Evaluation Proposal on Health Problems - Essay Example

EVALUATION PROPOSAL PROSPECTUS Submitted Submitted by: 04.18 The present paper aims to assess and evaluate the health problems faced by the elderly, and the role the healthcare centers play in respect of providing the elderly with facilities, look after and care while their stay at these centers and organizations. The paper throws light on the attitude and behavior of the young and middle-aged people towards elderly, who ignore the services rendered by them for society and nation during their young age. The study shows that the healthcare organizations are playing formidable part for the convalescent and recovery of the aged by giving them best possible environment and extreme care. The present study will be conducted on the basis of participant observation, where the researcher has planned to interview eight elderly patients and healthcare staff members each to explore the nature of diseases as well as the method of care provided to the aged. The researcher looks for completing his research within 3 to 4 weeks. The participant observation will also be supported with the questions established in the interview schedule, so that psychological problems could also be revealed. The research will be supported with the studied carried out in past on the same or relevant topics and the researcher will add the relevant literature in the study. After the completion of the paper, the findings will be analyzed by applying statistical tests. Elderly Healthcare Programs Assessment Background and Significance The senior citizens are an important part of every social set up, which have rendered noteworthy services for the political, social, cultural and economic growth of their country. Since they are not capable of playing their role in the same effective manner as they had performed it at their young age, they are being neglected and ignored by an overwhelming majority of society. “Abuse and neglect of elderly persons”, Mildenberger & Wessman submit, “particularly by adult family members, is a serious social and health phenomenon that cannot be ignored. Physical therapists who deal with elderly persons must prepare themselves to recognize signs of abuse and neglect and to become familiar with existing intervention agencies and outlets for prevention. (1986: 2) Political authorities have established healthcare centers and institutions for the adequate look after of the aged people. In addition, private sector is also working efficiently in this field on non profit basis to provide them with care and supervision under a comfortable environment. Hence, the health improvement of the aged community is vital both for public and private health sectors. “Health improvement”, Koplan views, “is what public health professionals strive to achieve. To reach this goal, we must devote our skill -- and our will -- to evaluating the effects of public health actions.” (1999: 9) Though few researches have already been conducted in past on the topic under study, yet there exists imperative vacuum in respect of conducting the same study in order to explore the facts and figures regarding the contributions of non- profit organizations working at private and governmental levels for the proper watch over and healthcare programs related to the elderly. It is a fact beyond suspicion that the old people serve as one of the frailest and most vulnerable strata of society, which undergoes various types of diseases and health problems occurred due to deficiency in its immunity level and physical strength. It is therefore, launching of comprehensive programs is imperative to support this stratum while facing health dilemma. The young and middle aged members of society are so much absorbed in their everyday chores and responsibilities that they often ignore their obligations towards this stratum that has once served the society with great passion, vigor and enthusiasm by applying the best of their skills, abilities and energies in nation building activities during their young age. “Laurent (1990: 20) commented on attitudes to old people in Great Britain, that they are regarded as "stupid, decrepit, feeble, or unusually eccentric, wise or sweet natured, and in any event to be patronized." She then referred to a report from the Kings Fund that claimed that "...such attitudes (as above) pervade the health service and mean that services are based on deep seated stereotypes of what old people are like, rather than what they need or want." (Quoted in Parsons, 1993: 7) The young and healthy people forget the level and magnitude of care the elderly require to lead a peaceful and tranquil life at such an old age. Hence, they practice criminal negligence by abhorring the elderly and discarding their place and role within a social establishment. Owen is of the opinion that the society must take its responsibilities into serious considerations towards the aged by adopting a very optimistic approach about them as well as having active participation in solving their problems while their stay at homes, hospitals, old houses and therapeutic centers. “A positive approach has to be adopted, and the capabilities of the frail elderly must never be underestimated, and the problems experienced by the elderly should not be accepted without question.” (Owen, 1990: 102) Various research centers are already working to improve the lot of the elderly. They have got different healthcare programs underway to provide the elderly with mental, physical and psychological relief in their illness. The Elderly Care Research Center (ECRC) is also among these organizations, which is working on multidisciplinary, social research organization affiliated with the Department of Sociology at Case Western Reserve University. “Established in 1967 by its Director, Dr. Eva Kahana, Primary activities of the Center include theory based research on diverse topics relevant to adaptation and well-being of the elderly. A programmatic thrust at the Center has been the focus on health and mental health outcomes of stress, coping and adaptation.” (Kahana, 2002) Hence, the center has concentrated upon the psychiatric disabilities of the elderly by articulating an all-inclusive strategy to combat with emotional stress haunting and challenging the peace of the elderly. The researches conducted on the falling health of the elderly submit to state that the elderly not only undergo physical deficiencies and weaknesses, but also their cerebral faculties are also in constant decline due to their old age, which cause many psychological and mental disorders among the aged. Another organization under the title BMJ is also working to