SW2720 Case Study
Mrs Ann Smith is a seventy nine year old woman and she has several problems regarding her health and well-being in her elderly age. Many policies and legislation ensure the safety and well-being of the elderly such as Mrs Smith. Legislation and policies safeguard the elderly including Mrs Smith to receive the fair treatment of care and to stop discrimination and exclusion. Discrimination and exclusion is still prevalent today and within contemporary society the ageing population is rising, discrimination and exclusion could increase if it is not appropriately tackled by contemporary society today. There are numerous theories of ageing, some theories are disengagement theory, and the activity theory and these theories have developed key concepts and the effects of ageing on individuals and contemporary society today.
Discriminating against age and ageism is unfairly treating people and differently because of their age (Age UK, 2012). Age discrimination and ageism can lead to social exclusion, isolation, and loneliness throughout the elderly community. Age discrimination is illegal and detrimental to the elderly; however, any form of treatment whilst it may be different can be good. Bus passes and flu vaccinations are two free products that are available to be an advantage to the elderly age group, and legislation still permits these benefits to remain. Direct discrimination is when a person treats another person less favourably than they would because of certain characteristics. In the health and social care sector, this could be the dismissal or refusal of benefits because of a characteristic like a person’s age. Indirect discrimination is a practice, policy, or rule, which applies to everyone in the exact same way however, it can have detrimental effects on some people than others. The Equality Act says, “It puts you at a particular disadvantage.” Examples of this could be to reduce the length that individuals stay in hospitals and intake of individuals into hospitals. This could be a disadvantage to the older generation as it may take longer for the elderly to recover from any surgery, than it would take a younger person to recover from surgery and the elderly do not always have family or friends to aid in their recovery once they leave hospital.
Isolation and loneliness are terms used to access in health care when referring to the elderly; however, these are two different words with different meaning. Isolation, remaining apart from others, being separated. This can include accessing services for the elderly, social groups being a part of the community. Loneliness, being lonely feeling an individual feels when they have no friends or company. The elderly do not always appear isolated physically, however living with or having contact with family, friends may not always be effective in combating loneliness. In the case study, Mrs Smith’s daughter is supportive of her care, even though Mrs Smith’s daughter has moved to a different area; this could still cause Mrs Smith to feel isolated as she lives alone and away from family. Stigma and discrimination can lead to isolation and this can lead to the elderly and the older generation facing the prospect of unequal and unfair access to health care and referrals and treatment. For Mrs Smith this is not a current issue as she has support from family in her daughter and referrals from her GP to attend a memory clinic and the Older Adults Team OAT. During the visit to the memory clinic Mrs Smith will be asked about her daily routine and tasks, she performs daily as well as being assessed on managing finical issues and how she copes within social situations. Mrs Smith will also be sent for a scan on the brain to identify any abnormalities, if there is any abnormalities she will be treated accordingly and her and the family supported through this. The OAT will assess Mrs Smith to offer any extra help and support if it is needed. Support plans like these are implemented into place to maintain individuals’ autonomy and protect both their well-being and safety. This multi-agency work is imperative to providing the care that Mrs Smith needs to be able to carry on in the community with her life. From the GP making the referral to the other agencies involvement this is the tried and tested way to provide the best care for individuals. This is important as this separates age discrimination from other forms of discrimination as given individuals live long enough everyone is potentially at risk.
In the UK, the population is ageing and this could be seen as a potential problem for the economy and the health care system by increasing the costs to the health care system. The Guardian writes that this is a severe issue to the UK and that it could possible cause financial ruin if the average life expectancy is to rise by just three years than predicted. This could be exaggerated as it is said that the number of people aged sixty-five and over is expected to increase by twenty-three percent this is an estimate of over two million people by 2018. This could cause a problem for the older aged individuals, like Mrs Smith, as these individuals are the main users of the UKs Health and Social Care facilities. Currently the retired and the elderly cost more than the non-retired and young to the UK economy did. These increased costs and the increase in life expectancy is increasing pressure on the NHS, which in turn causes taxes to increase to pay for the increase.
Hearing is one of the senses that are important to an individual’s life, and the effect of losing the hearing or other senses like sight as an elderly person later on in life, such as Mrs Smith, this can have a devastating effect on well-being and mental health. Physical issues will almost certainly have an effect on mental health, which effects individuals psychologically and can interfere with an individual’s social life and increase feelings of isolation, loneliness, and depression. A decrease in the senses can and decreased mobility and not being able to have the ability to retain the life that elderly induvial had when they were young can have a detrimental effect on a person’s physical and mental health. The loss of the senses and mobility can lead to the elderly feeling that they are losing their autonomy in their life, leading to their withdrawal from society, family, and friends. Linking back to Mrs Smith this is prevalent as Mrs Smith has impairment in her sight and this could have an effect on her. There are many reasons why the elderly are at risk of falling, high blood pressure, sight impairments like Mrs Smith. Problems that can affect balance can be ear problems and strokes. Relating to mobility, the loss of autonomy in an elderly persons life could result in social exclusion, and with Mrs Smith needing any surgery that this would leave Mrs Smith immobile.
