Chapter 7 pp4 aging the impact on caregivers housing and health care
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Transcript of Chapter 7 pp4 aging the impact on caregivers housing and health care
Aging: The Impact on Caregivers, Housing, and
Health Care
Role of the Caregiver• Adult children provide much of the
support to elderly parents, with daughters providing more support than sons.
– Informal support – the unpaid help that is given by friends, neighbours and family.
– Formal support – the doctors, nurses and social workers involved in the caring for the elderly.
Children As Caregiver• Both men & women report strongly that children should support their parents emotionally, physically and financially.
• A stress of caregiving is that parents see the amount of support given as less than what the children say they give.
• Psychologists refer to this difference as the “developmental stake” - Older people may de-emphasize the amount of support they receive so that they do not see themselves as a burden.
Partner As Caregiver• Most older
Canadians report that their spouse is their main support, even if they are old and frail.
• 75% of of elderly persons rely exclusively on their spouses for care.
Caregiver Burden• Caregiver burden refers to the
problems and stress that results from caregiving.
• both rewarding and depressing for caregiver
• Spouses suffer as see spouses suffering
• caregivers may have health burdens themselves, and fewer financial or social resources to draw on.
Caregiver Burden• Stresses are likely to increase in the future as:
• More women enter the workforce
• Houses become smaller
• Greater geographic mobility
• More children are staying at home.
• The caregiver burden does not end after the person is placed in an institution.
Quasi-Widowhood• healthy spouse felt relief that
their spouses were in an institution, but they also felt failure, anger, guilt, sadness, depression, loneliness, and grief.
• They eventually accepted the loss of their spouse as a friend and companion and restructured their lives outside of the institution.
Independent Living Arrangements for the
Elderly• There are less than 5% of the aging population
in long term facilities, and 100000 people waiting for beds.
• Living in the family home is most desirable.
• Moving into an apartment.
• Living with older children.
• Living in sheltered housing where help with food and cleaning is provided.
Elderly Women• There has been a great increase in the past
several decades in the number of elderly women who live alone.
• Maybe because people have fewer children.
• More likely the values of independence and autonomy have had a great impact on this trend.
Granny Flats
• spaces created seperately for elderly parent
• Used in US and Australia – Canadians prefer in-law suites.
Embracing the Health Promotion Model
• Three models of health care are currently in use in Canada, although the one we rely on most heavily is the medical model:
• Focuses on the treatment of diseases / injuries.
• Favours surgery, drug therapy and rehabilitation provided in a physicians office, hospital or other health care institution controlled by doctors.
• Very expensive way to deliver health care costs.
Embracing the Health Promotion Model
• The social model is a small but growing part of health care as more older people need continuing or long-term care.
• Incorporates personal and family counseling, home care, and adult daycare programs as part of the healthcare system.
• The doctor is part of a team with other professionals.
• Care takes place within the community not in an institution.
• Keeps the elderly in their homes, which costs less than the medical model.
Embracing the Health Promotion Model
• The health promotion model focuses on prevention of disease through:
• Lifestyle change.
• Increased knowledge about healthy behaviour.
• Environment improvement.
• This model may actually save the health care system by keeping people healthier longer.
Embracing the Health Promotion Model
• Clinics that focus on disease prevention and health promotion are known as wellness clinics.
• They encourage people to take responsibility for improving / maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
• Can perhaps decrease reliance on our overburdened and expensive health care system.
Putting a New Face on Aging
• More than any other group, those over 55 say that they exercise daily, eat less fat and fried food.
• They smoke less, drink less, and wear their seatbelt more often.
• They snowboarding, rock climbing, mountain biking – not what you would normally associate with seniors.
• Most purchasers of Harley Davidson motorcycles and Fender Stratocaster guitars are middle aged professionals.