Ageism is alive and well existent in today’s world. Unfortunately, the belief that the elderly is incapable of taking on new roles or experiencing new things has been ingrained in most people. Though society doesn’t place value on the elderly, older people do in themselves. In fact, as life expectancy continues to increase, seniors have more time to pursue their passions, interests, and hobbies. But, what about the aged population living in shelter homes?
Aged people experience a range of problems in their later years, such as social isolation, homelessness, poverty, and poor health, which is why they often seek support from either family members or experts from Senior Home Care. But unfortunately, very few receive support as they age, and quite a fewer have proper physical, social, and healthcare access, be it due to financial issues or some other factors.
That said, elderly care, or caring for the elderly, is a specialty within healthcare. It is a different field in itself, and the care provided is also distinct from that provided in the rest of the medical fields. Older Americans face unique challenges that need to be considered separately when providing care to them. Apparently, the condition of the people living in shelter homes is of serious concern to the caregivers, as the process of aging is difficult and each person may need specified attention.
What’s the Situation of Aged People in Shelter Homes?
Shelter homes are places where older adults stay when they are homeless. They are a great solution for homelessness as well as for elderly people who need care. Certainly, home shelters provide many of the social services that homeless people need.
People who need care may be aged, disabled, or dementia sufferers. It is generally believed that aged people spend more than 50% of their time receiving care in residential homes. While some people do not mind living in the community, others need facilities that can help them at home. The difficulties aged people in shelters face are problems that not many are aware of. As people age, their bodies tend to deteriorate. They lose strength, feel weak, smell bad, suffer from incontinence, and experience many other problems. The placement of aged people in shelter homes poses several issues.
Many aged people find it extremely difficult to live in shelter homes. This is because some people consider it culturally unacceptable, especially if their children are with them. This definitely means that many elderly citizens are not comfortable getting into a shelter home, despite the lack of other viable options.
What Should the Government Do About It?
The shelter homes in the society are under the direct supervision of a local authority or a government organization. So, it is the duty of the authority to carry out assessments of shelter homes. It’s basically a duty to ensure the safety of people living within it and to maintain order in society. So, how should the assessment be carried out?
Recently, the respected authority carried out an assessment on shelter homes. The assessment basically involves determining the level of safety and efficiency of these eldercares. They generally carry out such assessments only when they have received complaints from occupants of these homes. However, this authority has always been concerned about the safety of people, and such assessment helps it come up with measures to better strengthen the safety of such residences.
Where Should Aged People Live Other Than In Shelter Homes?
The idea of a retirement home should be popular and appealing. It should be a place where your independence and privacy are respected; where you can be with 55+ community, who share similar interests; where your social life is vibrant, and there’s always something going on. And for such requirements, what could be a better place than their own home?
Elderly people nowadays, tend to hire home care services that can provide care professionals who can take care of them at their residences. But, when many think of retirement, they imagine living in an aged-care facility, which might not be appealing to all.
When elderly families need senior care, they should consider assisted living communities as well. Assisted living homes provide seniors with the freedom to maintain their independence, but with the added security of staff available round the clock. The senior living staff can cook, clean, and help seniors with personal care and medication. If you are looking for such services and other elderly care services, you can look for regional assisted living consultants to hire one who can help to find you a community nearby that can provide everything an aged person may need to live comfortably.
The growing need for affordable housing has forced many older adults to move to senior living communities. Living in a senior apartment or a senior retirement community can be a suitable housing option for old people. But moving to a senior community is not always easy. It can be overwhelming and stressful to move to a new place, especially when they are not able to drive or walk long distances. That said, to find senior communities in your area, visit HUD’s list of HUD-approved housing for seniors or contact your local housing authority.