In the USA, those who have attained the age of 65 years and above are considered to be the elderly and the senior citizens. It is the age that the individual has contributed the maximum to the building of the nation and generally retires to their retirement homes in the country side, some even choose to leave the country and spend the rest of their lives outside the USA. It is apparent that in the present generation and century, the older Americans’ population is growing faster than ever before and it is also proven that they are living longer than there before according to The Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics (2010: 17). The report further says that the 65 years old Americans can now look forward to live an average of 18.5 more years which accrues to four years more than the previous indications in 1960s. Further, for those who live to the age of 85 years women have 6.8 years on average to live while men have 5.7 years. The longer life for this generation does not come easier and neither is it cheaper. The inflation, the annual health care cost keep making it harder for the senior citizens to earn a robust life style. It is estimated that in 1992 the annual healthcare cost was $9,224 and it rose to $15,081 in 2006, and this trend is meant to keep rising each year as National Institute of Aging (2008) puts it. There are therefore several challenges that the elderly face in the society today. The two main sociological issues that the frail elderly face today are Poor Nutrition leading to medical conditions and Poor nursing home facilities leading to social isolation. These two at times go hand in hand and at times they are manifest independently. Definition of concept Most of the Americans are too b... ... middle of paper ... ...e halls and toilets, have a look at all the floors and if they could portend any hazards like slipperiness, the bathing devices must be available and fitted with handle rails and the spaces between tables in the dining must be enough (Robert F. Carr, 2010). These are the major considerations that a family should make while selecting a nursing home. However there are other secondary considerations which are as well significant like the type of amenities and comfort the nursing home offers. These may include good grooming of the residents, friendly communication, laundry facility, salons, banks as well as air conditioning and heat facilities fitted with emergency response system. A good nursing home will as well provide various recreations and socialization platforms like gyms with a fitness instructor, computer room religious provisions and nature walk areas.
In conclusion there needs to be an increase in government funding for long term care facilities to convey maximum ability to provide quality of care to elders and equal accessibility too homes and care. Ways that can produce this outcome are increases in staff funding for training and recruitment, as well as for equipment to help increase care. Government funding should also help elders decrease the cost of living in nursing homes and allow equal accessibility to homes and care in homes.
Jacobsen, L. A., Kent, M., Lee, M., & Mather, M. (2001). America's aging population. Population Bulletin, 66(1).
Upon growing older there are many decisions to be made. Among one of the most difficult and perhaps most important decisions is where the elder person will live and how long-term care needs will be met when he/she is no longer capable of doing so independently due to the incapacity that accompanies many with old age. Nursing homes seem to be the popular choice for people no matter the race, gender, or socioeconomic status with 1.5 million Americans being admitted to them yearly.[3] Because nursing homes are in such a high demand and are not cheap, $77.9 billion was spent for nursing home care in the United States in 2010 alone, they are under criticism of many professions including the legal profession, which is in the process of establishing elder law as a defense to issues with in the elder community. Nursing homes have a duty to provide many things to the elderly including medical, social, pharmaceutical, and dietary services so that the individual may maintain the highest well-being possible.[4] Stated another way 'a nursing facility must care for its residents in such a manner and in such an environment as will promote maintenance or enhancement of the q...
Similarly, in an Australian household their family members depend on their social solidarity and mutual obligation to provide both emotional and practical support when older people are unable to care for themselves independently (Yeboah, 2015). Though, when it comes to seeking assistance, both cultures demonstrate great differences. For instance, Puerto Rican families seek outside help when their elders have severe disabilities due to their assimilation to American culture (Delgado & Tennstedt, 1997). Whereas, Australian families tend to keep assistance to a minimum by having care brought from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) approach, which accommodates older adults based on their cultural background (Yeboah, 2015). A point often overlooked is that regardless of the quality of care the older adult receives, they prefer to be located close to family. More importantly, a nursing home produces an environment that shows little consideration for family values, which is the main aspect older adults strive for when considering a nursing home. Therefore, participating in a nursing home can be disputed because it is the defining line between a good or poor quality of life if the older adult fails to make it their home. Quality of life refers to the perceptions people have of their position
Nursing home care is expensive. Although prices vary, the basic charge for a double-bed room in a typical nursing home is in the range of $20,000 to $50,000 a year. Homes in rural areas tend to be slightly less expensive than those in cities. The costs of medications and physician visits are not included in the basic charge. Also, special treatments such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy often add to the cost. There are also possible additional charges for drugs, laundry, haircuts, and extra services. Some nursing homes are operated as nonprofit corporations. They are sponsored by religious, charitable, fraternal and other groups or ran by government agencies at the federal, state, or local levels. But many nursing homes are businesses operated for profit. Individuals or corporations may own them. Sometimes they are part of a chain of nursing homes.
