Active Living for the Older Person
Introduction:
The process of ageing can bring about a number of social changes… bereavement, depression, isolation, retirement etc.
Retirement can be one that may have a very dramatic effect on the life of the individual.
I shall use course notes/handouts, course recommended textbooks and internet sources to research and understand the topic.
1. The role of the carer/organisations in promoting positive attitudes to ageing and retirement
Retirement may be something that some individuals may have longed for, but the reality is not quite what they had envisaged. Retirement may result in unforeseen consequences for which they are not prepared for…
• A loss of status, both in the family and society
• A sense …show more content…
golf, sailing, skiing, exotic holidaying etc.
• For some work is their social life, and work-mates their closet and oldest friends…retirement may bring isolation, they may not want to follow pursuits on their own
How can the Healthcare Assistant help in promoting a positive attitude to ageing and retirement?
Physical and psychological changes cannot be prevented …but they can be slowed down and minimised.
• Start to prepare the client earlier on in life for the ‘On coming’ changes that aging and retirement bring (see: the above list)
• Promote a reduction in smoking, alcohol, sugar intake
• Promote increase in exercise, healthy eating, socialising, health checks
• Nurture a healthy and positive outlook to life
• Promote a positive attitude to change…e.g. ‘the definition of a crisis’ comes from Greek (‘krisis’) to decide: Collins (1995)… a crisis is an opportunity to change…to decide to do things differently… turn a negative situation to a positive one
• Promote mixing with positive /happy people… happiness breeds happiness. Laugh! Dance! Allow yourself to be happy!
• Nurture like minded …show more content…
I wish that I had let myself be happier. Reprinted in the Guardian (2012)
Family could help the older person to make a ‘Bucket List’ to reduce or eliminate the ‘Regret List’… they could:
• Help/transport them to visit old friends, (and even lovers if their partner is deceased/separated)
• Teach/help them with computers/Skype/texting etc. to keep in contact with the above
• Join them on outdoor pursuits and outings
• Help them with Spiritual pursuits/pilgrimages e.g. Rome, the Holy Land, El Camino de Santiago, Medjugorje, etc.
• Wealth dependant: get a winter home in the sun/convert holiday home to winter home
• Start them earlier to think about and attend Pre-retirement courses
• Help promote health & wellbeing, get them to mix with ‘like minded’ or happier people
• Be their Advocate…e.g. Banks /insurance/pensions/life cover/Social Welfare/ Investments/monetary provision etc.
Conclusion:
The respect a society has for it senior citizens are usually reflected in how ‘Social Policy’ provides for their:
• Physical needs
• Intellectual & psychological needs
• Economic & Medical needs
• Social needs
How we will face up to that challenge is anyone’s guess!
Word Count: 1,312
PaperRater: Originality 100
Introduction:
The process of ageing can bring about a number of social changes… bereavement, depression, isolation, retirement etc.
Retirement can be one that may have a very dramatic effect on the life of the individual.
I shall use course notes/handouts, course recommended textbooks and internet sources to research and understand the topic.
1. The role of the carer/organisations in promoting positive attitudes to ageing and retirement
Retirement may be something that some individuals may have longed for, but the reality is not quite what they had envisaged. Retirement may result in unforeseen consequences for which they are not prepared for…
• A loss of status, both in the family and society
• A sense …show more content…
golf, sailing, skiing, exotic holidaying etc.
• For some work is their social life, and work-mates their closet and oldest friends…retirement may bring isolation, they may not want to follow pursuits on their own
How can the Healthcare Assistant help in promoting a positive attitude to ageing and retirement?
Physical and psychological changes cannot be prevented …but they can be slowed down and minimised.
• Start to prepare the client earlier on in life for the ‘On coming’ changes that aging and retirement bring (see: the above list)
• Promote a reduction in smoking, alcohol, sugar intake
• Promote increase in exercise, healthy eating, socialising, health checks
• Nurture a healthy and positive outlook to life
• Promote a positive attitude to change…e.g. ‘the definition of a crisis’ comes from Greek (‘krisis’) to decide: Collins (1995)… a crisis is an opportunity to change…to decide to do things differently… turn a negative situation to a positive one
• Promote mixing with positive /happy people… happiness breeds happiness. Laugh! Dance! Allow yourself to be happy!
• Nurture like minded …show more content…
I wish that I had let myself be happier. Reprinted in the Guardian (2012)
Family could help the older person to make a ‘Bucket List’ to reduce or eliminate the ‘Regret List’… they could:
• Help/transport them to visit old friends, (and even lovers if their partner is deceased/separated)
• Teach/help them with computers/Skype/texting etc. to keep in contact with the above
• Join them on outdoor pursuits and outings
• Help them with Spiritual pursuits/pilgrimages e.g. Rome, the Holy Land, El Camino de Santiago, Medjugorje, etc.
• Wealth dependant: get a winter home in the sun/convert holiday home to winter home
• Start them earlier to think about and attend Pre-retirement courses
• Help promote health & wellbeing, get them to mix with ‘like minded’ or happier people
• Be their Advocate…e.g. Banks /insurance/pensions/life cover/Social Welfare/ Investments/monetary provision etc.
Conclusion:
The respect a society has for it senior citizens are usually reflected in how ‘Social Policy’ provides for their:
• Physical needs
• Intellectual & psychological needs
• Economic & Medical needs
• Social needs
How we will face up to that challenge is anyone’s guess!
Word Count: 1,312
PaperRater: Originality 100