provide the aged with preventive healthcare. “Preventive health care aims to delay the onset of illness and disease and to prevent untimely and premature deaths. But the theory and rhetoric of prevention do not deal with the problem of how such health care applies to people who have already exceeded an average lifespan.” (Quoted in www.bmj.com) But the researches show that the Being a highly significant sociological topic, the researcher has devised an outline to measure the role of the non profit organizations working in order to support the elderly. The following hypothesis has been formulated for the present study: Summary and Hypotheses Every community and stratum of society maintains its significance within a social set up, well being, protection, care and welfare of which is the collective responsibility of all members of society. The same is applied with the senior citizens, which are at such a stage of life where it is almost impossible for them to have an adequate look after of them. It is therefore, young members of family, community and society is considered to have concerns regarding the elderly, so that they could also lead a mentally satisfied life without having tensions and worries about their health, food, nutrition, protection and shelter. Modern technological advancement has revolutionized human life, and men and women are working shoulder to shoulder at different jobs and businesses in order to make both ends meet. Consequently, it has become hard for the family to manage time for the care and supervision of the elderly. The healthcare centers have been established to provide the elderly complete look after under the supervision of the professionals. The present study aims to estimate the influence of the healthcare centers in the health improvement of the elderly and its psychological impact on their life. The research looks for assessing the magnitude of satisfaction the elderly obtain while living under the care of the trained staff of these centers. Research Methodology Participants The researcher aims to enter into interview with sixteen respondents, eight each from the healthcare professionals and the elderly in order to obtain first hand knowledge of the developments being made by the non profit organization for the welfare of the aged people. The researcher aims to divide the research process in two sessions. The first session will take place at the time of the admission of the elderly at the healthcare center; while the second session will be started after 4 weeks of the commencements of their treatment. Procedure The researcher looks for developing two different types of interview schedules to collect the data from the healthcare staff and the elderly respondents. Both the interview schedule will be divided into three sections; section I will be based on the basic information to be gathered from the respondents, while section II will enquire about the health and care given to the elderly. Section III will be established to assess the health improvements taking place during their stay at the centers. The budgeting, funding and allocation of resources will also be the part of the third section of the interview schedule. In addition, the researcher will also conduct participant observation to observe the level of care provided by the centers to the elderly. In addition, the mental and physical illness as well as psychological problems faced by the elderly will also be examined through participant observation. Administering and Interpretation Results The researcher will administer the collected data in tabular and graphic form in order to make it easy to analyze for the interpretation of the results. Students’ t test will be applied for the analyses of the data under study. After the interpretation of final results, suggestions and recommendations will be presented to improve the lot of the elderly on the one hand, and for conducting of the research on the same or relevant study on the other. ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY Fuchs, Victor R. Healthcare for the Elderly: How Much? Who will pay for it? The Business of Medicine Volume 1 No. 1 (1999) Pages 1-5 In this article the author has pointed out towards the rapid increase in the expenditures being spent on the healthcare of the elderly. The author is of the opinion that a significant part of the total GDP is being allocated for this purpose in order to provide the elderly with best possible ways to improve their health. The technological advancement and revolutionary developments has been made in the field of medicine and pharmacology has also left positive impacts upon their health, but use of technology has turned the treatment very expensive and costly. The author, based on his in-depth analyses, submits to state that the new discoveries and technological inventions in medical professions have boosted up the scope of research and knowledge, and the professionals are now more aware of the treatment techniques and methods. The most exasperating issue faced by the society is the constant increase in expenditures that require heavy budgeting to combat the financial problems the therapeutic centers and healthcare organizations undergo. The author contains grave reservations regarding the unabated increase in the budget being spent on this stratum of society that has become the most unproductive yet most expensive one, and causes in the imbalances of budget volume. Chi, Iris Chi & Chou, Kee-Lee Social Support and Depression among Elderly Chinese People in Hong Kong The International Journal of Aging and Human Development Volume 52, Number 3/2001 Baywood Publishing Company, Inc. 26 Austin Avenue NY 11701 Pages 231-252 Chi & Chou (2001) have conducted their research on Chinese people in order to estimate the role of social support in their emotional and psychological cure and recovery. The researchers are of the opinion that if the family members of the elderly pay due heed to the senior members, it will be highly supportive in respect of mitigating their mental retardation and emotional collapse. In addition, the attention and consideration given by the social network of the elderly also serves as a source of great relief for the old people. The research concludes the very reality that if the staff members of the therapeutic center are paying their duties in a devoted and professional way, the probabilities of the rehabilitation of the sick elderly will accelerate to a great extent. Consequently, the elderly will find themselves under the care of safe and secure shelter. Embertson, Mari K. The Importance of Middle Managers in Healthcare Organizations Journal of Healthcare Management