isyulli: elderly

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Rabu, 13 April 2011

Shop Frequently and Live Longer

More silly research comes to useful conclusions. A survey has found that older people, men and women who go shopping "frequently" live longer. This is true for Taiwanese anyway. Subject women were 28 per cent less likely to die in the 10 years after the study. Men were 27 per cent less likely. Apparently, going shopping once a week is absolutely no good whatsoever. One has to shop, shop, shop to have a positive outcome.

Researchers reached the following conclusion: "Shopping captures several dimensions of personal wellbeing, health and security as well as contributing to the community's cohesiveness and economy, and may represent or actually confer increased longevity." This conclusion is not soundly based on the data, however. It is just drawn "out of the air". In other words it is just an opinion. Maybe shopping is an ideal way of getting regular exercise. Note, those who lived longer were healthier to begin with. And poor health meant less shopping, thus inadequate diet.

Another problem is the finding that companionship via shopping leads to better health. This has no foundation at all. Grumpy old men do have the adjective "old" clipped onto them.

It makes one wonder whether researchers have conclusions determined before they begin a study. It is worrying that longevity was tested for only 10 years after data was provided.

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Health

Kamis, 13 Januari 2011

Don't Blaim Falling Birth Rate on Government's Lack of Childcare

As developing countries become more developed with rising incomes and better health care so the birthrate is falling. Taiwan is a case in point. They are worrying now about how the large proportion of elderly people in the country will be cared for.

Taiwanese couples only have one child, currently. In China with the one-child policy the birthrate is higher than Taiwan's 0.91 per cent. This country has the Western "disease" of very expensive housing and wives finding it necessary to work to pay for a home. The date for having children is put off virtually indefinitely.

Like in other "advanced" countries the blame is being laid on the government's failure to provide healthcare. The propensity to allocate responsibility on government is a mistake. Unless healthcare is treated as unskilled labor it will remain expensive, Surely any responsible parent would not leave their children in the care of second-class workers?

Taking care of young children, particularly babies is a highly skilled endeavour. Income of carers must reflect this. For too long it has been one of the lowest paid occupations. Mothers cannot expect an income sufficient to pay for a one-on-one carer with a bit to spare. This is not economically feasible.

The world needs a lower birthrate. A solution to millions of elderly people will be found. It is worrying though that the answer could be dictatorial and draconian.

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Rabu, 03 November 2010

Reducing Obesity Should Not Mean an Attack on the Elderly

Doctors call for a new attack on obesity. They are calling for more lap band surgery. Of course that will put more money in their pockets. New funding in maternal health is an objective. How can this impact on obesity? Getting new mothers to eat better does not really affect the diet of children. Funding for more beds is another "wishy-washy" idea which has no direct link to reducing obesity.

Banning take away food would mean that hospital cafes would not be able to sell fried chips. Can you imagine only sandwiches on offer? The eateries would not be in business for long. How is this going to be policed? Are they going to check on people all around the building at lunchtime to check on what they are eating? For example, what if a nurse brings a hamburger to work and reheats it in a microwave?

Look around and see what is the "norm" in society. half of women and there quarters if men are overweight. A government that bans take away food faces losing office at the next election. Treating obesity in other ways is also doomed to failure: dietitians are deemed to be in the category of psychologists (get a real job). Even offering free lap band surgery does not mean success. The majority would not choose to have such a dangerous operation.

Freeing up hospital beds for obese people by sending the elderly home makes one wonder if doctors putting forward such ridiculous ideas actually live in a dog kennel. They are surely not in the real world. There is a shortage of aged care places because there is not enough profit in the industry to draw investment. Unless government, thus taxpayers, pay more the aged and infirm will have to stay in hospitals.

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Selasa, 10 Agustus 2010

Higher Taxes and Charges Will Pay for the Elderly

It is always amusing when politicians say such-and-such will be dire in the latter half of this century or in 2050. Most of us will be dead by then! Treasurers in particular are good at saying ridiculous things about the future, just to frighten us I suppose. Few are scared by this though. Most ignore such thoughts as being irrelevant.

An aging population and the imminent care crisis are cases in point. How are these problems to be solved? Well, the elderly could be taken out and shot. Political parties would like that because the aged are the largest voting block.

Many things will change before these crises. In Australia superannuation is mandatory. Apart from the idle few who have managed to stay on welfare throughout their lives, precious few will be eligible to claim the state funded aged pension. Some post-baby boomers will have a difficult time. Starting superannuation late in life will provide just a pittance in income, but they will be knocked back for the aged pension.

The elderly with their memories fading will need state money spent on care for them, So spending will be reallocated from pensions. Not all is lost. Even now, when people are "forced" into government care their houses are sold from under them by the Government. Indeed, a large slice is taken from a lifetime of wealth building. The offspring can complain. Without power of attorney the state wins out.

No matter what happens in the future, ways and means will be found to offset a prevailing problem. One thing is certain - taxes and charges will go up to pay for it.

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Senin, 31 Mei 2010

A Rethink Is Needed on the Elderly

Those involved in the aged care industry call for more money from government. Despite money being ploughed in and the rate of pension being increased it still isn't enough. But we need to take a close look at what is going on in the world. European countries are cutting back on pensions and health care, saying that governments cannot afford it. Perhaps residential aged care will always be unsustainable. Indexing of current payments will only keep up with inflation, and it appears the Government will not even do that.

In ages passed the family cared for the elderly. Aged parents spent their day sat in the armchair by an open fire. They got bread and cheese if they were lucky and they certainly didn't enjoy an income. Too infirm to work their daily tasks involved caring for the toddlers in the family. They were seen as assets not liabilities.

Society has changed. Many adult children today do not even visit their parents. Child care is sourced privately. But these same children do not take kindly to parents mortgaging the family home and living better in old age. This is unfortunate. Perhaps the Government is too paternal. It seems in Europe that reality has put a check on welfare. Maybe a return to old ways will be forced on us.

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Jumat, 26 Februari 2010

Australia Is Facing a Crisis in Aged Residential Care

Australia is heading for a crisis in residential care for the aged. Young people do not understand what their future will be like if investment in homes for the elderly is not increased. With society going the way it is family will not be around to help feed, clothe and look after you when you get old. The nursing homes whether public or private won't be there.

The problem is money. The cost of aged care is getting more expensive by the year. Qualified, experienced staff expect high wages. In 2050 people over 65 years will double in number. Those living more than 85 years will quadruple. The strain will not only be felt in the aged care sector proper. Provision of health services for these people will be difficult.

In the future, care for the elderly will be basic at best. The ratio of "patients" to staff will rise from five per nurse in 2003 to more than twelve per nurse on average. Some nursing homes now have one nurse for over 30 residents. But those over 90 need continual care because of constant illness and memory problems. Today nurses are companions as well as carers. This will end.

Because nurses in nursing homes are paid less than their counterparts in mainstream health, nurses are leaving residential care. Only more money from government will stop this.

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