Introduction
Aging comes with a high level of dependency on other people to perform certain activities, and this necessitates the need for support welfare systems. The elderly group is defined as individuals aged 65 and above. Although retirement years were reduced to 50 years, adults around this age are not considered dependents, as the majority of people in this age group are strong enough to engage in their activities and perform most of them without requiring assistance, or perhaps with minimal assistance.
However, as age progresses, a person’s ability to work significantly reduces as the complications related to aging set in. For instance, due to decreased immunity associated with aging, senior citizens become more vulnerable to illnesses, which, in turn, affects their self-reliance. Studies show that the number of older adults is significantly rising.
For instance, Lee et al. (2019) state that approximately 11.4% of China’s total population consists of elderly citizens. These levels are anticipated to rise to about 34.7% by the end of 2050. Therefore, this paper analyses the welfare system and services relevant to the older population, resources and support, and how these can be accessed. Additionally, it evaluates the quality of systems and services and explains how funding may impact the quality of services offered.
Welfare Systems and Services Supporting Elderly People
In-Home Care
One of the welfare systems relevant to older people is family-provided and in-home care. The needs of older adults are constantly increasing, and even as they age, they require more support to perform nearly all activities. Some older people are totally dependent on external help.
According to Tanvir Alam et al. (2018), cognitive deterioration may lead to mental health disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Older adults suffering from these conditions must receive full support from family members or in-home professionals. The in-home welfare support system aims to provide care services to elderly individuals as they reside with family members. In-home care seeks to provide professional care services through housekeepers, choreographers, and healthcare aides.
Nursing
On the other hand, nursing aides help with the close monitoring of the older adult’s health status. This entails dispensing medications, taking vital signs, monitoring blood pressure, and being readily available in an emergency. Although nursing aides are constantly available to assist the older client, this does not eliminate the need for doctors and close monitoring, especially for those with chronic illnesses.
In addition to the health aspect of home care, elderly persons also receive emotional and physical support, thereby reducing the likelihood of feeling lonely and depressed. Home care allows them to share and reduce stressors such as environmental changes. Therefore, this helps older people to lead better lives and to overcome common stressors and challenges.
Social Support
Another service offered by in-home care support is social and spiritual support. According to Lee et al. (2019), social and spiritual support helps older adults overcome loneliness and despair, making them feel more lively. This is especially important when family members are close to the older person.
Nursing Home Care
Lastly, nursing home care is another relevant system for older adults. According to Lee et al. (2019), half of the total population of older people live in rural settings. People living in rural areas often face challenges with daily activities, especially if they live alone.
A study by Tanvir Alam et al. (2018a) found that the majority of older adults living in rural areas rarely experience family support, as their close relatives often move to towns due to work and other commitments. As a result, older people are often left alone with no one to attend to their needs when they require assistance. Nursing home care is largely accepted in different states.
For instance, Soesanto and Abdurrahman (2020) state that in an event where an older adult faces extreme challenges in meeting their daily activities due to physical or mental impairment, they should enroll in long-term multifunctional care or a small group home where they receive assistance. The services offered in a nursing home include, but are not limited to, lighting, heat, food, shelter, personal hygiene, and socializing.
Available Resources and Support Services Within the Welfare System
The older people access support and resources within the home care and nursing home welfare systems. In instances where an older adult receives home-based care, the care services are paramount, whether provided by a family member, a nursing aide, or a social worker.
Another source of support is financial support from the carers. This helps them to meet their needs and stay without much stress. Some governments have a social support budget for the older population. This initiative helps these senior citizens cover their personal expenses and lead a comfortable life. Mbwiga (2019) reports that most older adults, especially those living in the upcountry, live in abject poverty, and due to their inability to work and other health complications, their need for social and financial support increases. Through home care plans and nursing homes, older people can have their basic and secondary needs met.
