"CARING FOR OUR ELDERS:
A GUIDE TO
UNDERSTANDING AND
SUPPORTING THEIR NEEDS"
BY;
MAZLINDA MUSA
MNSC (UM),BNSC (HONS)(UKM), RN
CONTENT
1. Introduction
2. Type of support for elderly
i. Understanding elderly care needs ii. Building supportive relationships iii. Promoting independence
iv. Engaging in meaningful activities v. Supporting end-of-life care
3. 10 tips for caring the elderly effectively
4. References
INTRODUCTION
•
Islam views old age as god’s blessing in life for in creased piety, virtue and reform (Tirmidhi, 1998, 4: 143).
•
All life begins with weakness in childhood and ends with weakness in old age.
•
Our elderly have raised us when we were young and took care of all our needs while making sacrifices of their own for the next and upcoming generation of families.
•
This following quranic verse is clear in its message of treating the elderly with love and kindness:
•
“Your lord has commanded that you worship none but him, and that you be kind to your parents. If one or both of them reach old age with you, do not say to them a word of disrespect, or scold them, but say a generous
word to them. And act humbly to them in mercy, and say, ‘my lord, have mercy
on them, since they cared for me when I was small” [qur’an, 17:23-24]
COMMON CHALLENGES FACED BY ELDERLY
•
Senescence
• The Term Senescence Refers To The Aging Process, Including Biological, Emotional, Intellectual, Social, And Spiritual Changes.
• Inadequacies In The Support Systems Are Observed Everywhere.
• Facilities And Supports Designed For The Young, Able-bodied People Do Not Fit Well To The Needs Of The Elderly.
• These Difficulties Result In Restrictions In Their Movements, Decreasing Social Engagements, Lesser Personal Contact And Gradual Confinement To Their Houses.
•
Ageism
• Ageism Is Discrimination (When Someone Acts On A Prejudice) Based On Age.
•
Mistreatment Or Abuse
• Elder Abuse Occurs When A Caretaker Intentionally Deprives An Older Person Of Care Or Harms The Person In His Or Her Charge.
• Financial insecurity
•
Poverty
• The Recession
• Loneliness
Understan ding elderly
care needs
Building supportive relationshi
ps
Promoting independe
nce Engaging
meaningfuin l activities Supportin
g end-of-
life care
Type of Support
for
elderly
Understanding elderly care needs
• Studies Found That Many Older People
Demonstrated A Desire To Cope With Their Illness And Maintain Independence, however, Environmental Factors Interfered With These Efforts Including:
•
1) Lack Of Professional Advice On Self-care Strategies;
•
2) Poor Communication And Coordination Of Services; And
•
3) Lack Of Information On Services Such As Care Pathways.
• Older Persons Have A Range Of Care Needs Beyond The Health And Basic Needs For Daily Living.
• Social Care, Safety And Security, Companionship, Love And
Respect Are Some Of The Needs Which Need To Be Addressed
Adequately.
Building supportive relationships
• Building supportive relationships with elderly includes fostering trust and communication, providing emotional support, and upholding the dignity of the individual.
• Let Parents Share Their Feelings, Wishes And Concerns About Aging And The Future.
•
Listening Is One Way To Support The Elderly Parent. This Emotional Support May Be As Important As Financial Or Physical Care.
•
Be Physically Involved By Touching Or Embracing If This Seems Natural To You Or Your Parent.
•
Respect the individual’s choices and preferences and to respond in a compassionate and understanding manner.
• Respect Each Other's Space
•
If You Go To Their Home To Care For Them, Understand You Are A Visitor In Their Home,
Even If You Grew Up In The Same House. Respect Their Space.
Building supportive relationships (continue)
• Think From Each Other's Point Of View
• You Feel Stressed And Overwhelmed. But How Does Your Parent Feel? They're Living In A Place With Their Child Again, And This Time, They Aren't The "Parent" In Charge And In Control.
• Encourage Hobbies
• Personal Hobbies Are The Best Way To Pass The Time. As You Encourage Yourself To Participate In Your Favorite Hobbies, You Should Also Encourage Your Parent To Try Something Too!
