LESSON_04_PERSONAL_PREFERENCES_AND_WELL_BEING_OF_AN_ELDERLY.pptx

PERSONAL PREFERENCES AND WELL-BEING OF AN ELDERLY

1. PERSONAL PREFERENCES & WELL-BEING OF THE ELDERLY Prepared by: Maria Cristina C. Delmo, SST-III

2. Factors Contributing to Individual Differences A. Culture Culture refers to the behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, communications, actions, customs, and values. They are linked together to racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups. Cultural awareness and sensitivity are an important part of providing care to the people being served by caregivers or healthcare workers. We need to respect other cultures and try to learn more about the different cultures. Then we can better understand the individuals being served. Keep in mind not all people from one culture are the same. The following examples are generally true, but they may not apply to all people. Example: 1. Native American -Usually want a caregiver/homecare workers from their own tribe -Belief in non-traditional medicine

3. 2. Asian -Prefer more space between speaker and listener -Limited contact, no hugging or back slapping 3. Latino -Comfortable with close conversational distance -More expressive 4. East Indian -Believe that the head is fragile and should not be touched 5. Muslim -Woman will not shake the hand of a man

4. Examples of some innocent gestures that could be misunderstood: • Use of the left hand to touch or hand something to your patient. Some cultures use their left hand for personal hygiene and think of it as being unclean. • Strong eye contact can be appreciated by one culture but by another. It could be a sign of disrespect.

5. B. Age A study suggests that patient perceptions of communication in health care settings vary by age. C. Economic Theories about the relation between socioeconomic status and health essentially focus on three mechanisms. First, those with higher incomes are able to purchase better food, better housing, live in safer environments and have better access to health care. Second emphasises behavioural or “lifestyle” factors, such as smoking, diet, alcohol consumption and appropriate use of health care, which may vary with cognitive skill and access to information.

6. Third places more emphasis on psychosocial factors such as empowerment, relative social status and social integration, including exposure to stresses that may result from low status and low autonomy in important arenas of life, such as work. Moreover, elderly individuals, on average, have much lower family incomes than non-elderly adults.

7. E. Intellectual Cognitive function is defined as the intellectual process by which an individual becomes aware of, comprehends and perceives ideas. It includes all aspects of reasoning, thinking, perception and remembering. Personal preference of patients may be affected because older adults also experience a change in their speech perception. They usually complain that talkers mumble or talk too fast and they cannot hear clearly because of background noise. This change is attributed to deteriorating cognitive processes like memory, attention span, language comprehension and lower level sensory plasticity. Intellectual differences in elderly patients may also be caused by anxiety, worry, sadness, or depression of which coping with these situations differ among patients. Moreover, stimulation also becomes a factor. Mentally stimulated patients differ also from those who are not.

8. F. Language Cultural differences, disabilities, and language barriers affect care in a huge way. Some words may have different meanings to older patients than to you or your peers. Words may also have different connotations based on cultural or ethnic background. For example, the word "dementia" may connote insanity, and the word "cancer" may be considered a death sentence. Although you cannot anticipate every generational and cultural/ethnic difference in language use, being aware of the possibility may help you to communicate clearly.

9. Use simple, common language, and ask if clarification is needed. Offer to repeat or reword the information: "I know this is complex. I'll do my best to explain, but let me know if you have any questions or just want me to go over it again." Low literacy or inability to read also may be a problem. Reading materials written at an easy reading level can help.

10. Make sure the patient understands: • What is the main health issue • What he or she needs to do • Why it is important to act One way to do this is the "teach-back method"—ask patients to say what they understand from the visit. Also, ask about any potential issues that might keep the patient from carrying out the treatment plan. Try not to assume that patients know medical terminology or a lot about their disease. Introduce necessary information by first asking patients what they know about their condition and building on that. Although some terms seem commonplace— MRIs, CT scans, stress tests, and so on—some older patients may be unfamiliar with what each test really is.

11. G. Sex Although recognized as a fundamental driving force, human sexuality is frequently misunderstood and particularly in the elders, neglected. Human beings are actually never too old to enjoy a happy and healthy sex life. Despite this, many people, young and old alike, are astounded at the idea of people remaining sexually active in their sixties and beyond. It is frequently assumed that elder persons lose their sexual desires or that they are physically unable to perform.