With the aging population growing faster every year many families must make a difficult decision whether their loved ones should live in assisted living or nursing home facilities. I can relate because I made the decision to care for my mother at my home. Some people do not have the money or resources to care for their parent so they must live in a facility for health and safety reasons.
Elderly people, as a whole, use up much of the nation's healthcare budget; six times as much money is spent by the federal government on health services for those over 65 than those under 18 (Callahan, 1997). More people are entering into this age group than are dying due to medical advances that can now prolong life for years, using up hundreds of thousands of dollars on one feeble life that could possibly help hundreds of younger people and thereby prevent future health expenses (Caplan, 1987). America's healthcare budget is not large enough to support every patient adequately- instead of a few getting sufficient healthcare, many are merely getting a half-way supported (Callahan, 1997). With so many last- ditch efforts available, th...
"Who does a son turn to, when his 78 year-old mother, newly admitted to a nursing home’s rehab unit, is experiencing delusions and screams through the night? Or where does a daughter turn to for help when she notices a rapid decline in her mother’s health and her mother refuses to seek medical care? Or the gentleman who believes it is time to a continuing care retirement community, but has no one to advise him on the myriad of financial and lifestyle implications of such a move? (Lederman, 2012)." Within in the field of home health care, ecological system creates an outline for defining what it means to provide quality care to the elderly.
In today’s society, what was once said to be true and taken as fact regarding older people is no longer the whole story. As Laslett states, “At all times before the middle of the twentieth century and all over the globe the greater part of human life potential has been wasted, by people dying before their allotted time was up.” (1989a), and to a great extent a lot
The existing U.S. population is over 315 million and rising. In the year 2030, 72 million Americans will be 65 or older, a 50 percent change in age demographics since the year 2000. The change is primarily due to the aging baby boomers, who were born at the end of World War II. Americans are living longer than ever befo...
Today, the world’s population is aging at a very fast pace and the United States is no exception to this demographic change. According to the U.S Census Bureau, senior citizens will account for 21% of the American population in 2050 (Older Americans, 2012). Although living longer lives may not seem like a negative sign, living longer does not necessarily mean living healthier. Older adults of today are in need of long-term health care services more than any generation before them (Older Americans, 2012). Because of the growing need for senior care, millions of families are facing critical decisions on how to provide care for their parents.
Americans are living longer lives than they used to hundreds of years ago. The average life expectancy of an American increased from 47 years old in 1900 to 79 years old in 2011. There are several explanations for this phenomenon. The life expectancy of the average person is increasing because of the advancements in technology, healthy diets, and the progression of medical science. With these advancements, Americans are now able to live past one hundred years of age. Everyone dreams of living forever. It seems so appealing to be able to live life for a very long time, happily and healthily, and going out and enjoying everything that life has to offer. Although living past one hundred can be a fortune the desire for life extension comes with an abundance of expenses, illnesses and lack of social support.
This research would examine two cultures and their way of taking care of their elderly;
The average life span of an American is 77.6 years (Than, 2006). If an elderly person life is extended, they will be forced not to live years but decades or centuries of torment on the Earth. That is why elder
Technology in terms of medicine has also increased the life expectancy of the average person. With new technological advancements in surgeries, medicines and treatments the average life expectancy is still on the increase. A recent study shows that the average life span for 2004 of a United States Citizen is 77.4 years old. This has increased significantly from 1900 where the average lifespan for a male was 48.2 and for the female 51.5. Thanks to technology we can now live longer.