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Human Development
Human Development -- the Elderly
The purpose of this paper is to examine human development from the perspective of sociocultural concepts regarding the elderly as well as from the healthcare provider's view and heatlh care services delivery in the elderly population.
Generally, in terms of the elderly and the cognitive aging which is experienced one assumes that is purely a time of decline in the areas of memory, linguistics and processes of attention as well as the problem-solving skills. The decline is believed, and studies support the idea as well, that the cognitive decline begins sometime during the years of the person having reached the age of sixty. However, according to Schaie, 1993, while it is true that a few of the individuals mental abilities experience declines that most cognitive abilities experience only small declines. However, this small declines are sure to occur.
The Aging Process:
One hypothesis that has been purported is that some of the declines experienced during the aging process may not be due to "regression" but instead may be attributed to "suboptimal cognitive" functioning of the elderly individual. That the aging cognitive functions seemingly undergo a destructuring process that appears with childlike reasoning is the basis for the regression theory. Within this theory is the belief that "structures that support the reasoning mechanisms have been destroyed" and that the regression experienced is permanent and "irreversible." (Fontaine, 2000)
Another hypothesis states that the declines observed in the cognitive abilities of the aging is in the individual's use of only part of the cognitive resources.
The Health Care Provider's Consideration in Care for the Elderly Population:
There are different resources that define the reservoirs of assets and capabilities that actually or potentially facilitate coping and adaptation processes according to Pearlin & Schooler, 1978. First there are personal resources, secondly socioeconomic resources and finally psychological resources. Personal resources provide a useful framework for explaining variation of adjustment to major tasks and transitions across the life span (George, 1980; Jerusalem, 1993; Lowenthal, Thurnher & Chiriboga, 1975) Socioeconomic resources are objective assets that are highly visible and sanctioned by society and are usually related to one's education, occupation and income. (Zemach 1999). They are powerful determinants of social class or statifications and differentially affect the individuals accessibility to vital factors such as knowledge, beneficial life conditions, protective environment, and health care services (Feinstein, 1993)
It is generally agreed that health is a personal states that does not refer merely to absence of disease but also to objective and subjective aspects of physical and mental well-being. (Stone, 1979) With that thought in mind, the health care provider must take many aspects of care for the elderly into mind and not just that which is physically relevant in the care of the elderly.
The Elderly Population is Growing::
The number and percentage of elderly or older adults in the United States has more than tripled since 1990 and the growth of the population that are elderly is not expected to slow anytime soon. The U.S. census of 2000 shows that 35 million individuals in the country are the age of 65 years or older and life expectancy is approximately 80 years of age on the norm demonstrated well by the fact that at least 9.2 million U.S. individuals are age 80 or older. The elderly population is facing with increased age the possibility of acute and chronic illnesses. Sensory, functional and cognitive illnesses are inclusive I these possible illnesses. The growth in the elderly population signals new demands for health care providers.
Dementia, incontinence, immobility as well as sexual dysfunction have been "accepted" as being the norm in the aging process. However, it is fortunate that finding through research have shed light on the aging process and this has led to "appropriate, age-specific care measures being developed and this is ongoing. (Elipoulos, 1999) Chronic illness is suffered by nearly 90% of elderly individuals with many suffering chronic illness. Heart disease, stroke and cancer are said to be the leading causes for death among the elderly population. Decline in sensory and neural function is accredited for the accident prone injuries that are predominant among the elderly and according to Eliopoulos, 1999, falls account for the most common cause of fatal injurys for he elderly population.
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) require that staff be specifically competent in the provision of health care for the patient groups of the elderly. The specific set of norms for the elderly requires knowledge in the area of assessment for correct interpretation of the complexities...
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