| Introduction | | | | to access all these benefits at once. As matter of |
| Society, health practitioners and administrators all have | | | | fact, some older people may suffer silently without |
| differing opinions about promoting independence | | | | getting all the funding that they are entitled to. It would |
| among older people, more so because this category | | | | therefore be more effective if a number of disciplines |
| of people has a wide range of health and social needs. | | | | worked together to provide funding hence helping the |
| The essay shall look at this in the perspective of the | | | | older generation in maintaining their independence. |
| family, service providers and older people themselves. | | | | (Heywood et al, 2002) |
| Contemporary issues associated with supporting | | | | Intra disciplinary efforts are particularly useful owing to |
| independence in older people with complex health and | | | | the fact that each discipline can get a chance to focus |
| social needs | | | | on the needs of the older person. This means that |
| The issue of finance is a particularly challenging one | | | | older people get special attention and may get a |
| when trying to promote older people. This is because | | | | chance of pursuing their independence through |
| most older people have surpassed retirement age a | | | | specialized support. For instance, when representatives |
| long time ago and may not have the ability to take | | | | from the health sector work together, then they can |
| care of their complex health or social needs. This is | | | | come up with the most efficient mode of supporting |
| why stakeholders such as health administrators and | | | | the older generation. Additionally, professions within the |
| the federal government have been looking for ways | | | | transport sector can collaborate to provide senior cities |
| of financing such projects. In the year 2006, US the | | | | with their specialized modes of transport. Also, the |
| government attempted to modernize the older | | | | housing sector can also come together and look for |
| people's Act. This was done by providing a total of | | | | ways of renovation older people's home. This can go |
| four billion dollars in order to assist in promotion of their | | | | a long way in enhancing their independence because |
| independence. Additionally, the federal state was also | | | | they will have solid support from different parts of the |
| able to look for half a million volunteers who help in | | | | social or health environment. |
| proving older people with some of the issues that they | | | | How different models of care (acute, rehabilitation) can |
| needed. The same concept can be transferred to | | | | influence quality and outcome of care provision |
| Australia. (Koch & Garratt, 2001) | | | | Care may be implemented through a series of |
| The issue of day care services usually crops up when | | | | methods. For instance, when care is implemented |
| talking about older people. However, in order to | | | | through acute systems, then little emphasis is placed |
| promote independence, it is necessary for older people | | | | on the older person as a special group; that is, he is |
| to delay joining nursing homes. This is so because of | | | | merely considered as a patient. However, when care |
| the fact that some older people enter into nursing | | | | is implemented through specialist programs, then |
| homes at an age where they can still manage on their | | | | chances are that older people can attain some form |
| own. It therefore becomes an avenue for wastage of | | | | of independence in their lives. This is because their |
| resources. Besides this, it also makes older people feel | | | | ailments are attended to with specific attention to their |
| that they always need help around them even when | | | | needs. (Davis, 2006) |
| tasks are relatively simple to fulfill. (The Department of | | | | Benefits/barriers to promoting independence in older |
| Health and Ageing, 2005) | | | | people |
| Another trend in the promotion of the independence of | | | | Promoting independence at home has numerous |
| older people with health and social problems is the | | | | benefits. Fort of all, it promotes netter health. This is |
| issue of counseling. Older people need to be led on | | | | because one realizes that they are responsible for |
| how to cope with their health or social problems. The | | | | their own health and will be more inclined to take care |
| country has numerous counseling forums for the older | | | | of it that if they were in a nursing home here someone |
| generation. This can be found in health care institutions, | | | | else can do it for them. Besides this, promoting |
| it could also be found in palliative services or specific | | | | independence among older people also improves the |
| counseling centers. The purpose of counseling is to | | | | quality of their social lives. They can get a chance of |
| direct older people on how to manage their health | | | | enjoying their old age rather than sitting around and |
| complications independently. In close relation to this | | | | waiting for help. A number of independent programs |
| trend is emphasis on prevention. Health facilities and | | | | usually encourage socialization through any of the |
| older people's programs have realized that most of the | | | | following |
| health complications that older people are undergoing | | | | - Cooking lessons |
| can be prevented. This can be done by avoiding | | | | - Computing lessons |
| unhealthy habits such as drinking, smoking or eating | | | | - Making cards |
| unhealthy foods. However, the prevention measures | | | | - Painting |
| usually work for those older people who have not | | | | - Card painting |
| registered any health complications in the first place. | | | | All these activities are taught to senior citizens when |
