reconstruction of Social Work Through Personalisation

reconstruction of Social Work Through Personalisation

Monday 22 October 2012

Managing the Storm: The Real World of Growing Older and Long-Term Care In The Future.

"Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let your heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things judgement awaits you (Ecclesiastes 11:9 KJV)" Growing old is what most humans do not envisage when they are young and in youthful/adult ages. Besides, ageing and retirement is inevitable for a significant majority of the population in society. This trajectory is encapsulated with a number of factors such as chronic medical conditions, physical disabilities, mental health and poverty. These manifestations could incapacitate peoples’ ability to sustain their living standards and functional activities of daily living. In addition, these situations have some inherent characteristics for example, stigma, loneliness, exclusion, low income, rejection and isolation. During this period of bewilderment and life alone with little or no support systems could be unbearable and devastating for many and might lead to a number of catastrophes in their lives.
Long are the days when traditional norms, values and support for care giving to older relatives were obvious and this promoted family cohesion and societal belief systems. In contrast, declining birth rate, smaller family members and, or composite/reconstituted family units have changed cultures and traditions that was widely held as natural family orientation. In addition, global migration of younger family members; perpetuated by economic prosperity has created devastating effects for older long-term care for older people in society today. Older people in most societies are left in the mercifully hands of local authorities' social services departments for their holistic care needs. However, this is common to the western world whilst in other parts of the glob for example, the African and Asian continents; family support systems are still firm and flourishing. Nonetheless, the growing older people’ population, the recent census (2011) in the UK indicated a huge decline in younger people. Practically; demographic change in the West is presenting challenges to the authorities. The questions are what would be the consequences to those older people, which have little or no resources to carter for their older age? Would local authorities and national governments be able to manage the increasing demand for care by this age group?
The financial gap between this group and the rest of society cannot be bridged hence the mainstream service users are on state benefits and a significant percentage do not have employment pensions especially the women. This undoubtedly has affected their standards of living and ability to privately fund their needs like the affluent in the wider population. It could be arguable that poverty within this group is endemic and most would not be able to purchase the necessary goods and services to sustain their psychosocial wellbeing and physical properties appropriate for activities of daily living. In the current economic situation and changing demography, an older person needs substantial savings in order to have the opportunity to safeguard their future. Unfortunately, the benefit systems in the Western world do not encourage endowment for the future. In hindsight, the current economic downturn would be a lesion for the youth and adult within working ages.
The austerity and financial turmoil affected many counties such as the USA and the West European countries more than the less privileged and undeveloped nations who are used to hardship for GDP per head. The recession from 2007 to the present time (2012) has exposed the vulnerabilities of those older people who have not thought about getting older and difficulties associated with ageing process. Historically, the youth and grown up adults have been reluctant and oblivious of saving and planning for the raining days; but have squandered their earning on lifestyles. Degenerating economic and financial circumstances and standard of living in the Western countries have uncovered the ingenuity and problems lying ahead regarding long-term care and other purposeful activities of daily living for the aged, which is inescapable for most humans. 
However, it is a natural phenomenon to anticipate that as people gets older; the propensity is that most would not be able to attend their comprehensive activities of daily living such preparing meals or undertaking personal hygiene. It is then inevitable to assume that some would need assistance to manage their affairs and, or domestic chores. Dowelling on these, the government in the UK has introduced eligibility criteria matrix, which is banded at four different (critical, substantial, medium, low) levels. These are measures to identify those individuals that could be supported by the local government’ social services Departments with their needs. In practice, support is given to those that meet critical or substantial needs after thorough and due process of assessment of needs. Nonetheless, a significant majority suffer as they do not fall within criteria or substantial matrix and had no savings or asset/investment to rely on to maintain their wellbeing.
The growth of older people has intensified demand for social care and community wellbeing. This means those that have savings or assets are in a better position to buy their own care privately without relying on the state. In contrast, those without savings or investment but needs long-term care are added on to the waiting list and their conditions could deteriorate further whilst waiting. This development challenges the youth’s and adult’s behaviours/attitudes relating to savings for their future wellbeing in terms of; longevity and long-term care. On reflection; it is normal that most humans would grow older but, what is likely to be the outcome in relation to; physical and psychological welfare towards the end of life? The long-term liberal views of wealth redistribution and universalism are no longer pertinent in this contemporary era of calamitous economic position. Rather this has resonates the argument for and against “family care systems, individualism and capitalistic” conceptual frameworks as the national resources are scarcely available and only the very vulnerable could be supported.


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