trial. Psychotherapy and psychosomatics, 83(1), 45-53.
Jain, N., Koolwal, A., & Goel, A. (2016). Journal of Community Medicine & Health Education.
Li, Q. P., Mak, Y. W., & Loke, A. Y. (2013). Spouses’ experience of caregiving for cancer patients: a literature review. International Nursing Review, 60(2), 178-187.
Ostwald, S. K., Bernal, M. P., Cron, S. G., & Godwin, K. M. (2015). Stress experienced by stroke survivors and spousal caregivers during the first year after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Topics in stroke rehabilitation.
Padierna, A., Martín, J., Aguirre, U., González, N., Muñoz, P., & Quintana, J. M. (2013). Burden of caregiving amongst family caregivers of patients with eating disorders. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 48(1), 151-161.
Phua, K. H. (2014). Health Systems and Population Ageing in the Asia-Pacific Region: Challenges and Policy Options for the Future.
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Shankardass, M. K. (2016). Women and aging: An international, intersectional power perspective.
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