strategy
Caring for the aged
Synonyms:
Increasing motivation to care for the agedCaring for the elderly
Description:
Providing medical, social and psychological assistance for those who the aging process has rendered unable to care for themselves. Context:
Prior to the 20th century, care for the aged was largely the responsibility of the family. Before the industrial revolution the aged were not considered a separate class needing special care. During the 19th century the processes of industrialization of agriculture and manufacturing, increased mobility of families and urbanization resulted in the disruption of social institutions. The family has become a one or two generation social unit instead of a 3 or 4 generation unit with unmarried adult relatives doing household work. Social, economic, and medical advances have extended life expectancy of people, thus aggravating the problem.Initially social legislation was based on the belief that poverty and unemployment are voluntary. This resulted in often harsh or punitive action with minimal medical care and little social and intellectual stimulation. Elders were institutionalized in almshouses, poorhouses and sometimes public hospitals. By the last half of the 19th century specialized institutions for orphans, feeble-minded and the sick were admitting the aged and conditions began to improve.
Implementation:
The two conventional solutions to care for the aged are either (1) to go bankrupt trying to keep promises made to the elderly during their working time, because the elderly percentage of the population is systematically increasing over time or (2) to cut back the support to match the available funds. Since 1995, the Sawayaka Health Foundation in Japan has successfully implemented a third solution. It consists of complementing whatever services are provided by the national health insurance with a network of service providers paid in [Hureai Kippu] which means "caring relationship tickets". The unit is the hour of service and different tariffs apply to different types of services and times. The credits can be used by the owner for their own health support or that of an ageing relative in another part of the country. More than 300 systems are currently operational in Japan. The Chinese government is implementing a similar process since 2001. Broader:
Providing health servicesProviding for ageing peopleWorking in caring professionProviding comprehensive care structures Narrower:
Caring for dementiaSponsoring a grandparentProviding old-age pensionsProviding company in old ageTreating illness of the elderlyAdvancing geriatric therapeuticsIncreasing housebound seniors' mobilityProviding support services for persons with disabilitiesProtecting against vulnerability of the elderly under states of emergencyCaring for parents Constrained by:
Neglecting the elderlyRequiring the elderly to die Facilitates:
Witnessing human finitude in ageingEnhancing personal security of old peopleBreaking down social isolation of the elderly Facilitated by:
Caring for the chronically illReporting negligent old age careImproving long-term patient careCreating complementary currenciesEnsuring social rights of the aged Problems:
Abusive treatment of the agedBurden of caring for elderly relations
Crisis in long-term pension funds
Insufficient retirement funds
Neglect of the aged
Organizations:
International Association of GerodontologyHelpAge InternationalInternational Association of Aged Care References:
United Nations: The World Aging Situation: strategies and policiesLietaer, Bernard: The Future of Money: Creating new wealth, work and a wiser world Subjects:
ElderlyCare Type Classification:
C: Cross-sectoral strategies