Eldercare is one of the biggest issues that the country currently faces. Accompanying the massive growth in American’s aging population are concerns and frustrations experienced by adult children who provide care to their aging parents. There are different varieties of programs that are given to older people which include retirement programs, nursing programs, home health care programs, assisted living and many others (McInnis-Dittrich, 2009). Dementia is known to be a major reason why people are placed in nursing homes. The social worker has a role in the care of persons, who are mostly the elderly, with dementia. Their roles include providing services and support to persons with dementia to help them cope with the disease.
Studies about caregiving in the United States showed that 11% of all caregivers of adults have served in the armed forces and 17% of their care recipients are veterans. The research in the military families has also suggested that those with a comprehensive parent care plan are known to experience reduced risk for stress-related problems. Military families compared to other American family’s needs to be prepared for the necessary tasks related to the wellbeing of their elderly parents. It is, therefore, essential to understand the importance of elder care preparations in the military services. In addition to the elder care idea, a new study from MetLife Mature Market News reported that the cost to the United States business due to lost productivity of working caregivers is $17.1 billion to $33.6 billion every year. This is because working caregivers who juggle caregiving and work responsibilities make workplace adjustments, therefore, decreasing their work schedules or leaving the workforce.
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The readings support the idea of elderly care. The readings states that it is important to provide training and information for common veteran conditions, harnessing the world of mouth by helping caregivers help another, teach caregivers about resources that are available, help caregivers find respite and relief, sensitize health care providers to caregiver’s role, and also provide other information and tools to support caregivers (McInnis-Dittrich, 2009). From the readings, we learn that it is important that human service providers recognize and understand the unique nature of military life and the associated special characteristics of their family because they are increasingly relying on the public and private sectors to provide a variety of human services to the military families.
I believe that the elderly and veterans from the military families require as much care as possible. It is crucial to consider placing them in caregiving programs in the long-term industry to assist them in coping up with their day to day activities. This is because the military service has always been known to be an integral part of our country’s history and thousands of men and women continue to enter and leave the military service every year. The military family will always depend on the public and private sector to provide the necessary care to the aging parents. The strengths of care for the aging parents is that there are a variety of care programs that have been developed in the country. Adequate care will be provided to all elderly through the programs but, it may also affect the businesses by causing loses to productivity. This is because the caregivers may reduce their work schedules or may drop out of work due to their responsibilities.
In conclusion, the elderly in the society are part of the community, and they need adequate care from their caregivers or programs offered to older people. They depend on the community to provide and protect them when they cannot do them themselves.
References
McInnis-Dittrich, K. (2009). Social work with older adults . Allyn and Bacon.