An important problem in aging that needs attention essay example

Elderly care services is the fulfilment of unique and special needs of old aged persons. It is simply take care of senior citizens. It holds a big responsibility with the profession as a senior citizen can go through a lot of physical, psychological and emotional disparities. Traditionally, such service was the responsibility of the families. But, in todays’ modern society, such services are provided by governments, and charities etcetera. Aging is the main factor such issues in the people. To check the above aspects that is the special care various services have been started by the government or private institutions or trusts. These services focus on the fulfilment of these necessities in a very humble and responsible manner. These services include adult day care, nursing homes, long term care, and assisted living etcetera. These services need dedication as here the subjects are human beings who are in their last stage of their lives. Out of these cases, I found adult day care needs more attention.
Adult day care is a no-residential service offered to senior citizens during the daily living. It assists social, health, nutritional support and the usual daily living needs to the elderly people in a group setting. Such centers supervise, provide meals and remain operative for 10-12 hours. The centers take a lot of responsibility to deal with the senior people in a very appropriate manner. These centers mostly provide services to people with acute psychological problems like Alzheimer’s disease, dementia etcetera. Some centers give good services by providing having a doctor or nurse who can have a consistent check-up to the persons.
However, the operation for elder day care varies from country to country. It mostly depends on the cultural aspect of the country and it is very important to supervise the old people with the essence of their culture in which they spend their entire life. That is why the working of such center in America would be different from that of China. Generally speaking, all such centers have basic operational requirements that every center needs to follow. Every center should take care of the people with Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia.
The operations in the day care are known as social models and/or medical models. These focuses on socialization, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation etcetera of the senior people. The centers can also provide more facilities like transportation, recreation etcetera. Every center needs to have such facilities and they need to address the admitted people in a very professional way. But, one important loophole of such service is that it does not provide the senior persons with a psychiatrist or psychologist or a doctor. Such aspect is very important from treatment and care perspective. It makes such care as a skilled care.
Elder day service need to be more focussed on the people who they offer care. Since, it is known to everyone that the people with acute psychological problems are watched by such centers. So, there should be proper arrangement for treatment and special care for such patients. Such patients are definitely in need of a quality care and attachment. The aim of such services includes combating the hindrances through qualitative approach to improve the standard of the old people (ODPM, 2006, p. 9). Not having a proper professional at the center can obstruct the flow of treatment to such patients.
Qualitative assessment for improvement also includes providing proper medical facility. What does that mean? Definitely, it implies that a center should have psychiatrists or doctors according to the number of the old people in the center. Most of the centers have only one doctor while others are happy with a nurse (Wang, 2005). This is an important perspective that needs to be addressed accordingly.
Also, the people should be treated as per their need. For instance, there is only one doctor at a center and he deals with similar attitude with all the people here. It is quite obvious that it is hard for a single doctor to look after a big group of old aged people. The people should be grouped into twos or threes and should be supervised by an experienced nurse. It could make the life of both the workers and the old people easier. Generally, it would enhance the qualitative standard of the working of the center. It results would be better and most importantly, the old people could get proper assessment. The doctors would observe the people with much care and empathy. They can guide the patients from time to time. Such consistency is very important for proper physical and cognitive growth and development.
The functioning of the center depends on the staff and when there are professional and experienced people, the people could get better treatments making their life better.
Strictly speaking, skilled care should be encouraged in the centers. Also, the skilled care centers receive more public funds and insurance. 67 percent of one million residents in assisted living pay their own funds for care and maintenance (AARP, 2000).
The centers are much important to encourage the elderly people to live a hopeful, healthy and strong life. Comparatively, an old age person can receive more attention at home so he can develop himself physically and mentally. Also, some recreational exercise can maintain and improve his physical and cognitive function.
One important aspect of the day care service is its fees. Fee depends on the services provided. However, such services are not supposed to take only from the business point of view. Hiring a professional psychiatrist may be a little bit costly but, it is compulsory. Taking the old age needs, it should be compulsory for every center to switch to the skilled service. Such aspect of these centers can effectively improve the quality of life of the people.
The most important aspect of such centers is to address the old people in a very proper and authentic way. The older people need more care and attachment. The centers should be well operative and proper care and hospitality should be of first preference. The introduction of a professional psychiatrist or a psychologist or a doctor should be made compulsory. This element would really improve the quality status of the center. If we want a patient really physically healthy, we need to follow the strict rules. We always need a professional to deal with a problem objectively and accurately.

References

AARP Assisted Living in the US, 2000
Gross, Jane (July 2008). ” Faced with Caregiving, Even the Experts Struggle”. New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
Meyer, Maria M. and Derr, Paul (December 2008) ” What to Do When You Suspect Elder Abuse,” Caring. com, Senior Care and Elder Care
Simoni-Wastila L, Yang HK (2006). Psychoactive drug abuse in older adults. American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy. 4: 380-394.
Wang PS, Lane M, Olfson M, Pincus H, Wells KB, Kessler RC (2005). Twelve- Month Use of Mental Health Services in the United States: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry. 62: 629-640.