DESCRIPTION
elderly care
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CULTURAL AN !"#!RA$%&C &''"R"NC"S Traditionally elder care
has been the responsibility o( (amily members &ncreasingly in
modern societies) elder care is no/ bein provided by state or
charitable institutions.
The reasons (or this change include *decreasin family si(e, *the
reater life e0pectancy of elderly people, *the eoraphical
dispersion of families, and *the tendency for /omen to be educated
and /or+ outside
the home"
3n most /estern countries, elder care facilities are freestandin
assisted livin facilities, nursin homes, and Continuin Care
Retirement Communities %CCRCs&"
3n the 4nited 'tates# $ost of the lare multi*(acility providers are
publicly o+ned and managed as (or*pro,t businesses.
6iven the choice, Ain in place # *continue to live in their o/n
homes %most elders /ould prefer& *problem # ma=ority of elderly
people gradually lose (unctioning ability and
require either additional assistance in the home ***"ventually most
o(
them move to an eldercare (acility.
The (amily is one o( the most important providers (or the
elderly"
3n fact, the ma=ority of careivers for the elderly are often
members o( their o+n (amily, most often a dauhter or a randdauhter"
.amily and friends can provide a home %i"e" have elderly relatives
live /ith them&, help :"/ith money and ;"meet social needs by
visitin, 9"ta+in them out on trips, etc"
A distinction is enerally made bet/een medical and non!medical
care"
3n the 4', @7 of the one million or so residents in assisted livin
facilities pay (or care out o( their o+n (unds. The rest get help
(rom (amily and (riends and (rom state agencies.
Assisted livin facilities usually do not meet edicare1s
requirements"
&mproving mobility in the elderly
Therapy designed to improve mobility in elderly patients
:"!&NN&N! ;#UR 8#URN"; T%R#U!% "L"R CAR"
$ust be prepare Your loved oneFs medical history, .inancial
resources, personality, Relationships /ith potential careivers,
)ro0imity to services and other factors all determine the best
approach to ta+e"
3n the ma=ority of households the assistance that seniors receive
usually comes from their children"
3n many families seniors never imained that they miht need
assistance from the children" Li+e/ise, many children of ain
parents never thouht that they /ould be assistin their
parents
as they ae" 'ometimes, this children assistin parent role
T%"R" AR" S&= 769 0"; ST"$S T# '#LL#< #N %#< T# "AL
<&T% A!&N! $AR"NTS>
:" ;ou should prepare yoursel( and your (amily (or the
underta-ing" Even thouh this is your parent, it is li+e includin
another from member of the family in a sinicant /ay" ;our
spouse and your children should be a+are o( +hat you plan to do"
There +ill be less resistance or con?ict i( everyone -no+s the
plan. 3f you can et your spouse or children to actively participate
that is even better"
@. Remember that you are at a di2erent stage in li(e than your
parent" .or most of us, development does not stop once /e reach
adulthood" You are not the same person you /ere /hen you /ere ;:"
Your parent is not the same person they /ere /hen they /ere your
ae"
B. Try to help your parent maintain the highest level o(
independence (or as long as possible. The level of
independence you start /ith /ill depend on the unique situation of
your family" Dont be afraid to include assistance and decrease the
level of independence if necessary"
4. %ave a management plan (or the essentials li-e money
management bills5 health plans5 and any necessary equipment or
modications"
!"R&ATR&C e,nition 'eniorsF health refers to the physical
and mental conditions of senior citi(ens,
those /ho are in their 7Hs and older"
edical conditions that a2ect the elderly
The most larin of these is dementia in itFs many forms %i"e",
Al(heimerFs Disease, vascular dementia, etc"&"
?ther serious conditions a2ecting (unction include stro+es,
)ar+insonFs Disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
%C?)D& and emphysema, near or total blindness, diabetes and
advanced heart disease"
$rinciples +hile caring (or older adult # :" $any disorders are
multi factorial in oriin ;" Disease often present atypically
9"2ot all abnormalities require evaluation and treatment J"Comple0
medication reimens, adherence problem, and poly pharmacy are
common challenes
NUTR&T&#N >
2utrition plays an important role in senior health" )roper diet can
help prevent a condition li+e diabetes or +eep it from /orsenin"
The senior diet should consist o( (oods that are > *lo+ in (at)
particularly saturated (at and cholesterol. Dprovide nutrients such
as iron and calcium.
