Introduction
The world seems to have a lot of biases when it comes to elderly people. Personally, I sometimes tend to get irritated with them for being less aware of technological advancements. For instance, some may not be able to use modern cellphones because of these being equipped with complex features. According to Wangmo et al. (2017), the elderly often get disrespected and labeled as slow, dense, and annoying. In other words, they have been deemed a burden to society.
Attitudes Toward the Elderly
Using sociological theories and perspectives to analyze the familial trend can help limit biases and challenge assumptions by enabling society to understand that aging is a natural process that everyone experiences. Patel et al. (2021) speak about how an enormous variety of factors contributes to the changes of the elderly people’s minds, bodies and psyches. For instance, there is molecular and cellular damage, as well as the emergence of so-called geriatric syndromes. The value of different perspectives and trends is immense: exploring the problem from different angles helps people understand how tough it is to cope with natural occurrences, which can contribute to reducing stigmatization.
Some of the responses that were successful in addressing this familial trend’s negative impacts include having meaningful conversations with the elderly and speaking out about the issue. However, the one I find to be the most effective is the provision of home-based care. Warren and Blundell (2019) note that, as people age, their family becomes to them of utmost importance. As a result, they want to spend most of their time with their close family members. While said family members might not be necessarily excited about it, taking care about their elderly might be useful in terms of understanding how tough it is to be of age. Relatives are likely to become more empathetic towards the elders and not only start behaving more respectfully but also communicating to other how important it is.
Conclusion
In conclusion, family education is the most important response to addressing elderly abuse based on personal research. Although other responses have also worked, simple conversations are more likely to be less effective than seeing how much elder people suffer from stigmatization. Therefore, family education is a long-term solution that enlightens society on the importance of valuing the elderly. In short, it creates an acceptance attitude in all the society members.
Reference
Patel, K., Bunachita, S., Chiu, H., Suresh, P., & Patel, U. K. (2021). Elder abuse: A comprehensive overview and physician-associated challenges.Cureus, 13(4). Web.
Wangmo, T., Nordström, K., & Kressig, R. W. (2017). Preventing elder abuse and neglect in geriatric institutions: Solutions from nursing care providers.Geriatric Nursing, 38(5), 385-392. Web.
Warren, A., & Blundell, B. (2019). Addressing elder abuse in rural and remote communities: social policy, prevention and responses.Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 31(4-5), 424-436. Web.