The elderly population is faced with a myriad of problems, not least because their bodies are frail, and as such, they are more susceptible to getting sick. In addition, because their income is reduced, they are likely to get access to proper nutrition and the right healthcare services (Tobin, 2009). As such, there is a need to devise practical solutions that, when implemented, will ensure that their health and welfare is improved significantly.
As people grow older, their children and loved ones become increasingly concerned about their safety and health, and more so when they are faced with complex non-medical and unfamiliar medical situations (Tobin, 2009). Although adult children may be willing to take care of their aging parents, nonetheless, the time dedication to their careers and taking care of their own children does not leave much room for them to take care of their parents as they ought to, which is why some of the parents prefer going to nursing homes or home for the aged where they can get personalized health care services by a professional at a fee.
One of the most practical solutions that can be implemented with a view to the health and welfare of the elderly is choosing a suitable nursing home that is well equipped to deal with the needs of this vulnerable group (Smith, 2007). Sometimes, it becomes a bit hard to locate the ideal facility within your locality, and if this happens, there is the need to identify someone who leaves near to the health care facility of choice which can be relied on as the contact person and possibly attend to the needs of the elderly.
At times, a nursing home may not actually be the best option, especially if the elderly person in need does not wish to be placed in a home for the elderly. A recent report indicates that an increasingly higher number of Americans now prefer home-based care for the elderly, as opposed to putting them in a nursing home (Tobin, 2009).
However, it is important to have a professional caregiver in place to assists with taking care of the elderly while at home. Sometimes, you can be lucky enough to get a professional caregiver who would not mind to moving in with the elderly persons in need of healthcare so that he/she can be able to offer care and support to the elderly person around-the-clock.
Another practical solution that can be implemented to help the elderly is to place them under the care of dependable family caregivers (Tobin, 2009). Research shows that elderly individuals who are receiving care from dependable family caregivers tend to be by and large, much happier in comparison with their counterparts who are being attended to at the nursing homes. Nonetheless, it is important to ensure that the home-living arrangement is convenient so that the caregivers may not break down as a result of burnout and stress. In this case, the family is not only spared the agony of having to contribute to the hefty healthcare bills if the elderly person in the family is receiving healthcare at a nursing home, but they will actually get time to bond with the elderly.
Families can also hire a care manager who would then advise them on how best to solve the dilemma facing them on the issue of taking care of their elderly members of the family.
It is important to ensure that the right mechanisms have been put in place in order to ensure that the elderly members of the family are taken care of. This is because they are frail physically, and they are also economically deprived.
Reference List
Smith, K. (2007). Caring for America’s aging population: a profile of the direct-care workforce. Web.
Tobin, D. (2009). Coordinating Your Aging Parents’ Needs. Web.