12. For the elders, the ability to remain sexually active is a major concern in their lives. Fear about the loss of sexual prowess in older males is common. Older women also express sexual desire, but may fear their interest is undignified and disgraceful. Some elder persons may even freely accept their in sex, but their children or grandchildren may disapprove, making them feel guilty.

13. A study showed significant presence of sexual desire, activity and function even after the age of 50 years; a decline by the age of 60 and above was a finding that reflected more in women. Chronic illness did affect sexual function and desire.

14. H. Social Evidence is accumulating about the association between strong family ties and the emotional and physical welfare of older adults, and researchers have identified negative consequences of being unmarried, being childless, and/or living alone. These associations have been recognized in multiple contexts, including in Asia where living with a spouse and/or grown children has been shown in some studies to improve elderly well-being.

15. Social support, especially family support, is expected to continue to be important where populations are aging and social safety nets are weak. Moreover, disease conditions and mobility also affects social life of elderly patients.

16. Maximum Well Being Well-being is important at all ages. However, as you get older you may need to change how an elderly will take care of herself/himself to meet new challenges and maintain a sense of well-being. An elderly may need to adjust diet and sleep habits; find new ways to exercise; reach out to build relationships with family and friends; maintain or find new activities he/she enjoy, Well-being is about more than health care. It involves mental, physical, and spiritual health-also called mind, body and spirit- and other aspects of life.

17. A. Independent living Is simply any housing arrangement designed exclusively for older adults, generally those aged 55 and over. Housing varies widely, from apartment-style living to freestanding homes. In general, the housing is friendlier to aging adults, often being more compact, with easier navigation and no maintenance or yard work to worry

18. Since independent living facilities are aimed at older adults who need little or no assistance with activities of daily living, most do not offer medical care or nursing staff. As with regular housing, though, you can hire in-home help separately as required as people age, they often consider relocating to simplify their living arrangements.

19. Seniors who are still physically and mentally capable of living independently and would enjoy the companionship of others their age should consider moving to an independent living (IL) community. IL communities promote active lifestyles in a secure environment and provide specific services for low_x0002_maintenance living and on-site amenities for socialization and recreation.

20. B. Observation of own customs and cultural practices • Dietary issues are important for Muslim elders, because traditionally they do not drink alcohol, eat pork, or eat blood products. Lard is another avoided ingredient; baked goods and crackers are therefore examined for their content before consumption. • Muslims may also resist eating or taking during the daytime hours of Ramadan, a holy month whose timing varies from year to year.

21. • Sick and elderly believers may be exempt from fasting during Ramadan, as some exceptions are made for frail individuals. • Elderly persons of Arab origin may subscribe to folk remedies and beliefs. • Beliefs may include concern about the evil eye - those who are envious may have the power to inflict injury on the family. • Beliefs may include concern about the evil eye - those who are envious may have the power to inflict injury on the family.

22. • Beliefs may include concern about the evil eye - those who are envious may have the power to inflict injury on the family. • Older patients may expect prescription drugs to address their symptoms, but once the symptoms subside, they may discontinue their prescribed regimen.

23. Examples: Older Patients of Chinese Origin • Older patients tend to be polite and may smile and nod. Nodding does not necessarily indicate agreement or even understanding of medical facts • Traditional Chinese people believe that most illnesses are caused by an imbalance of qi (vital force or energy) and yin and yang in the body. • Mental illness is thought to be due to a lack of harmony of emotions or caused by evil spirits. • Health is maintained by balancing yin-yang not only in the body but in the environment. Some fear having blood drawn, believing that it will weaken the body and many are adverse to donating blood.

24. • The “sick” role is a common behaviour among Chinese patients where family members are expected to care for the patient. The patient may take a passive role in his or her illness. • Foods are thought to have medicinal purposes and food parts correspond to healing of body parts, e.g., eating fish eyes will improve vision. Although respect is a crucial aspect of caregiving, few studies have examined how caregivers convey their respect for elderly client when it comes to practicing their cultural traditions.

25. D. Frequent visits to and from family, relatives, and friends

26. • Patience - Patience while caregiving means you have to slow down and rethink what you are doing at the present moment. It means you have to think about the best way to communicate with a senior without being condescending.

27. THANK YOU!!!