nursing home

768 Words2 Pages

With advanced technologies in health care, the average lifespan of humans is around eighty-eight years, and these numbers are growing rapidly. Most elderly outnumber the younger within our population now, and with more of the baby boomer generation reaching the gold years, this number will rise exponentially. The cost of healthcare rising and the amount of Medicare funds decreasing makes caring for that loved one challenging. Statistics by Dr. Feng presented, “Individuals are living much longer; family structures are changing; women have entered the workforce. With no national health insurance program like Medicare and with the one-child policy that places elder care responsibilities on fewer shoulders” (Dr Feng). To some, the question of placing an elderly family member in long-term care facilities is a difficult one to consider. All too many times the elderly abandoned are not seeing families until visitation funeral ceremonies. Most long-term care facilities have a nice, caring environment. Most facilities have exceptionally trained personnel caring for that family member’s needs and concerns. Being within the nursing field one notices the morale and the health of these forgotten individuals declining rapidly with no family bonds to connect to anymore. The nursing staff and facilities members, attempt to replace the bonds lost between resident and family. The bonds formed with staff and resident, are not equal to seeing a grandchild at holidays, and being included at that special family reunion. It is understandable some family units don t carry the tight connections other ily units share. Family support systems most require on admittance to semiprivate, busy nursing home settings are lost. Surroundings of this... ... middle of paper ... ...perceive, the problem remains today still, and has for several years. One learns and speaks from experience, that the squeaky wheel always gets the grease. It is evident there must be a change, no matter how difficult the task, especially for those of a family member requiring needs and visitation. All together as one the change must be made. Works Cited Dr Andrew Green, Avia Collinder. http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080302/news/news8.html 2 Mar. 2008. Web. 14 Feb. 2014. Dr Feng, Paula Span. http://theworkingcaregiver.org/2011/08/05/are-americans-abandoning-their-parents/ 05 Aug. 2011. Web. 14 Feb. 2014. Gaugler, Joseph E Ph.D. http://www.healthpropress.com/store/gaugler-9071/excerpt.htm 2005. web. 14 Feb 2014. Professor Jerrad Diamond, Judy Lin. http://today.ucla.edu/portal/ut/jared-diamond-on-aging-150571.aspx 07 Jan. 2010. Web. 14 Feb. 2014.

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