CARE OF THE ELDERLY.
Who are the elderly?
What do you think happens to the elderly people in the US?
Who do you think takes care of them?
What is a family matter?
Who takes care of the elderly in the united states today? The fact is that family members provide over 80% of the care that elderly people need. Most times, the elderly live in their own homes. A very small percent of America's elderly live in nursing homes.
Samuel H. Preston, a sociologist at the University of Pennsylvania, studied how the American family is changing. He reported that by the time the average American couple reaches 40 years of age, their parents are usually still alive. This statistic shows the change in lifestyles and responsibilities of aging Americans. The average middle-aged couple can look forward to caring for elderly parents sometime after their own children have grown up. Moreover, because people today live longer after an illness than people did years ago, family members must provide long-term care. These facts also mean that after caregivers provide for their elderly parents, who will eventually die, they will be old and may require care too. When they do, their spouses will probably take care of them because they have had fewer children than their parents did.
Because Americans are living longer than ever, more psychologists and social workers have begun to study ways of caregiving to improve care of the elderly. They have found that all caregiving share a common characteristic: They believe that they are the best person for the job, for different reasons. One caregiver said that she had always been close to her mother. Another was the oldest child. Another was the youngest child. Regardless of the reason, the caregivers all felt that they could do the job better than anyone else. Social workers interviewed caregivers to find out why they took on the responsibility of caring for an elderly, dependent relative. They discovered three basic reasons. Many caregivers believed that they had an obligation to help their relative. Some stated that helping others made them feel more useful. Others hoped that by helping someone now, they would deserve care when they became old and dependent.
When people care for an elderly relative, they often do not use available community services, such as adult day-care centers. If the caregivers are adult children, they are more likely to use such services, especially because they often have jobs and other responsibilities. In contrast, a spouse, usually the wife, is much less likely to use support services or to put the dependent person in a nursing home. Social workers discovered that the wife normally tries to take care of her husband herself for as long as she can in order not to use up their life savings.
Researchers have found that caring for the elderly can be a very positive experience. The elderly appreciated the care and attention they received. They were affectionate and cooperative. However, even when caregivers is satisfying, it is hard work. Social workers caregivers help when arranging for the care of an elderly relative. One consideration is to ask parents what they want before they become sick or dependent. perhaps they prefer going into a nursing home, and can select one in advance. On the other hand, they may want to live with their adult children. Caregivers must also learn to be assertive and ask for help from others, especially siblings. Brothers and sisters are often willing to help, but they may not know what to do.
We can expect to live longer lives than ever before in American history. Caring for the elderly and being taken care of can be a mutually satisfying experience for everyone involved.