Barriers And Benefits Of Promoting Independence In Older PeopleIntroduction Society, health practitioners and administrators all have differing opinions about promoting independence among older people, more so because this category of people has a wide range of health and social needs. The essay shall look at this in the perspective of the family, service providers and older people themselves. Contemporary issues associated with supporting independence in older people with complex health and social needs The issue of finance is a particularly challenging one when trying to promote older people. This is because most older people have surpassed retirement age a long time ago and may not have the ability to take care of their complex health or social needs. This is why stakeholders such as health administrators and the federal government have been looking for ways of financing such projects. In the year 2006, US the government attempted to modernize the older people's Act. This was done by providing a total of four billion dollars in order to assist in promotion of their independence. Additionally, the federal state was also able to look for half a million volunteers who help in proving older people with some of the issues that they needed. The same concept can be transferred to Australia. (Koch & Garratt, 2001) The issue of day care services usually crops up when talking about older people. However, in order to promote independence, it is necessary for older people to delay joining nursing homes. This is so because of the fact that some older people enter into nursing homes at an age where they can still manage on their own. It therefore becomes an avenue for wastage of resources. Besides this, it also makes older people feel that they always need help around them even when tasks are relatively simple to fulfill. (The Department of Health and Ageing, 2005) Another trend in the promotion of the independence of older people with health and social problems is the issue of counseling. Older people need to be led on how to cope with their health or social problems. The country has numerous counseling forums for the older generation. This can be found in health care institutions, it could also be found in palliative services or specific counseling centers. The purpose of counseling is to direct older people on how to manage their health complications independently. In close relation to this trend is emphasis on prevention. Health facilities and older people's programs have realized that most of the health complications that older people are undergoing can be prevented. This can be done by avoiding unhealthy habits such as drinking, smoking or eating unhealthy foods. However, the prevention measures usually work for those older people who have not registered any health complications in the first place. Prevention can be seen as long term strategy where less older people are taught about having behavioral change. These programs usually focus on the following issues
Evidence shows that those areas that have adopted such low –cost preventive measures have recorded positive outcomes. These include the improvement of quality of health care among the older people and reduction of the cost of health care met by older people. Another emerging issue about the promotion of independence among older people is the involvement and cooperation of differing groups. For instance, senior citizens homes are directly involved in promoting independence. They may work with religious-based organizations. It is also possible to find that most of these groups usually collaborating with senior housing initiators and nutrition related centers. (The Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council, 2002) Importance of intra and inter disciplinary care in supply and promotion of independence in older people Inter disciplinary care is imperative to the promotion of independence among the older generation. The first area where this can be applicable is in the preventative programs. For instance in the UK, some clinics have been trying to promote independence among older people using this approach; they usually get a variety of professionals who talk to older people about lifestyle changes. The same concept can and has been transferred to Australia. Here, service providers can conduct physical check ups such as weight checks, blood pressure checks, minor dressing and other small tests. Police on the other hand can play their part by advising older people about how to avoid injuries in the home. A substantial number of health complications among older people are caused by this careless mistakes. On top that, even the fire department can intercept and inform older people about safety in their homes. Besides this, health practitioners can collaborate with transport providers in order take services to the community. This can go a long way in ensuring that the respective senior citizens have the assurance and guidance they need to control their health and also to receive reassurance. (Chiva & Stears, 2001) Interdisciplinary care is also necessary in the financial aspects of care. Some older people may need access to funding for medication while others may need it for transport among other things. The country has numerous benefits under different disciplines. It therefore becomes very difficult for the senior citizen to access all these benefits at once. As matter of fact, some older people may suffer silently without getting all the funding that they are entitled to. It would therefore be more effective if a number of disciplines worked together to provide funding hence helping the older generation in maintaining their independence. (Heywood et al, 2002) Intra disciplinary efforts are particularly useful owing to the fact that each discipline can get a chance to focus on the needs of the older person. This means that older people get special attention and may get a chance of pursuing their independence through specialized support. For instance, when representatives from the health sector work together, then they can come up with the most efficient mode of supporting the older generation. Additionally, professions within the transport sector can collaborate to provide senior cities with their specialized modes of transport. Also, the housing sector can also come together and look for ways of renovation older people's home. This can go a long way in enhancing their independence because they will have solid support from different parts of the social or health environment. How different models of care (acute, rehabilitation) can influence quality and outcome of care provision Care may be implemented through a series of methods. For instance, when care is implemented through acute systems, then little emphasis is placed on the older person as a special group; that is, he is merely considered as a patient. However, when care is implemented through specialist programs, then chances are that older people can attain some form of independence in their lives. This is because their ailments are attended to with specific attention to their needs. (Davis, 2006) Benefits/barriers to promoting independence in older people Promoting independence at home has numerous benefits. Fort of all, it promotes netter health. This is because one realizes that they are responsible for their own health and will be more inclined to take care of it that if they were in a nursing home here someone else can do it for them. Besides this, promoting independence among older people also improves the quality of their social lives. They can get a chance of enjoying their old age rather than sitting around and waiting for help. A number of independent programs usually encourage socialization through any of the following
All these activities are taught to senior citizens when they are in groups. Usually, the atmosphere chosen for socialization is quite relaxed and most of them consider is as fun time activity. (Killick & Allan, 2001) One of the barriers towards promoting independence among older people is the perception carried forward by health professionals. Many nurses and doctors alike tend to neglect older people. This is because they assume that their medical conditions have been brought on by their age and that this is just a natural progression in life. Actually, most care providers assume that older people may be approaching death soon. This makes them a second consideration (after younger patients) during the treatment process. Another impediment to promotion of independence among older people is related to the lack of advice from the latter health practitioners. Most medical professionals usually focus their energies advising younger people to avoid junk, do exercise etc. Very few of them advice the older generation on how to prevent health related complications. Consequently, they end up leaving the older generation with these problems and this severely undermines their independence. (The Department of Health & Ageing, 2004) Families may also be barriers to independence of older people. When older people gain their independence, they usually go to their relatives or the children to stay with them. When these children have families of their own, they may consider the older person as an impediment to their progress. They feel as though their older parents are interfering in their family affairs and this causes tensions. Consequently, most of them end up sending their parents to nursing homes where they are quite dependent. (Miller, 2004) Conclusion Promotion of independence among older people is possible and necessary for the attainment of better quality of life and also for prolonging their lifestyles. Inter and intra disciplinary care is necessary and so is good-will from family members. Reference: Chiva, A & Stears, D (2001): Promoting the health of older people; Open University Press Heywood, F. et al (2002): Housing and home in later life; Open University Press. Eliopoulos, C. (2005): Gerontological nursing; Philadelphia: Lippincott & Wilkins Davis, S (2006): Rehabilitation: Use of theories and models in practice; Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh Koch, S & Garratt, S, (2001): Assessing older people: a practical guide for health professionals; Maclennan and Petty Killick, J & Allan, K (2001): Communication and the care of people with dementia; Open University Press Miller, C. (2004): Nursing for wellness in older adults: Theory and practice; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins The Department of Health and Ageing (2005): Quality assurance in transition care, retrieved from ~ageing-transition-guidelines08.htm" ~ageing-transition-guidelines08.htm accessed on 23rd Aug 2008 The Department of Health & Ageing (2004): Guidelines for a Palliative Approach to Residential Aged Care, retrieved from /$FILE/navall.pdf" /$FILE/navall.pdf accessed on 23rd Aug 2008 The Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council (2002): Guidelines for medication management in residential aged care facilities; Australian Government Publishing Service, retrieved from accessed on 23rd Aug 2008 |