With all of the advances that have been made in recent years when it comes to health care and medical treatment, it’s obvious that there is still a big gap in quality of care between the middle class and low income individuals. This has become more and more apparent in recent political debates, but for all of the talk that politicians give to the issue, the problem still exists. One area where this is extremely visible is in the world of dementia care. Low income elderly folk are often the last to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, and they suffer greatly as a result of this.
Alzheimer’s does not have a cure, but the earlier that it is detected, the better the quality of life that can be given to the person in need. The progress of the disease can be slowed down in many cases when it is caught in the early stages. It gives the person in need time to think about their future care and allow them to play a part in determining what kind of care they want to receive and what kinds of help they want avoided. It gives families time to adjust before lifestyle changes become major. However, because of the disparity in income and cultural groups in the diagnosing of dementia, only certain individuals are given these opportunities. Others are caught off guard, and the family suffers even more as a result of this.
Better evaluative measures are currently needed if we want every member of our society to be given a better chance to have appropriate senior care. This goes far beyond dementia and Alzheimer’s care.
Research shows that when Alzheimer’s disease is identified early, the process of aging in place becomes much easier to accomplish. This has become very popular lately, because other studies have shown that aging in a familiar place, such as the longtime home of the person with dementia, helps to minimize some of the negative health effects that occur when Alzheimer’s is present. Things like confusion, anger, and violence can happen when someone struggles with Alzheimer’s, but researchers have shown that when the person in question is in their own home, these things are less likely to manifest. In other words, early identification of the disease can help to minimize these issues. It can help the families of those that need in-home care the most get ready for it. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen for everyone in our society.
Going beyond income, there also needs to be an increase of attention given to different cultures when it comes to gerontology. This isn’t something that most people think about, but there’s a difference between professional care coming from someone who you are comfortable with and someone who seems like a stranger. There are often subtle cultural differences within members of our society, and what seems normal for one culture can be very different in another. When it comes to senior care, these differences can really add up. Having a senior care specialist, doctor, or caregiver that is sensitive to cultural needs is a must if we want to give our loved ones the best care possible.
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