• According To The CDC, Adults Aged 65 And Older Require At Least 150 Minutes A Week (For Example, 30 Minutes A Day, 5 Days A Week) Of Moderate-intensity Activity Such As Brisk Walking.
• Doing This Together Can Also Benefit You And Your Health.
• While Physical Activity Is Essential, So Is Being Mentally
Challenged. Watching TV And Discussing The Show Afterward Can Be Fun And Mentally Active. Painting And Board Games Are Also Options.
Building supportive relationships (continue)
• Be Honest - But Respectful
•
Pretending You Are Unaware Of Changes In Your Parent's Health And Wellness Will Not Help You In Any Way.
•
Discuss Your Concerns Regarding Their Health And Safety With Them Respectfully And Honestly.
• Manage Your Stress And Seek Help
•
Don't Allow Stress To Get In The Way Of Providing Your Elderly Parent With The Proper And Compassionate Care. Definitely Easier Said Than Done! Your Welfare And Your Parent Depend Critically On Removing Unneeded Stress.
• Additionally, it is important to provide sources of social support, such as family
members, friends, and support groups.
Promoting independence
•
Encouraging independence and autonomy in elderly individuals is an important part of providing them with the best possible care.
• For Example, Offer Several Options For What To Eat, Wear, And Do Every Day, And Allow Your Loved One To Choose. Doing So Helps Your Loved One Maintain Independence While Still Staying Within Reasonable, Healthy Limits.
• Encourage Them To Do As Much As They Are Able. If They Can No Longer Perform A Whole Task, Let Them To Do What They Can Before Assisting With
What's Left. Involve Them In Everyday Decisions, Like Choosing Their Own Meals Or Social Activities.
•
Make Safety Modifications In The Home
• Falling Is A Serious Concern For Seniors.
• The Fear Of Falling, Especially If Your Loved One Has Fallen Before, May Make Him Or Her Worried About Walking, Showering, And Doing Everyday Tasks Independently.
• Making Safety Modifications In The Home May Keep Your Loved One Safe And Encourage Him Or Her To Do Things Without Assistance.
• Grab Rails, Chair Lifts, Modified Kitchen Utensils, And Ramps Can Make It Easier And Safer For Your Parent To Live At Home.
Promoting independence (continue)
•
Arrange For Social Time
• It’s very important for seniors to spend time with family and friends as they age, and it’s common for seniors to become isolated and depressed as they lose their independence.
• Arranging for social time can help your loved one feel independent as he or she maintains these relationships.
•
Change Your State Of Mind
• Changing your mindset to choosing to do things with your loved one may make him or her feel like less of A burden and feel more independent.
•
Try to provide support and resources to help them remain
independent, such as assistive technology, meal delivery services, and transportation services.
•
It is also important to recognize that elderly individuals may need help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and eating.
• In these cases, it is important to provide assistance in a respectful and supportive manner.
Engaging in meaningful activities
•
Spend time reading
• reading is a fantastic activity for older adults. It’s a fun way to spend time and keep the brain engaged.
• Participating in meaningful activities and social engagement helps elderly individuals to stay connected to their community and
maintain their mental and physical health.
•
Explore a variety of hobbies
• hobbies are great for older adults with limited mobility.
• Activities that don’t require a lot of moving around include cooking, baking, birdwatching, knitting, crochet, indoor or container
gardening, playing a musical instrument, or learning a language.
•
Spend time outdoors
• getting outside to spend a little time in nature is relaxing and a great mood booster.
• Even if their limited mobility means that your older adult can only get to the porch or sit next to a big window, getting some fresh air or viewing the scenery is a great everyday activity.
Engaging in meaningful activities (continue)
•
Have fun with happy visitors
asking family or friends with babies or friendly pets to stop by for a visit is another fantastic way to engage an older adult.
•
Play games!
Games and puzzles are a fantastic source of fun times.
•
There are so many to choose from and most can be played in
groups with visitors, one-on-one for quality time together, and solo.
•
Participate in charitable works
even if your older adult isn’t very mobile or is homebound, they can still give back to the community.
