Transition to late adulthood requires the elderly to consider various alternatives regarding where they will live. Eldercare is a crucial consideration in later life in that it ensures healthier aging of the senior community members. There are three primary living arrangements that the elders can consider; independent living, assisted the living, and living with an adult child. Each of these arrangements has its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
An independent senior living community offers an opportunity for vibrant social life to the elderly. The residents living in an independent community are within the same age limit, which may enhance their social interactions. Also, independent living allows the elderly some freedom to choose their social interactions and support according to their needs (Beswick, Rees, et al., 2008). Assisted living is particularly beneficial to elderly individuals with physical challenges such as dementia. Such individuals can benefit from physical assistance in daily activities such as bathing and eating. Assisted living ensures quality care is given to the seniors who do not necessarily need nursing care. It allows some level of independence to the seniors.
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Living with an adult child is another option that the elderly can consider. In this arrangement, the child is obligated to give eldercare to the senior members of the family. This living arrangement allows the elderly to connect with family and also receive personalized care from the family members. The proximity of family members gives the elderly the necessary emotional and physical support than ensure healthy living.
Disadvantages
Independent living may lead to social isolation from family members. This puts the elderly at a higher risk for depression and other emotional and psychological issues. Also, the elderly may fail to get physical assistance in case of an emergency as neighbors and friends may be committed elsewhere when the emergency occurs. Assisted living also has its disadvantages, such as the inability to offer assistance in some medical situations. The medical care in an assisted living community is limited, and specialized care may not be possible.
Living with adult children has the downside of increasing dependency and reducing the productivity of the youthful taskforce. This may lead to a decline in economic growth since most working individuals are tasked with the responsibility of taking care of their aged parents. The dependency ratio in countries that encourage filial piety has significantly increased over the years (Jenike, & Traphagan, 2009). In Japan, the number of seniors has considerably grown in the past decade. This has put significant pressure on the working citizens, which may harm the economy.
References
Beswick, A. D., Rees, K., Dieppe, P., Ayis, S., Gooberman-Hill, R., Horwood, J., & Ebrahim, S. (2008). Complex interventions to improve physical function and maintain independent living in elderly people: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet, 371(9614), 725-735.
Jenike, B. R., & Traphagan, J. W. (2009). Transforming the cultural scripts for aging and elder care in Japan. The Cultural Context of Ageing: Worldwide Perspectives, 240-58.
