Question

Analyse emerging themes and trends that impact on leadership and management of adult care services?

Answer 1

   ADULT CARE SERVICES

Old age generally begins at the age of 60yrs. They are usually called as 'Senior Citizens'.

According to the World Health Organizations (WHO), there are almost 700 million people over the age 60yrs in the world. Among those 13% are over 80years old. It is expected that by 2050 this number will be almost 2 billion and the number of elderly will be higher than the number of children.Young people support older members of the population directly(eg; through living arrangements) and financially(eg; through taxation and pension contributions). However,many older people support younger population,through care of children and other older people.

Rates of disability and chronic illness rise sharply with ageing. By adopting a healthier lifestyle, the risk of a whole range of diseases can be reduced. These factors are:

1. Diet and Nutrition: A good diet reduces the chances of developing disease of old age.People should eat healthy diet since very early age to avoid or delay disease. The diet should be balanced with less saturated fats and oil.
2. Exercise: Exercise helps to maintain good health by,as it helps to control weight, improves emotional well being,and relieve stress, improves blood circulation, increase flexibility, lowers blood pressure,lowers blood sugar thus helps in diabetes,arthritis etc.
3. Weight : Obesity is an important factor in heart disease, hypertension, arthritis,breast cancer etc.
4. Smoking:  Quitting the habit of smoking reduces the risk of dying and also improves the health.
5. Alcoholism: Drinking is linked to liver disease, stomach ulcers, gout, depression , diabets, hypertension etc. Hence to reduce all these it is way better to reduce the consumption of alcohol at elder age.
6. Activities: People at an elder age become socially isolated from family and society. Getting out and keeping involved with other activities creates a sense of belonging.Thereby reduces stress, depression and anxiety.

Adult care services helps the old age to be in a state of good physical, mental and social well being by providing them with good nutrition, health check-ups, counselling sessions and activities etc.

The modern trend is that the old must continue to take their share in the responsibilities and in the enjoyment of privileges, which are an essential feature of remaining an active member of the community.