| Prevention can be seen as long term strategy where | | | | they are in groups. Usually, the atmosphere chosen for |
| less older people are taught about having behavioral | | | | socialization is quite relaxed and most of them |
| change. These programs usually focus on the following | | | | consider is as fun time activity. (Killick & Allan, 2001) |
| issues | | | | One of the barriers towards promoting independence |
| - Nutrition | | | | among older people is the perception carried forward |
| - Exercise | | | | by health professionals. Many nurses and doctors alike |
| - Prevention of falls | | | | tend to neglect older people. This is because they |
| - Management of chronic diseases on an individual | | | | assume that their medical conditions have been |
| basis (Eliopoulos, 2005) | | | | brought on by their age and that this is just a natural |
| Evidence shows that those areas that have adopted | | | | progression in life. Actually, most care providers |
| such low –cost preventive measures have | | | | assume that older people may be approaching death |
| recorded positive outcomes. These include the | | | | soon. This makes them a second consideration (after |
| improvement of quality of health care among the older | | | | younger patients) during the treatment process. |
| people and reduction of the cost of health care met | | | | Another impediment to promotion of independence |
| by older people. | | | | among older people is related to the lack of advice |
| Another emerging issue about the promotion of | | | | from the latter health practitioners. Most medical |
| independence among older people is the involvement | | | | professionals usually focus their energies advising |
| and cooperation of differing groups. For instance, | | | | younger people to avoid junk, do exercise etc. Very |
| senior citizens homes are directly involved in promoting | | | | few of them advice the older generation on how to |
| independence. They may work with religious-based | | | | prevent health related complications. Consequently, |
| organizations. It is also possible to find that most of | | | | they end up leaving the older generation with these |
| these groups usually collaborating with senior housing | | | | problems and this severely undermines their |
| initiators and nutrition related centers. (The Australian | | | | independence. (The Department of Health & Ageing, |
| Pharmaceutical Advisory Council, 2002) | | | | 2004) |
| Importance of intra and inter disciplinary care in supply | | | | Families may also be barriers to independence of older |
| and promotion of independence in older people | | | | people. When older people gain their independence, |
| Inter disciplinary care is imperative to the promotion of | | | | they usually go to their relatives or the children to stay |
| independence among the older generation. The first | | | | with them. When these children have families of their |
| area where this can be applicable is in the preventative | | | | own, they may consider the older person as an |
| programs. For instance in the UK, some clinics have | | | | impediment to their progress. They feel as though their |
| been trying to promote independence among older | | | | older parents are interfering in their family affairs and |
| people using this approach; they usually get a variety | | | | this causes tensions. Consequently, most of them end |
| of professionals who talk to older people about | | | | up sending their parents to nursing homes where they |
| lifestyle changes. The same concept can and has | | | | are quite dependent. (Miller, 2004) |
| been transferred to Australia. Here, service providers | | | | Conclusion |
| can conduct physical check ups such as weight | | | | Promotion of independence among older people is |
| checks, blood pressure checks, minor dressing and | | | | possible and necessary for the attainment of better |
| other small tests. Police on the other hand can play | | | | quality of life and also for prolonging their lifestyles. Inter |
| their part by advising older people about how to avoid | | | | and intra disciplinary care is necessary and so is |
| injuries in the home. A substantial number of health | | | | good-will from family members. |
| complications among older people are caused by this | | | | Reference: |
| careless mistakes. On top that, even the fire | | | | Chiva, A & Stears, D (2001): Promoting the health of |
| department can intercept and inform older people | | | | older people; Open University Press |
| about safety in their homes. Besides this, health | | | | Heywood, F. et al (2002): Housing and home in later |
| practitioners can collaborate with transport providers in | | | | life; Open University Press. |
| order take services to the community. This can go a | | | | Eliopoulos, C. (2005): Gerontological nursing; |
| long way in ensuring that the respective senior citizens | | | | Philadelphia: Lippincott & Wilkins |
| have the assurance and guidance they need to control | | | | Davis, S (2006): Rehabilitation: Use of theories and |
| their health and also to receive reassurance. (Chiva & | | | | models in practice; Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh |
| Stears, 2001) | | | | Koch, S & Garratt, S, (2001): Assessing older people: |
| Interdisciplinary care is also necessary in the financial | | | | a practical guide for health professionals; Maclennan |
| aspects of care. Some older people may need | | | | and Petty |
| access to funding for medication while others may | | | | Killick, J & Allan, K (2001): Communication and the |
| need it for transport among other things. The country | | | | care of people with dementia; Open University Press |
| has numerous benefits under different disciplines. It | | | | Miller, C. |
| therefore becomes very difficult for the senior citizen | | | | |