The Well Being of the Elderly in Asia Versus Europe Essay

Introduction

There has been the development of negative stereotypes about the old people worldwide. These kinds of stereotypes may affect the policy decisions made by the country at large as well as other subsequent programs. Health deteriorates as age increases such that older people have common health problems and they are not able to manage on their own. Aging refers to the changes in physical matters as well as the behavior, and it occurs as people advance in age. Some older adults successfully age such that they can adapt and adjust the process of aging. It is the responsibility of the society to examine the negative stereotypes that they develop towards the older adults and formulate ways to care for them. The elderly deserve filial piety, and the community needs to take care of their well-being. The paper addresses the comparison of the well-being care given in Asia versus that in Europe.

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The well-being of older people in Europe

Europe has taken considerable steps to care of the elderly by allocating the necessary resources to the team to reduce the risks of poverty. Europe has made strategies to deal with the financial well-being of the older adults which is dependent on pension schemes.

Europe provides income security for the older adults so that they can sustain themselves. It is the only region that offers complete pension income coverage for the old people (Haski-Leventhal, 2009). Pension coverage is critical because older adults have no energy to engage in tasks that can bring them money. Similarly, they experience income reduction when they retire. A pension can make up for the loss of income during retirement. The state of Europe encourages pension schemes for the elderly and provides tax relief on the contributions that the people are working make on pension schemes. The older adults are thus not afraid to live because there is a promise for good financial health when they retire. There is compensation given to them so that they can sustain themselves without depending on others.

Asia also has policies that provide financial security to the citizens. They ensure that their economic well-being is well taken care of because their strategic plan is to treat the elderly as beneficial people of the society (Tangcharoensathien et al. 2010). Asia ensures financial security to the elderly as a way of reducing the poverty rate in the country. Asia also gives economic benefits to its older adults that are said to be living below the average levels of poverty. These economic benefits are made by providing social security programs that they can be involved in and do not require much effort. Asia also introduces pension schemes to the older adults that are in private enterprises (Tangcharoensathien et al. 2010). Introduction of pension schemes is a good plan because the majority of people that work in private organizations are often left out because the government offers coverage to those who work in public sectors. The government also rebates on taxation so that they give to citizens who require them at any time. Asia also has plans to create saving schemes and funds that will benefit the older adults. The developed regions of Europe and Asia provide financial security to the older adults to enhance their well-being.

Health status is a weak point for Europe. Scores show that the elderly do not enjoy the services of functional health status with health programs that serve to enhance the health being od these citizens. Europe has a high life expectancy but has no plans for the development of health status. The life expectancy of men has been on a rapid increase and is now 72 years from 72 years. Women have a higher life expectancy which is 84 years and increased from 79 years. These values are high compared with those of other countries. On the other side, Asia has health care programs that enhance the well-being of citizens. Europe provides long-term care services for the older adults although it is not like that of Asia (Reher, 2004). There has been an imbalance between demand and supply where there are more patients than the caregivers which have led to a shortage of nurses, and it is a considerable challenge to the Germany countries. Health is essential to the elderly especially to the people that are from the lower economic sectors who need to work to earn a living. The government needs to provide health care services that benefit the elderly (Grundy, 2006). The World Health Organization states the definition of health to be a state of mind which deals with the physical, mental, social as well as the spiritual well-being of an individual and the absence of disease and infirmity (World Health Organization 2004).

