Your comments about the elderly and the need for a change in how they're perceived--Amen! I don't have the figures, but I've been working in the nursing care field for several years now. I can tell you, 5% or not, if the population of elderly in LTC does increase...The situation in my "neck of the woods" is already not what I'd call ideal.
I've worked at nursing homes where the patient/caregiver ratio was 40:1. That's beyond ridiculous. It doesn't allow for more than the most basic care, which will prevent staff from encouraging activity and continued independence for the clients. The perception of these jobs as a low-status and "unskilled labor" vocation worsens matters. That stereotype needs changing too. Financially, ethically--in just about every definition, popular views of the elderly as invalids or noncontributory is untenable.
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in how they're perceived--Amen! I don't have the figures,
but I've been working in the nursing care field for several
years now. I can tell you, 5% or not, if the population
of elderly in LTC does increase...The situation in my
"neck of the woods" is already not what I'd call ideal.
I've worked at nursing homes where the patient/caregiver
ratio was 40:1. That's beyond ridiculous. It doesn't
allow for more than the most basic care, which will prevent
staff from encouraging activity and continued independence
for the clients. The perception of these jobs as a low-status
and "unskilled labor" vocation worsens matters. That
stereotype needs changing too.
Financially, ethically--in just about every definition,
popular views of the elderly as invalids or noncontributory
is untenable.
--Sorry! Off the soapbox for now, I promise.
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