Lastly, older adults have access to essential resources, including healthcare and medication. Since the percentage of older people with medical complications is high, medical health support becomes a basic necessity for this population group. Additionally, the welfare support system offers physical support from nursing aides, which includes close monitoring of underlying medical conditions, medication administration, and home-based nursing care (Lee et al., 2019). These services are paramount for older adults, as, in most cases, they have nobody to help them with these activities. Therefore, home care and nursing homes offer these resources and support for older people.
Evaluation of the Quality of Services for Elderly People
The quality and effectiveness of the home care and nursing home services offered to older adults can be described as average. Although the government in many states supports social welfare systems for the older population, huge gaps remain that render the services ineffective. One of the loopholes in these welfare support systems is understaffing.
According to Lee et al. (2019), the current ratio of nurses and nursing aides to older adults stands at 1:12. In other words, one nursing aide must attend to twelve older people in a day. This is a significant amount of work, and achieving the desired quality of service is challenging. As a result, some of the older adults remain unattended, making the situation more complicated. The deteriorating state of nursing homes thus presents a significant challenge to the system, and measures to resuscitate these institutions should focus on providing adequate staffing.
In addition, most older adults living in rural areas rely solely on agricultural production for their survival, and due to physiological and health declines in old age, they are unable to continue these activities. Their overworked body cannot stand any acute onset illness, and this increases the number of older people with acute or chronic pain who need nursing aid (Khan et al., 2021). Unfortunately, the high demand and low supply of medical professionals leave older adults in great suffering. This implies that there remains a loose end in the service care, and actions should be focused on hiring more professional staff to provide effective services.
Lastly, the rural mutual endowment fund is limited and unable to meet the demands. According to Lv and Qin (2019), family investment, social donations, and subsidy financial functions are often unstable and cannot be relied on to meet the increasing needs of older people. This makes it difficult for this special group to access basic necessities such as transportation, clothing, and food. On the other hand, elderly residents of welfare homes often cannot afford to hire qualified medical professionals, which can lead to health crises (Khan et al., 2021). These financial constraints render the services ineffective and of low quality.
Impact of Funding Sources on the Quality of Service Delivery for Elderly Care
Funding may influence the quality of services offered in the elderly welfare and support systems. As mentioned earlier, financial challenge is the biggest obstacle to providing high-quality services. However, funding will enable the welfare homes to hire professional and qualified medical staff. This will facilitate early diagnosis of medical conditions, effective monitoring and evaluation, and the availability of medication for the older patients. Additionally, the availability of professional medical staff will improve the confidence level of older adults in welfare homes. Since the current ratio of nursing aides to older people within welfare homes is as high as 1:12, funding will be used to lower this ratio to acceptable levels, providing health professionals with better working conditions so that they can offer their best care.
Financial products, such as subsidies, can significantly lower the cost of consumer goods, including food and utility bills. This will improve the situation in welfare homes by generally reducing the cost of living. Rural mutual aid, on the other hand, can significantly enhance the quality of life for older adults living in rural areas. This will improve access to water, good shelter, lighting, and generally a conducive living environment.
Lastly, funding will ensure consistency in the flow of services within a welfare system. The availability of resources to fund all activities and provide high-quality services will significantly reduce stress among employees and ensure older people receive the best possible services (Nan et al., 2020). Therefore, funding will enhance the quality and effectiveness of service delivery within the welfare homes, thereby improving the quality of life for older adults.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the population of older adults is currently high and is expected to continue increasing in the future, making service delivery to this population group a crucial matter. The welfare systems, such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities, play an important role in providing care services to older people. Despite the efforts put in place, the quality and effectiveness of the services offered in the welfare homes fall below standards due to high demands and a low supply of resources.
Some of the common challenges faced in these welfare systems include inadequate staffing, insufficient funding, and a high demand for resources such as medication. However, through government and non-governmental sources of funding, the quality of services provided in the welfare homes for the older residents will be significantly improved. For instance, a subsidiary budget on consumer goods can reduce the cost of living, allowing resources to be redirected to other activities, such as hiring more professional medical staff.
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