Old people with high support needs are defined as people aged 85 years and above who are frail physically and suffer from various chronic ailments or impairments such as dementia. However, a few younger people may also suffer from such chronic conditions and other forms of impairments because of long exposure to abject poverty and poor lifestyles (Wertheimer, 1993). Even when people are old, they may not require high support needs if they live in good houses supported with modern technology in a community that cares for them (Wood, 1991).
Recently, the number of old people with high support needs is increasing and becoming more diverse (Sourbati, 2004). There is also a notable increase in the prevalence of special conditions associated with this group. Older people who need high support are usually concentrated in special homes where they can be given healthcare or other special houses with specially designed schemes to cater to their needs. There are many challenges faced by both the old people and those who take care of them such as lack of adequate finance to cater for basic needs, mental problems and dementia, lack of social acceptance, and skilled labor to offer specialized care (Rai-Atkins, 2002).
The support needed by older people involves simple adjustments in their lifestyles as well as applying borrowed innovative methods from other parts of the world. Social groups can also be used to offer the emotional support needed especially when they are concentrated in nursing home care. It is paramount to give priorities on ways to challenge complications that develop with age among older people as well as devising mechanisms to empower their voices and offer attention to the diverse group.
A comparison should be made for various outcomes used to care for such people and the cost implication of various methods used in specialized housing to develop the best initiatives for a positive change. The problems faced by this group of older people should be a concern for everyone because it entails a better future for all (Tester, 1992).
Older people value high support but they are not usually heard and have no representatives who can speak for them. Their views are not heard because they do not expect high-quality services from people who care for them and therefore prefer to be silent. They also lack high expectations to be consulted in decision-making processes regarding their wellbeing by those who provide services to them (Williams, 1998). The methods used to determine their needs and deliver care have been service-centered where care is provided as a series of tasks.
There has also been the wrong culture that views older people as mere consumers who do not participate in any form of production, which makes the society less willing to invest their time and resources in giving them high support (Phillipson, 1990). The group of older people always experience difficulties giving their opinions because of either language problems or emotional instability whenever they interact with their care providers. Older people with high support needs also lack adequate opportunities to share their opinions with their colleagues going through the same challenges (McCreadie, Salvage &Tinker, 1993).
To meet their needs, older people with high support needs should be encouraged to develop personal identity and be able to relate with care providers in a meaningful way. Any support given to them should be personalized to make them feel respected. The old should be made autonomous and be included in the process of making a decision (Bernard, Chittenden & Phillips, 2002). The homes where the old life should be made favorable for them to appreciate and feel secure.
Such homes should be accessible to all care providers without infringing their privacy. The information system should be developed and made accessible to ensure that the healthcare the old receive is of the highest quality. In addition, the quality of life for the old can be improved by simple pressures or by just ensuring that their basic needs are adequately met (Barrett, Floyd & Pilling, 2004).
Older people with high support needs require advice and advocacy to be independent. These include programs such as linkage and movements for advocacy at the grassroots level. This group of people requires advice and advocacy because of various events such as retirement, which result in the lower-income and less social network. These also require the old to adjust their housing arrangement, which may require specialized care because of their deteriorating mental and physical health (Wertheimer, 1998). Therefore, such people may be disadvantaged and thus would require someone to speak for them whenever there is a case for them to defend or file.
They also need to be advised on which action to take whenever they are to make a concrete decision regarding their opinions. This is also important especially when the old have to speak for themselves in defending a case. Advocacy may also be collective when there are organizations that promote the development of skills and support change for a common approach in handling the older people with a need for high support (Henwood & Qureshi, 2000).
References
Barrett, P., Floyd, M., & Pilling, D. (2004). Disabled people and the internet: Experiences, barriers and opportunities. New York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Bernard, M., Chittenden, M., & Phillips, J. (2002). Juggling work and care: The experiences of working careers of older adults. Bristol: The Policy Pres.
Henwood, M., & Qureshi, H. (2000). Older people’s definitions of quality services. New York: York Publishing Services/Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
McCreadie, C., Salvage, A., &Tinker, A. (1993). The information needs of elderly people: An exploratory study. London: Age Concern Institute of Gerontology.
Phillipson, C. (1990). Glendenning (eds) advocacy, consumerism and the older person. Stoke-on-Trent: Beth Johnson Foundation.
Rai-Atkins, A. (2002). Best practice in mental health: Advocacy for African, Caribbean and south East Asian communities. Bristol: The Policy Press.
Sourbati, M. (2004). Internet use in sheltered housing: Older people’s access to new media and online service delivery. New York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Tester, S. (1992). Common knowledge. London: Centre for Policy on Ageing.
Wertheimer, A. (1993). Speaking out: citizen advocacy with older people. London: Centre for Policy on Ageing (CPA).
Wertheimer, A. (1998). Citizen advocacy: A powerful partnership. London: Citizen Advocacy Information and Training (CAIT).
Williams, P. (1998). Standing by me: Stories of citizen advocacy. London: CAIT.
Wood, R. (1991). Speak up for yourself. London: Age Concern.