Caring for Older Adults - Essay Example

"Caring for Older Adults" is a wonderful example of a paper on social and family issues. The age group of sixty years old and above is increasing faster than any other age group globally. The older group is also most likely to be affected by several psychological, physical, and social factors that may negatively influence their health. Besides health and basic needs, older people also need love, respect, and companionship, among others. Care for this older age group may be home-based or be done in a health center depending on individual health needs.
Essential Lessons on Caring for Older Adults
Taking care of older adults is not an easy task; hence it requires people with skills and experience to handle them. From my research and experience, I have learned some important things regarding caring for older people. First, it is essential to assess the caregiver's character before appointing them to take care of the elderly. The caregivers should be professional and have a sense of empathy towards the older adult.
Most of the complaints forwarded to caregiving agencies involve cases of unprofessionalism and cases of caregivers who behave in a cold and unsympathetic manner. The complaints emanate from caregivers who take up the job because of a good salary, without having a passion for their work, and later end up behaving unprofessionally and risking the mental and physical health of the elderly (Batista et al.,2014). Therefore, it is a crucial factor to look past the qualifications of a caregiver and consider their personality.
Second, I learned that older people are more comfortable and stay healthier when taken care of at home. Unless the individual needs crucial medical attendance in the hospital, they should stay in an environment that they are used to, surrounded by their loved ones. The care will involve scheduled visits from the care providers in their homes. Additionally, home-based care enables the elderly to develop a sense of confidence and independence, which will enable them to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Finally, I learned that social inclusion plays a crucial role in helping older adults lead healthy life. The elderly should be allowed to play an active role in the family and community since isolation could cause them emotional distress. Promoting social participation for the elderly is also recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) (Dawson-Townsend, 2019). Social activities involve specific and voluntary actions that the elderly will enjoy, gain self-actualization, and help them increase their self-esteem, which is also key to living a healthy life.
Changes in Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes
During the semester, I improved my knowledge and skills regarding caring for older adults, especially technology. A good example is the use of a Global Positioning System (GPS) to locate an older person who might get lost (Wan et al., 2016). As people grow old, memory loss becomes more common due to conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer's, which places them at high risk. The GPS has also been updated, and the company has produced trackers that can be attached in clothes, shoes, or bags, which makes it easy for the caregivers and family to keep the older adults away from danger.
I also learned new skills in using phone apps to track the progress of older adults under one’s responsibility. The apps are beneficial as they help the family, caregivers, and health assistants track medication and heart rate. Besides health concerns, phone technology also helps the elderly stay in touch with their loved ones who live far and stay entertained. Additionally, I also learned the skills of helping the elderly with assistant devices that help them in speech, hearing, and motion.
Finally, during the semester, I also encountered a change in attitude towards caring for older adults. The lessons helped me realize that aging is an inevitable process, and thus it is only right to treat the elderly with care (Kydd & Wild, 2013). Additionally, I learned that interacting with the elderly while looking after them could help one learn a lot from life, besides health skills. By the end of the semester, I had developed a sense of patience, care, and understanding needed to look after the elderly.
Practicing Changes in Future
From the lessons learned throughout the semester, I will talk to my peers about the importance of taking care of older adults. I will use the changes in attitude to influence them and help them look at the brighter side of the activity rather than viewing it as a nuisance. Through the assistance of some organizations, I will encourage the concept of social participation of the elderly in voluntary community services. The activities will help them feel part of the community and help them relieve stress and negative thoughts.
Conclusion
As one grows old, they become more dependent on those around them for almost all their needs. The caregivers should be willing and have the right skills and attitudes to offer them personalized care. The skills will help them celebrate their age and the things they can, and seek help where they get challenges. Additionally, caregivers will enable them to lead a healthy and happy life and stay safe despite their old age.