caring for elderly?

Question

Caring for the elderly who need assistance differ from culture to culture. in the US, nursing homes often provide assistance to the elderly, relieving the family of daily responsibilities. in other cultures, the elderly stays with the family, maintaining intergenerational contact. which alternative do you think is better? Explain why.

Answer 1

I hve worked in long term care for 11 years. I feel that it depends on the level of care the person requires, and how much the family can handle. You have to understand that some need care 24hrs a day, and people needs to be able to live their lives. Some elderly people will need this 24hr care for years, so in those cases, I feel a proper nursing home is the right choice. In the cases of Alzheimers and different dementias, it is very important as these people can get so lost, and 1 or 2 people at home cannot possibly handle what goes along with these terrible diseases. I do feel that some people could cope very well that are in nursing homes, at home with family if the proper support was their, however your question is too vauge, and it really depends on the level of care the individual requires, and the cognative level of the individual. Eachcase is unique as each individual is unique.

Answer 2

I think that we are fortunate in that our aging population has many choices for long term care. I think the family structure, financial restrictions and distance in most cases dictates what arrangements are best in each situation. I know having been a nurse in a very higly rated long term care facility (nice way to say nursing home), I swore I'd never ever place my mother in one...not even that one...well, years later I had to eat my words....I completely burned out after caring for her 24/7 while she died of lymphoma. The last 2 months were spent in the very nursing home I had worked, on my hall with my old nurses.....and I am so glad I did that...I still stayed by my mom's side a lot....but I had the option of turning away and crying (not that we didn't cry together, too) or stepping out for coffee without worrying she would be in danger. Unfortunately many long term care facilites have gotten some pretty serious charges in past years...If a loved one is put there the care and ADL's should be closely monitored...and my favorite advice is to show upo at 2:30 am both before you place a loved one in a home and often once they've become a resident. Long term care facilities should treat each person as a resident. I think that keeping a dying loved one at home is also quite possible...but a network of friends, clergy and hopefully the community hospice is an integral link in doing so successfully, without the primary caregiver collapsing...which is very common.. This is a very hard decision to make, and again, each situation is different and pros and cons must be carefully weighed....great question

Answer 3

In most cases, it takes two working adults to maintain the financial needs of a family. For one adult to remain at home and forfeit a second income is not foreseeable in a lot of families.

When one puts an elderly family member into a nursing home, it is not to relieve the family of daily responsibilities as you mentioned but maintain the family income and a roof over every ones head. I believe it is almost no different when a family must put their young into Day Care which is very difficult for some parents and not difficult at all for others.

Answer 4

I believe in multi-generational living. The elders are cared for by all members of the family, with the oldest doing the care planning an organization. It is not always easy, or fun or even rewarding, however you and your family will be brought closer because of it...your children will learn sacrifice and respect...and the real meaning of love of family. When the elders pass away, there will be no regrets...because everyone in the family helped and did the best they could do. The grief will be shared and each family member will be supported in their grief. And then, the circle continues.

Answer 5

Im not sure where you got your information from but I am a American.I care for my 69 year old step father who is a diabetic and is losing his mind.There is nursing homes here but they are in other countries also.I am a mother of 6 minor boys.If I felt like he would be better off in a nursing home then I would put him in one.I think that if family can and are willing to care for their elderly loved one then that is good.But if they are gonna half @ss care for them just to take their money and belongings then the persons needs to be in a nursing home.

Answer 6

Caring for them in your home would be best. To many elderly get put into homes and then eventually they get forgot about or abuse and neglected by staff.