- Published: September 23, 2022
- Updated: September 23, 2022
- University / College: University of California, Davis
- Level: Masters
- Language: English
- Downloads: 6
Insert Care for Old People Older adults are persons with ages beyond or close to life expectancy typically the later part of life after middle age. The definition about older adults can, therefore, not be quantified universally and will change depending on the context at hand. Working with older adults is a vast field that ranges from training older adults, caring for them and generally doing anything that is around and within the surroundings of older adults.
There is a variety of things one has to look into before working with this delicate group of personalities. First is to be able to examine the individualistic stereotypes about them. It involves knowing that they were also young at a point in their life. Choice of language matters, being patient with them so that they can express themselves, adaptability to the surrounding of the older adults and being ready to empathize with them. In addition, being able to understand their current situation and relate to their past to gage how to handle them and to be sensitive to things that affect their life and to understand the symptoms of mental illness.
To be an older adult worker one needs to undergo the normal college training on the field of their choice but then require specialized training in special needs education or related fields such as social work. On the other hand, the changing school curriculum starts with specializing on special needs education at an earlier level in college.
The roles of an older adult worker are diverse and depend on the situation or a problem you are tasked with. It will range from adult social care including direct care roles ad supportive roles. It will require varied qualifications and experiences, but it’s key to have personality traits at each stage of adult care. Apart from pursuing this education at a degree or diploma level, smaller continuing development in certificates on topics such as stroke. What affects them is learning disability, end of life care, mental capacity, activity provision and dementia would be very handy. Common duties can include assisting with mobility, washing, dressing and provision of rather interesting activities to the old to engage. Other services include monitoring service for example pulse rate and helping service for example users to live as independently as possible.
There are many challenges that come with working with older adults. It includes paying thorough attention to minor details such as paying attention to the way you construct sentences especially in conveying sensitive information. One must ensure that there is no background noise, monitor nonverbal behavior, avoid patronizing speech, and watch out on tendencies on stereotyping the adults. Moreover, use of visual aids and charts and sometimes having to shout for them to hear is encouraged.
The field has been changing tremendously from the initial state where people from other fields of specialization worked as adult workers to the current stage where specialized individuals in the profession have replaced the latter. Many diploma and degree courses have been introduced apart from specialized short courses that address particular dimensions. These courses include social work, community development, public health and dementia. Since the introduction of these trainings, the field has been professionalized and is not now looked down upon as a lesser course as compared to other fields. There have been a lot more topics introduced like care, communication, how one conducts themselves when around the older adults and pros and cons of every action towards these elderly persons.
Works cited
Ory MG, Abeles RP Lipman PD. Aging, Health, and Behavior. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publishers; 1992.