The best product one could get for the elderly is the elixir of youth. Despite scientific advancement in the field of medicine, man has not succeeded in developing a product that can reverse the aging process and hence eradicate problems prevalent with old people like: loneliness, frequent illnesses due to reduced immunity, the need to feel loved, protection from minor accidents and security.
The writer proposes homecare as a service that will greatly improve the quality of life of the elderly. In this paper it is proposed that an ‘adoption service for elderly people’ be put in place to place old people in need of home care with families that are ready and willing to care for them. Such a service is possible because according to National Institutes of Health (2010), the organization “Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)” already offers homecare to the elderly and in return “receives a monthly payment per enrollee from Medicare and Medicaid.”
Commending on the Australian government’s attention towards the elderly, Doyle (2008) observes that it is possible to obtain “government funding [for] respite care.” According to the U.S. Department of state (2007), the US government has put in place many points called “Area Agency on Aging” as part of the infrastructure meant to care for the elderly.
Just the way a small defenseless infant would need care and protection, old people who have grown physically weak need similar attention. While Izzo points out that “homecare focuses specifically on the care provided for the elderly in their own dwellings” (2009), this view can be expanded to include taking the elderly to the families that can take care of them.
How will living with a family improve the quality of life of an elderly person? Just like other human beings, the elderly have physical and emotional needs. Due to failing physical strength an elderly person living alone will find hard to perform daily house chores like dishwashing, laundry, cleaning the house and so on
In contrast a family setting will have younger persons who are energetic enough to cook well, run errands and assist an old person. Not only will the elderly person eat well, there will be attentive people to reminding them of when to eat, take a bath, go for medical check up, walk the dog and take any prescribed medication.
A child’s laughter, the opportunity to play, talk, and joke and offer advice make old people have a sense of belonging.
It is recommended that a community based program be put in place whereby government sponsored extension officers seek out needy elderly people and link them to families that can offer home care for a fee. As Rice (2006) observes in his book “Home Care Nursing Practice,” the U.S. Social Security Act, places “those over 65 years of age under a federally financed health insurance” (p.6).
The benefits of such an arrangement far outweigh the costs. The elderly will get love and attention. It will be possible for them to engage in public activities like visiting with friends and meeting new people. These privileges are not on offer in an old people’s home.
How will the society benefit from such an arrangement? Families offering such service will be compensated by the government. The society will no longer live with the bad conscience due to neglecting the elderly. As Brody shows contrary to peoples beliefs, “research shows evidence of strenuous family efforts to avoid institutional placement of the old” and that “families play a central role in caring for the non- institutionalized impaired elderly” (1981).
References
Brody, E.M. (1981). “Women in the Middle” and Family Help to Older People, The Gentrologist, Vol. 21, No. 5. Web.
Doyle, C. (n.d.).Giving Carers of Elderly Frail People a Break: Perspectives on respite care Lincoln Centre for Research on Ageing, La Trobe University. Web.
National Institutes of Health: (2004). Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Web.
Rice, R. (2006) Home Care nursing Practice: Concepts and Application USA. Mosby Elsevier.
U.S. Department of State: (2007). Caring for elderly parents. Family Liaison Office: The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs. Web.