Issues Related to Elderly Care

As life expectancy grows and populations age, more and more elderly people require care at some point in their later lives. Whether provided by care workers in care homes or by family members, the quality of life for older people can be greatly improved if the issues relating to elderly care are fully understood.

Diet

• Older people require a healthy diet with the same vitamins and minerals as younger people. High-calorie snack foods and food with high sugar content should be avoided, as the elderly tend to have less active lifestyles. Hydration is important and should be monitored closely, because people tend to be less sensitive to thirst as they age. The kidneys also become less efficient, and dehydration is a greater risk.

Mental Health

• The degenerative brain disease Alzheimer's can occur among the older population, and symptoms of excessive forgetfulness and confusion could be a signal of its onset. Older people can become isolated and feel lonely, which has an adverse effect on their state of mind. Regular social contact with others helps minimize these feelings.

Independence

• Older people should be encouraged to continue their normal daily routines for as long as possible. Shopping, cleaning and attending social gatherings, such as church, all help to keep an older person active and independent. If an older person has mobility problems but still wishes to participate in these activities, the caretaker should be prepared to assist her in doing so.

Dignity

• If an elderly person is frail and finds it difficult to bathe, dress or feed himself, he should always be encouraged to try to do as much of these tasks as possible. He should be asked if he would like some help rather than being told that he cannot do the task himself. Caretakers should also not assume that the mind of the elderly person is not as sharp as it was 20 years ago just because he is physically incapable of performing some everyday tasks.