It is important to note that various nations and cultures care differently about their elderly members of society. Some, more individualistic and westernized ones, rely on nursing homes to provide the necessary elderly care for the older groups. Whereas others, more collectivist and conservative ones, consider it as a child’s duty to take care of their parents when they are old. Therefore, it is up to each nation and culture to decide how to provide care for their elders, but nursing homes should always be available for older individuals with an adequate number of health professionals.
Kin or family support for the elderly varies significantly across countries, where cultural and socioeconomic factors play a critical role in determining the magnitude of such a form of care. It is stated that “countries like Italy don’t tend to have as many care homes as other countries. This is because in Italy, caring for the elderly is seen to be the responsibility of the family” (Donnelly, 2021, para. 18). In other words, Italian culture has a strong sense of family unity, where the elderly must be given the care they need by their children, which eliminates the need for nursing homes. Similar trends can be observed in many Asian nations, such as China, South Korea, and Central Asia. It should be noted that the number of older people with ages equal to or higher than 65 is expected to reach almost 100 million by 2060 (Seccombe, 2018). In other words, the larger portion of the American population will be comprised of the elderly, which makes kin support a challenging endeavor. There will not be enough children for every older person to be given the care he or she requires.
Families should be expected or obliged to care for their elderly family members culturally and ethically, but elderly care should not be reliant upon these measures. In other words, it should be encouraged to provide care for older parents or grandparents, but the latter two need to have other alternatives, such as properly maintained and monitored nursing homes. The main reason is that not all elderly individuals have children capable of taking care of them or having children at all.
In the case of a shortage of certified gerontologists in the United States, the disconnect is due to the basics of supply and demand forces of the labor market. Firstly, it is evident that with an increasing population of older individuals, more geriatricians will be needed as a result. It is stated that “30% of adults who are over the age of 65 need a geriatrician,” and considering that this number will reach 100 million by 2060, at least 30 million will need one (Daily Briefing, 2020, para. 3). Secondly, it is reported that “total compensation for geriatricians in 2018 averaged $233,564 … anesthesiologists were paid twice as much, and cardiologists and radiologists had salaries topping $500,000” (Daily Briefing, 2020, para. 14). Thus, the payment or compensation for these positions is not as attractive or appealing as other alternatives
In conclusion, the supply of certified gerontologists in the United States is low, and the overall demand for these health professionals is increasing, resulting in a major disconnect. Nursing homes with a sufficient number of care providers should always be available in any nation, but families should be encouraged to provide care for their elderly members both culturally and socially. The US should put more effort into ensuring that nursing homes are properly equipped and supplied with experts.
References
Daily Briefing. (2020). Why America faces a geriatrician shortage (and what to do about it). Advisory Board. Web.
Donnelly, W. (2021). Which country has the best elderly care? Lottie. Web.
Seccombe, K. (2018). Exploring marriages and families (3rd ed.). Pearson.