"="RC&S" )hysical activity should be F.rhythmic) repetitive)
and should challenge the circulatory system) @.enEoyable
.eGercising regularly (or H minutes each day. &t may be
necessary to chec- +ith a doctor to determine the type o( eGercise
that can be done.
#ST"#$#R#S&S
"&CAL TR"AT"NT. An 0 ray /ill indicate bone loss !!!!!! density
has decreased**** /ill indicate /hether a person is at ris+
for fractures" A more e1ective /ay of detecting osteoporosis is the
"=A*scan 7dual*energy G*ray absorbtiometry9.***** useful for people
at ris+ for osteoporosis as /ell as +omen near the age o( menopause
or older.
#ST"#ART%R&T&S
$reventive and maintenance remedies include >
Lo+*impact eGercise such as s+imming and +al-ing, alon /ith
maintainin proper posture"
Nutritional aids include foods rich in vitamin C such as citrus
fruits and broccoli"
Also recommended is daily consumption of JHH international units of
itamin E" A person should cut bac+ on fats, suar, salt,
cholesterol, and alcohol"
?$E RE$ED3E' A2D )Y'3CAL TERA)Y" The Arthritis .oundation
recommends several remedies for easin pain"
To treat in?ammation) a person should use a cold treatment for
;H minutes" $ethods include soa+in the a1ected area in cold /ater
or applyin an ice pac+" To soothe aches and stimulate circulation,
a person applies heat to the a1ected area for ;H minutes" This
should be done three times durin the day"
'4R63CAL TREAT$E2T"
'ALL $R"/"NT&#N 'all prevention starts +ith regular eGercise
such as +al-ing" This improves balance and muscles" ?ther
methods for preventin falls include# /hen risin from a chair or
bed, a senior should move slo/ly to avoid di((iness shoes /ith
lo/!heels and rubber soles are recommended medications should be
monitored because of side e1ects that increase the probability of a
fall vision and hearin should be chec+ed periodically fall!proon
the home, includin the installation of lihtin, especially
stair/ays, clearin up clutter and electrical cords that can cause
falls, and the installation handrails and strips in bathtubs and
rails on stairs"
/&S&#N
$resbyopia may need bifocals or readin lasses These
lenses may need to be changed as vision changes over the years"
)ublishers a/are of this condition produce boo+s /ith lare
print"
%"AR&N!
An audioloist can administer tests for hearing loss" $resbycusis,
hearin aids can help a senior a1ected by ae!related hearin loss" 3f
this treatment is not e1ective, the person miht need to learn to
read lips"
SL""$ &S#R"RS
SN#R&N! AN SL""$ A$N"A" A doctor may advise the senior to
quit smo+in, reduce alcohol consumption, or to sleep on his or her
side, reduce body /eiht " 3n some cases, a doctor may refer the
senior to a sleep disorder clinic" )L$D and restless le syndrome
may be treated /ith the prescription dru Dopar" These disorders
could be sins of +idney or circulation conditions" Treatment
of those conditions should end these sleepin disorders"
"NTAL %"ALT%
After retirement, a senior must ,nd activities and interests to
provide a sense o( (ul,llment. ?ther/ise, feelins of loneliness and
isolation can lead to depression and susceptibility to poor
health"
ementia
"CLAR&N! "L"RL; &NC#$"T"NC"
3n almost all cases in /hich elderly persons are declared mentally
or physically incompetent to adequately ta-e care o(
themselves**** state la+s require that a minimum o( t+o
doctors) or other health pro(essionals