CULTURAL AN !"#!RA$%&C &''"R"NC"S Traditionally elder care has been the responsibility o( (amily members &ncreasingly in modern societies) elder care is no/ bein provided by state or charitable institutions.
The reasons (or this change include *decreasin family si(e, *the reater life e0pectancy of elderly people, *the eoraphical dispersion of families, and *the tendency for /omen to be educated and /or+ outside
the   home"
 
3n most /estern countries, elder care facilities are freestandin assisted livin facilities, nursin homes, and Continuin Care Retirement Communities %CCRCs&"
3n the 4nited 'tates# $ost of the lare multi*(acility providers are publicly o+ned and managed as (or*pro,t businesses.
 
6iven the choice, Ain in place # *continue to live in their o/n homes %most elders /ould prefer& *problem # ma=ority of elderly people gradually lose (unctioning ability and
require either additional assistance in the home ***"ventually most o(
them move to an eldercare (acility.
 
The (amily is one o( the most important providers (or the elderly"
3n fact, the ma=ority of careivers for the elderly are often members o( their o+n (amily, most often a dauhter or a randdauhter" .amily and friends can provide a home %i"e" have elderly relatives live /ith them&, help :"/ith money and ;"meet social needs by visitin, 9"ta+in them out on trips, etc"
 
A distinction is enerally made bet/een medical and non!medical care"
3n the 4', @7 of the one million or so residents in assisted livin facilities pay (or care out o( their o+n (unds. The rest get help (rom (amily and (riends and (rom state agencies.
Assisted livin facilities usually do not meet edicare1s requirements"
 
 
 
&mproving mobility in the elderly
 
Therapy designed to improve mobility in elderly patients
 
:"!&NN&N! ;#UR 8#URN"; T%R#U!% "L"R CAR"
$ust be prepare Your loved oneFs medical history, .inancial resources, personality, Relationships /ith potential careivers, )ro0imity to services and other factors all determine the best approach to ta+e"
 
 
3n the ma=ority of households the assistance that seniors receive usually comes from their children"
3n many families seniors never imained that they miht need assistance from the children" Li+e/ise, many children of ain parents never thouht that they /ould be assistin their parents
as they ae" 'ometimes, this children assistin parent role
 
T%"R" AR" S&= 769 0"; ST"$S T# '#LL#< #N %#< T# "AL <&T% A!&N! $AR"NTS>
:" ;ou should prepare yoursel( and your (amily (or the underta-ing" Even thouh this is your parent, it is li+e includin another from member of the family in a sinicant /ay"  ;our spouse and your children should be a+are o( +hat you plan to do" There +ill be less resistance or con?ict i( everyone -no+s the plan. 3f you can et your spouse or children to actively participate that is even better"
@. Remember that you are at a di2erent stage in li(e than your parent" .or most of us, development does not stop once /e reach adulthood" You are not the same person you /ere /hen you /ere ;:" Your parent is not the same person they /ere /hen they /ere your ae"
 
B. Try to help your parent maintain the highest level o( independence (or as long as possible.  The level of independence you start /ith /ill depend on the unique situation of your family" Dont be afraid to include assistance and decrease the level of independence if necessary"
4. %ave a management plan (or the essentials li-e money management bills5 health plans5 and any necessary equipment or modications"
 
!"R&ATR&C e,nition 'eniorsF health refers to the physical and mental conditions of senior citi(ens,
those /ho are in their 7Hs and older"
edical conditions that a2ect the elderly
 The most larin of these is dementia in itFs many forms %i"e", Al(heimerFs Disease, vascular dementia, etc"&"
?ther serious conditions a2ecting (unction include stro+es, )ar+insonFs Disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease %C?)D& and emphysema, near or total blindness, diabetes and advanced heart disease"
$rinciples +hile caring (or older adult # :" $any disorders are multi factorial in oriin ;" Disease often present atypically
9"2ot all abnormalities require evaluation and treatment J"Comple0 medication reimens, adherence problem, and poly pharmacy are
common challenes
 
 
NUTR&T&#N >
2utrition plays an important role in senior health" )roper diet can help prevent a condition li+e diabetes or +eep it from /orsenin" The senior diet should consist o( (oods that are > *lo+ in (at) particularly saturated (at and cholesterol. Dprovide nutrients such as iron and calcium.
 
