Essay Sample on Nurse Care for the Aging

Introduction

Autonomy is an idea that can be generally understood to refer to the ability and capacity of people to be their self by living life according to reasons and motives that are self-independent and not a product of manipulative external forces. In recent time the number of older people is increasing and at the same time being young is considered a popular thing unlike initially when old people were considered to have a lot of knowledge and experience hence aging was cheered on. The rapidly dynamic society makes it difficult for aging people to maintain control of their lives. Considering that old people are often dominated by declines in both physical and mental capacity, it becomes a necessity for them to be taken care of in institutions for the aging. Such institutions always limit the autonomy and freedom the old people would wish to exercise such as living in their own homes or managing a farm. The autonomy of people decreases as they age because they tend to lack the final say in most things.

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Dependence and Assistance

Why do people dread going to nursing homes?

Nursing homes have round the clock aids and nurses caring for the aging, but still, most people dread going to nursing homes simply because the nursing homes have professional personnel who tend to older people as patients rather than people. Moreover, the nursing homes offer an unfamiliar environment to older people making them feel less in control of their own lives because they are institutionalized.

Wilson created the concept of assisted living facility. What are some of the advantages?

The concept of the assisted living facility by Wilson became very useful in improving the physical and cognitive functions of the aging. This is simply because life satisfaction increased and depression fell, the aging no longer felt that they were submitting to life in an asylum just because they were old and frail (Takano, 2018). The concept allows for old people to live with freedom and autonomy no matter how limited they become physically and mentally. This was achieved by giving them control over the care they received by enabling them to live in apartments with their priorities and privacy unlike in nursing homes where such priorities as locking one's door is sacrificed for institutional control and the aging feel like just another patient in bed.

What do you see as disadvantages?

The demerits of this concept come about because it seems dangerous to allow people with physical disabilities and mental limitations to own knives and alcohol among other things. Furthermore, the assisted living facility makes it difficult for the staff to keep tabs on the health conditions of the tenants easily. In comparison, this is easy to do in nursing homes. The significant factor with the Wilson concept is that it focuses on freedom, autonomy and eventually life satisfaction of the aging, unlike the nursing homes which focus on helping the patients live with ease during their last days without regarding them as people who previously managed lives.

What concepts do you find to be of most value?

The concept of older people retaining their privacy and priorities in life stand out above anything else in the Wilson concept, as these act as the base for establishing autonomy.

Reference

Takano, J., Yamahana, R., & Yamamoto-mitani, N. (2018). Analysis of Factors Related to the Terminal Care Attitudes of Nurses in Palliative Care Units. Palliative Care Research, 13(4), 357-366.