Good health is necessary to enhance people's ability to work and take care of their families. However, in most countries, the majority of the poor old people have little to no access to health services. They survive on the mercies of people that donate to them only a little able to sustain them for less period. These old people cannot afford to pay their fees as well as by drugs that improve their health status. In Asian countries, the provision of health care services is guaranteed, and the government provides for the government and private sector as well.Asia provides health care programs to the older adults such that they prepare for these people on hospitals. The serving of the elderly is with priority basis, and they have their rooms where the hospitals admit them. Asia also provides specialized courses concerning the introduction of Geriatric science in the medical college syllabus (Knodel, & Ofstedal, 2002). Introduction o Geriatric science is essential to nurses because they need to know how to handle the older adults. Old age is a very sensitive phase, and excellent nursing care is given to them. The older adults require care and comfort so that they lead a very healthy life without any forms of anxiety. Geriatric care needs assessments which help to evaluate the issues and challenges that face the old people. Nurses in the medical college need to develop coordinated care plans that focus on identifying the central health problems and challenges of mobility.Asia also provides health insurance to the older adults to cover the costs of drugs and treatment in hospitals. Health insurance is useful in protecting one from high medical expenses that they did not expect. With health insurance, the older adults will thus pay less to get treated. These older adults can also use the health insurance to cover for their families in the event of unexpected serious illnesses (Zimmer, & Kwong, 2003). Asia has separate diagnostic centers that are meant for the older adults. These centers make it easy for fast diagnosis of their health problems. There are plans to create recreation and caregiver facilities for the older adults to avoid mental disorders. Subsidies on the purchase of costly medicines are essential to make it easier for older adults to afford drugs and Asia also plans on including treatment such as bypass surgery and cornea replacements. These services are to be given to the older adults considered as senior citizens who are below the poverty level for free.

The growing need for care in Europe strains the government resources because they spend a lot on long-term care. There has been an increasing budget for the sector of health and social care for the older adults (Bolin, Lindgren, & Lundborg, 2008). The European Commission has an agenda to perform adult learning because it is critical and needed to overcome the economic crisis of the region. Due to lack of enough resources to adequately take care of the older adults, Europe has made plans to conduct training for adults between the age of 50 and 74 so that they engage in activities that can earn more income to them (World Health Organization 2004). The importance of adult learning is to improve on the needs of new skills as well as ensure that the aging workforce is productive. This kind of adult learning is essential to the region because it is essential for social inclusion and making sure that the majority of the citizens are active. Development of skills for adults is necessary to enhance the economic levels of the region.Asia also provides education to the elderly and the caregivers as well. Education is meant to create awareness to the older adults that they are aging and they need to be aware of that. Asia offers sufficient training to the caregivers so that they are aware of what to expect in the medical facilities that they serve. They also create awareness by teaching the aging population of their needs and any challenges that they may face (Knodel, & Ofstedal, 2002). Such training is through organizing workshops, seminars as well as group discussions for their peers. Adequate training provides essential information to those involved of any necessities that they need to know. The caregivers require the practice because they lack the motivation to create behaviors that are sympathetic for the older adults during their reports either through the press or social media. The government has plans to include a course of training for those who provide elderly care because in the social welfare department.

Asian government also include education on general health for the elderly where they are taught on the problems of aging. Aging involves physical and social changes which combine with debilitating effects of diseases that are acute and chronic. The aging population means that the working age people are few in the economy. The government needs to find ways that can create awareness to the people about how the elderly should be treated. The older adults get the education on how to maintain good health which covers the areas of cleanliness, tension issues, and eating habits among others. Awareness is helpful in making sure that the concerned already know what to do in the event of a case facing them. It is also vital to develop campaigns on mass media such as radios, TVs, billboards and posters among others on the care that the elderly need. The government also provides non-formal education to individuals of all ages. This information is useful and talks about the aging process, the changes associated with it and the contribution that older persons should make. The older adults now have access to libraries located in the universities and research institutes that enhance their adult learning.

Europe prioritizes long-term care where home care is a significant part of it through the region has not had enough resources to care for older adults but is still building plans for the same (Haski-Leventhal, 2009). The number of private care homes has increased in the regions and are set to improve shortly. Home health care refers to the full range of services that the caregivers provide to individuals in their places of residence when they have an injury or are ill. Majority of older adults suffer serious health issues and need recuperation services. Home care us thus necessary for them. Europe has a program known as IoT Driving Home Healthcare Market which is the recent trend that has the responsibility of providing home health care. Majority of companies that offer health care are following the solutions of IoT that can monitor the health of acutely ill patients and track them as well. The tools of IoT are useful in delivering better services to the older adults. Following the patient's health helps to know the kind of home care service to give to them and the tools also monitor and manage the people availing care to these patients.Asia also provides promotions for health care meant for the elderly. The government organizes training sessions for the health care providers who need to know the kind of responsibility to give. These care provider...