•
This is a wonderful way to stay engaged and feel a sense of purpose and accomplishment.
•
By engaging in meaningful activities and social engagement,
elderly individuals can stay connected to their community and
maintain their mental and physical health. (Kane et al., 2016).
Supporting end-of-life care
• Discuss openly and respectfully the wish for end of life care with your parents.
• To resus or not to resus (DNR)
• Pain.
•
Not everyone who is dying experiences pain.
•
For those who do, experts believe that care should focus on relieving pain without worrying about possible long-term problems of drug dependence or abuse.
•
Struggling with severe pain can be draining and make the dying person
understandably angry or short-tempered. This can make it even harder for families and other loved onesto communicate with the person in a meaningful way.
• Breathing problems.
•
Shortness of breath or the feeling that breathing is difficult is a common experience at the end of life.
•
To help ease breathing for your loved one, try raising the head of the bed, opening a
window, using a humidifier, or using a fan to circulate air in the room.
Supporting end-of-life care (continue)
•
Skin irritation.
• Skin problems can be very uncomfortable for someone when they are dying. Keep the person’s skin clean and moisturized. Gently apply alcohol-free lotion to relieve itching and dryness.
• Dryness on parts of the face, such as the lips and eyes, can be a common cause of discomfort near death. These tips may help:
• Apply a balm or petroleum jelly to the lips.
• Gently dab an eye cream or gel around the eyes.
• Try placing a damp cloth over the person’s closed eyes.
•
If the inside of the mouth seems dry, giving ice chips (if the person is conscious) or wiping the inside of the person’s mouth with a damp cloth, cotton ball, or specially treated swab might help.
•
Sitting or lying in one position can put constant pressure on sensitive skin, which can lead to painful bed sores (sometimes called pressure ulcers).
• When a bed sore first forms, the skin gets discolored or darker.
• Watch carefully for these discolored spots, especially on the heels, hips, lower back, and back of the head.
•
Turning the person in bed every few hours may help prevent bed sores and stiffness.
Supporting end-of-life care (continue)
• Here are a few tips that may help manage mental and emotional needs:
• Provide physical contact. Try holding hands or a gentle massage.
• Set a comforting mood. Some people prefer quiet moments with less people. Use soft lighting in the room.
• Play religious recitation at a low volume. This can help with relaxation and lessen pain.
• Involve the dying person. If the person can still communicate, ask them what they need.
• Be present. Visit with the person. Talk or read to them, even if they can’t talk back. If they can talk, listen attentively to what they have to say
without worrying about what you will say next. Your presence can be the
greatest gift you can give to a dying person.
Supporting end-of-life care (continue)
• Spiritual needs at the end of life
• For people nearing the end of life, spiritual needs may be as important as their physical concerns. Spiritual needs may include finding meaning in one's life,
ending disagreements with others, or making peace with life circumstances. The dying person might find comfort in resolving unsettled issues with friends or
family. Visits from a social worker or a counselor may help.
• Many people find solace in their faith. Others may struggle with their faith or spiritual beliefs. Praying, reading religious texts, or listening to religious music
may help. The person can also talk with someone from their religious community, such as a minister, priest, or imam.
• By providing end-of-life care, family members and those providing care can ensure that elderly individuals receive the best possible care.
(Chochinov et al., 2015).
10 TIPS TO HELP MAKE CARING FOR
ELDERLY LOVED ONES EASIER AND MORE EFFECTIVE:
• 1. Respectful behaviour towards senior citizens: this entails being upbeat and treating senior citizens with warmth and respect.
•
It demands paying attention to their needs while also hearing about and comprehending their experiences and tales.
• 2. Patience and understanding when interacting with them: because of their physical and mental limitations, working with the elderly can be
difficult.
•
To provide for their needs, you must be patient and empathetic.
10 TIPS TO HELP MAKE CARING FOR
ELDERLY LOVED ONES EASIER AND MORE EFFECTIVE:
• 3. A willingness to learn new skills for senior care: taking care of the elderly frequently necessitates acquiring new approaches and talents. To give the finest care possible, it's crucial to be open-minded to learning and
adjusting to new methods.
