Aging is a genetically determined process that causes physical and mental changes in the human body. In turn, they result in changes in appearance and organ functions, which influences a person’s lifestyle, habits, and needs. With age, people require more care and attention to feel comfortable and enjoy their life. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the living arrangements of the elderly and policies that aim to prevent institutionalism in nursing homes.
As a rule, five main kinds of living arrangements are available for people as they age: living alone, with a spouse, with children, near children, or far away from children. There is a prevalence of solitary living and co-residence; however, institutional living is also common. According to Kail and Cavanaugh (2007), mental and physical impairments are the primary reasons for moving to a nursing home. The best living option should be chosen based on an individual’s health and personal preferences.
The risk of developing an institutionalism syndrome is often attributed to living in a nursing home. Spending most of the time within the institute endangers a person’s social skills and can cause isolation and a depressive state. In this regard, nursing homes should implement policies to prevent the issue. For instance, ensuring a trusting relationship with staff and other residents can be helpful. Teaching staff how to show interest in the life and concerns of the elderly residents can be done through educational programs and events. Besides, developing social and cultural programs for residents is beneficial for trustful relationships among them. Policies aimed to prevent institutionalism are relatively uncommon because other activities take up most of the time of nursing staff. Such tasks as helping the residents with self-care, cleaning rooms, transferring people that need assistance, and checking for health concerns are seen as first priority. However, creating a family-like environment in all aspects should be the main objective of the institution.
In conclusion, some living arrangements available to older people are discussed in this paper, along with policies against institutionalism that can be implemented by nursing homes. Aging is an inevitable natural process that brings changes in people’s lives. Hence, it is crucial to provide the elderly with support and careful treatment to ensure their comfort and well-being. Raising the awareness of issues associated with elderly care plays a significant role in nursing as it identifies the need for change and improvement.
Reference
Kail, R. V., & Cavanaugh, J. C. (2007). Human development: A life-span view (4th ed.). Thompson Learning.