July 01, 2006 In his essay under the title the Importance of Middle Managers in Healthcare Organizations, Embertson (2006) has highlighted the role played by the middle managers in providing care to the sick individuals of society. The author views that the role middle managers play is not as important as it was in past in respect of devising strategies and implementing them at organizational level; on the contrary, the middle management now serves as an impediment to speed, flexibility, and agility required for the immediate relief of the patients as well as for the healthcare firms and organizations. In the same way, Embertson argues that without the presence of the managers and the services they render, the organizations are unable to work effectively for the relief of the patients. Longest, Beaufort B. Building Competence in Corporate Citizenship in Healthcare Organizations: Advances in Applied Business Strategy. Emerald Group Publishing Company Limited Volume 9 2006 Pages 169-189 Longest (2005) has also conducted his study on corporate citizenship and has presented suggestions for the improvement of competence in healthcare organizations. The writer is of the opinion that it is social expectations and pressures that work for the enhancement of competence in healthcare staff. Moreover, the incentives and privileges on the one hand, and punishments and penalties announced by the leadership of the organization also contribute to the work performance of the workers and employees of healthcare organizations. Since healthcare organizations play pivotal part for the cure of the sick members of society, proper education, training and supervision of their staff is extremely necessary and highly imperative for the welfare of society at large. Parsons, Alison. 1993 Attitudes to the Elderly (Retrieved from http://www.ciap.health.nsw.gov.au/hospolic/stvincents/1993/a06.html) Parsons (1993) has described the miserable condition of the elderly in his article under the title Attitudes to the Elderly. She laments on the cruel and harsh behavior young generation adopts towards the elderly by presenting facts and figures with reference to Australia. Her words and diction elaborates her command over the subject of gerontology, as well as the problems faced by the old people. The author is of the opinion that the percentage of the old people is in constant increase that will accelerate the problems of the senior citizens. Since the present day young people, according to the author, will become aged within years, so that they should keep it in mind that they would also have to undergo the same attitude and behavior as they are exercising towards their seniors in age. She grieve over the very fact that the young generation views the old people as non-sense, dim-witted and useless fools, which are mere burden on economy and their presence strikes the growth rate and pace of development as well. Since the elderly have already been undergoing serious mental and physical weaknesses, and are unable to perform their trivial chores even, so negligence of their family, friends and society badly tells upon their frail nerves and mental health. Under such a precarious scenario, the healthcare personnel step forward to pacify the aged people on the one hand, and lend them a hand to perform all their duties and obligations on the other. It is why the healthcare organizations are serving the society in the best possible way. Collison, D. 1992 Nurses attitudes to the elderly are crucial. New Zealand Nursing Journal 85(4): 2. Collison looks for the better status for the elderly in society. He is of the view that healthy relationship between different strata of society is the only guarantee for the peaceful, pleasant and healthy atmosphere. The writer blames young individuals as one of the most dominant reason behind the falling health of the old people. "Unfortunately”, he submits, “our society still tends to hold negative attitudes about ageing and the aged, and declares them undue obstacle on the way to their social, cultural and economic activities.” (1992: 2) The young state that the family had to get the elderly participate in cultural and religious festivals, during which the elderly often turn ill and make the entire ceremony as drab and dull. The author states that it is nurses and medical staff that plays most formidable and friendly behavior towards the aged and keeps them neat, clean and free from undernourishment, physical pains and sufferings. Thus, instead of showing love, affection and sympathies to the senior members of family, the children and grand children look annoyed at the health problems of the aged. The literature above-cited presents a crystal clear picture of the circumstances experienced by the sick elderly in developed countries of the world. The research also throws light on the attitude and behavior of the young and middle-aged individuals towards the aged. The research proves that healthcare organizations have launched a crusade against the problems faced by the elderly due to their illness. The formidable role played by the nursing staff and therapeutic centers is really admirable, where they sacrifice their personal comforts in order to provide best possible services to the elderly. REFERENCES: Chi, Iris Chi & Chou, Kee-Lee Social Support and Depression among Elderly Chinese People in Hong Kong The International Journal of Aging and Human Development Volume 52, Number 3/2001 Baywood Publishing Company, Inc. 26 Austin Avenue NY 11701 Pages 231-252 Collison, D. 1992 Nurses attitudes to the elderly are crucial. New Zealand Nursing journal. 85(4): 2. Embertson, Mari K. The Importance of Middle Managers in Healthcare Organizations Journal of Healthcare Management July 01, 2006 Fuchs, Victor R. 1999 Healthcare for the Elderly: How Much? Who will pay for it? The Business of Medicine Volume 1 No. 1 Koplan, Jeffrey P. (1999) Framework for Program Evaluation in Public Health: Recommendations & Reports (Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr4811a1.htm) Laurent, C. 1990 Time to Listen Nursing Times. 86(8): 20. Mildenberger, Cheryl & Wessman, Henry C. 1986 Abuse and Neglect of Elderly Persons by Family Members A Special Communication Volume 66 / Number 4, April 1986 http://ptjournal.apta.org/cgi/reprint/66/4/537.pdf Owen, R E. 1990 The Frail Elderly of Society (http://smj.sma.org.sg/3102/3102la2.pdf) Parsons, Alison. 1993 Attitudes to the Elderly http://www.ciap.health.nsw.gov.au/hospolic/stvincents/1993/a06.html http://www.searo.who.int/LinkFiles/Research_Abstracts_Health_of_the_Elderly.pdf http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/335/7614/285 Read More