"="RC&S" )hysical activity should be F.rhythmic) repetitive) and should challenge the circulatory system) @.enEoyable .eGercising regularly (or H minutes each day. &t may be necessary to chec- +ith a doctor to determine the type o( eGercise that can be done.
 
#ST"#$#R#S&S
 
 
"&CAL TR"AT"NT. An 0 ray /ill indicate bone loss !!!!!! density has decreased**** /ill indicate /hether a person is at ris+ for fractures" A more e1ective /ay of detecting osteoporosis is the "=A*scan 7dual*energy G*ray absorbtiometry9.***** useful for people at ris+ for osteoporosis as /ell as +omen near the age o( menopause or older.
 
#ST"#ART%R&T&S
$reventive and maintenance remedies include >
Lo+*impact eGercise such as s+imming and +al-ing, alon /ith maintainin proper posture"
Nutritional aids include foods rich in vitamin C such as citrus fruits and broccoli"
Also recommended is daily consumption of JHH international units of itamin E" A person should cut bac+ on fats, suar, salt, cholesterol, and alcohol"
?$E RE$ED3E' A2D )Y'3CAL TERA)Y"  The Arthritis .oundation recommends several remedies for easin pain"
To treat in?ammation) a person should use a cold treatment for ;H minutes" $ethods include soa+in the a1ected area in cold /ater or applyin an ice pac+" To soothe aches and stimulate circulation, a person applies heat to the a1ected area for ;H minutes" This should be done three times durin the day"
 
'4R63CAL TREAT$E2T"
 
'ALL $R"/"NT&#N 'all prevention starts +ith regular eGercise such as +al-ing"  This improves balance and muscles" ?ther methods for preventin falls include# /hen risin from a chair or bed, a senior should move slo/ly to avoid di((iness shoes /ith lo/!heels and rubber soles are recommended medications should be monitored because of side e1ects that increase the probability of a fall vision and hearin should be chec+ed periodically fall!proon the home, includin the installation of lihtin, especially stair/ays, clearin up clutter and electrical cords that can cause falls, and the installation handrails and strips in bathtubs and rails on stairs"
 
/&S&#N
$resbyopia may need bifocals or readin lasses  These lenses may need to be changed as vision changes over the years" )ublishers a/are of this condition produce boo+s /ith lare print"
 
%"AR&N!
An audioloist can administer tests for hearing loss" $resbycusis, hearin aids can help a senior a1ected by ae!related hearin loss" 3f this treatment is not e1ective, the person miht need to learn to read lips"
SL""$ &S#R"RS
 SN#R&N! AN SL""$ A$N"A" A doctor may advise the senior to quit smo+in, reduce alcohol consumption, or to sleep on his or her side, reduce body /eiht " 3n some cases, a doctor may refer the senior to a sleep disorder clinic" )L$D and restless le syndrome may be treated /ith the prescription dru Dopar" These disorders could be sins of +idney or circulation conditions"  Treatment of those conditions should end these sleepin disorders"
 
"NTAL %"ALT%
After retirement, a senior must ,nd activities and interests to provide a sense o( (ul,llment. ?ther/ise, feelins of loneliness and isolation can lead to depression and susceptibility to poor health"
 
ementia
 
"CLAR&N! "L"RL; &NC#$"T"NC"
3n almost all cases in /hich elderly persons are declared mentally or physically incompetent to adequately ta-e care o( themselves**** state la+s require that a minimum o( t+o doctors) or other health pro(essionals