• 4. Readiness to listen and offer emotional support: helping the elderly
involves listening to them and offering emotional support. Supportiveness,
objectivity, and comprehension of their feelings and thoughts are required for
this.
10 TIPS TO HELP MAKE CARING FOR
ELDERLY LOVED ONES EASIER AND MORE EFFECTIVE:
• 5. Physical support with activities of daily living: one of the most
important aspects of caring for the elderly is being able to physically assist them. This includes assisting them with tasks like eating, bathing, dressing, and using the restroom.
• 6. Empathy for the person and their family: empathy is a crucial
component of elder care. It entails showing compassion and understanding
towards the person and their family as well as offering them assistance and
consolation.
10 TIPS TO HELP MAKE CARING FOR
ELDERLY LOVED ONES EASIER AND MORE EFFECTIVE:
• 7. The ability to spot indicators of suffering or discomfort and take appropriate action: taking care of the elderly demands the capacity to spot signs of pain or discomfort and take appropriate action. Recognizing
behavioural changes, medical symptoms, or changes in mental state are all examples of this.
• 8. Health and safety issues knowledge and comprehension: in order to give the greatest care possible, it's critical to have knowledge and
understanding of health and safety issues. This entails being aware of potential
dangers and the risks connected to particular activity.
10 TIPS TO HELP MAKE CARING FOR
ELDERLY LOVED ONES EASIER AND MORE EFFECTIVE:
• 9. Interest in comprehending and addressing the needs of the
elderly: it's critical to have an interest in comprehending and addressing the specific needs of the elderly in order to give the finest care possible. This
entails comprehending both their emotional and social needs as well as their physical and medical requirements.
• 10. Teamwork skills and ability to follow directions: in order to give the finest treatment possible, it's critical to work as a team. This calls for the
ability to take direction, work cooperatively with other team members, and
obey orders.
IN THE CONTEXT OF CARE FOR THE ELDERLY, IḤSĀN IS A COMPREHENSIVE DUTY THAT HAS
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS, SUCH AS:
• Showing kindness,
• Dignity,
• Honor,
• Mercy,
• Patience,
• Respect,
• Appreciation,
• Ease,
• Gentleness,
• Justice,
• Support, and
• Solidarity
FILIAL OBLIGATION
• Filial obligation refers to the moral or legal
responsibility that a person has towards their parents
or elderly relatives, particularly in terms of providing
them with financial and emotional support, care, and
respect.
REFERENCES
• Chochinov, H. M., Wilson, K., Enns, M., Lander, S., Levitt, L., Clinch, J. J., Et Al. (2015). Effect Of Dignity Therapy On Distress And End-of-life Experience In Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Jama, 313(9), 943-951.
• Hanks, C. (2020). Understanding The Physical And Emotional Needs Of Elderly Care. Home Instead.
Retrieved From Https://Www.Homeinstead.Com/Elderly-care/Understanding-the-needs-of-elderly-care
• Kane, R. L., Kane, R. A., Ladd, E. S., & Kane, R. L. (2016). Meaningful Activities For Persons With Dementia: A Review And Synthesis Of The Literature. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society, 64(4), 725-735.
• Litho, T. (2020). Technology For Elderly Care - What Are The Options? Age Space. Retrieved From Https://Www.Agespace.Org/Technology-for-elderly-care-what-are-the-options/
• Mcfarlane, A. (2012). Building Relationships With Elderly People. Nursing Standard, 27(12), 44-50.
• Centers for disease control and prevention. (2014). Aging and health. Retrieved from https://www.Cdc.Gov/aging/index.Html
• National institute on aging. (2020). Types of care for older adults. Retrieved from https://www.Nia.Nih.Gov/health/types-care-older-adults
• National institute on aging. (2020). Caregiving for older adults: tips for family and friends. Retrieved from https://www.Nia.Nih.Gov/health/caregiving-older-adults-tips-family-friends
• American bar association. (2019). Elder law: protecting the rights of older adults. Retrieved from https://www.Americanbar.Org/groups/law_aging/resources/law_aging/law_aging_elder_law/