What The Decline In Aged Care Standards Could Mean For YouOctober 28th, 2011
Author: Byron JonasThere is no doubt that the decline in aged care standards offers everyone something to worry about. As a social issue the problem runs deep into the devaluing of aging individuals and the obsession with youth. Families of today do not have ready solutions on hand when faced with parents who are getting older and families that demand attention.
Without improvement within the system there will not be an improvement in the quality that is offered to today’s elderly. The lack of respect and concern filters into everything from the availability of affordable medications to the lack of volunteers for the aging population. The need for basic concern for clean beds and proper medication with adequate meals is just the beginning.
Warehousing of people causes a greater effect on health, mental acuity, and life expectancy. It leads to depression of the staff as well as the patients. The current regulations create a systematic grouping of people that determines the level of quality they receive. This applies not only to facilities but to the entire system of medical as well as social service qualifications.
Outside of facilities many of today’s elderly face the same issues. They can not qualify for transportation to and from their medical visits and they can not rely solely on volunteer organizations for food, clothing, and medication. Without insurance approval they can not receive in home help that will provide for their needs or give them the ability to stay in their homes independently.
The cost of becoming older today is out of reach for most of the aging population. While retirement incomes and pensions have certainly helped provide for some, the freeze on Social Security benefits has impeded the aging population in their attempts to stay at home and maintain their independence. With nursing homes as the only real solution to such situations the facilities are becoming packed with too many applications and not enough beds, rooms, or staff members.
The question of how to change the situation has become clearly misunderstood. Political platforms are often created to point the finger at strict insurance companies while much of the problem clearly lies elsewhere. Insurance companies are only partially responsible for the declining aging situation.
Insurance companies hold the key to providing better coverage for the aging population so they can afford their medications, afford to eat, and afford to maintain their life. The rest of the problem goes much deeper than that.
In order to change the decline in aged care standards the entire community needs to become more creative and considerate within their activities. Advocacy for better inspection standards and involvement in mentally and socially valuable activities is just the beginning. Creative solutions will include a change in attitude toward the aging population. The generations that will follow today’s level of promise is not looking forward to a better situation. Until everyone comes together and demands respect and real change for the elderly the problems of today will only carry over into tomorrow.
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