Social exclusion is individuals and or a group being unable to take part in the wider community and the community in which they live in. Prevention can have effects on health both physically and mentally and can lead to self-social exclusion. Mrs Smith for instance could feel isolated from the community because of her visual impairment. Poor housing, low income, and life limiting issues all cause exclusion and if there is a contributing factor from all this is seen as multiple exclusion.
Mrs Smith can be seen as being a person that is affected by multiple exclusion. Mrs Smith lives in a highly deprived area she lives on her own, although there is local conveniences, and the services that are offered by welfare are inadequate. Mrs Smith depends on her benefits, and the highest rate of pension is £155.56 per week. Mrs Smith’s visual impairment and the factor that she needs a hip operation are all reasons that will increase her risk of being isolated, excluded and feeling depressed. It is vitally important that elderly people be included in their own care allowing care to be tailored to individual’s needs. Inclusion of elderly people in their care and delivery of services in vital to combat feelings of depression and loneliness effectivity.
Two of the most prevalent theories on the social effects of ageing are the Disengagement Theory and the Activity Theory. The Disengagement Theory proposes that for society to function appropriately the more mature generation must be phased out and the roles in society that need changing from old too young for example medical personnel, teachers, civil servants, have to be replaced by the newer generation (Clark et al, 2000). The activity theory has the understanding that the mature remain socially, physical, mentally fit, and involved in their own lives and their community (Miller, 2009). Elderly people like Mrs Smith can do this by taking part and being activity in the community and developing and reaffirming skills and hobbies.
Disengagement theory projected that the course of disengaging is unavoidable and can be rewarding. The theory also believed that this is a common process and a mutual withdrawal that occurs between the individual and society, which is the norm and it, is possible. Functionalist theorists believe that this process in both beneficial for the ageing induvial and society. Criticism has come to this theory as it is portraying the ageing generation in a destructive way. This theory does not take into account the roles of significance that the retired and elderly take on for example grand parenting, volunteering or as advocates to other elderly people. The most contemporary sociological theory is the Activity Theory; this theory explores the concept that individuals that age positively are the individuals that possess healthy lifestyles and health choices and relationships. Individuals that engage in physical and mentally stimulating activities during their lives into old age can be healthier and happier individuals.
Legislation and policies protect us all from discrimination, and this includes the elderly for example Mrs Smith. The Equality Act is a piece of legislation that protects individuals from discrimination. In the Act, a section is specific to the protection to individuals in regards to age, as does the Human Rights Act 1998. The Human Rights Act 1998 states that a person is entitled to a life and a private and family life, and if these rights are denied from a person, it is illegal and is discriminative towards these people. These pieces of law are a way to challenge and to reduce this from happening. This is vitally important as discrimination of any kind can have detrimental effects on an individual’s well-being and health.
The Equality Act encompasses that equality should be considered in planning and commissioning health care services, this is to ensure that all service users and individuals have an equal and fair access to treatment and health care that is needed by them. The Public Sector Equality Duty came into force in 2011 and it has three main duties to diminish discrimination, harassment, and victimisation. The Duty also has the duty to promote equality, opportunity and protects individuals’ personalities; it encourages and builds relationships between people with a similar personality and to challenge prejudgment (NHS, 2012). The newest piece of legislation is The Care Act 2014 which gave local councils new powers, this allowed the councils to provide service users with care that prevents their needs developing into more grave issues, this also allows waiting times to be diminished. This Act has also allowed the correct information advice and guidance to enable the elderly people to make their own informed decisions about the care and support they receive. Finally, it enables service users to have access to a broad range of providers for their care, who offer a plethora of high quality and appropriate services (GOV.UK, 2016). This is giving the elderly the right to the finest care and to make sure that all their care requirements are being met.
The Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) agenda was announced in 2003. This addressed anomalies across the UK regarding who is entitled to receive the care and support for all that use health and social care services. This agenda was to make available a process to assess an any entitlements for health and social care support based on risk and time. This enabled the framework to inform councils and allow councils to understand and develop health and social care to make it equal and fair to all of the service users, whilst looking at budget constraints, which are more prevalent in contemporary society (Department of Health, 2010). Assessments and planning where included in this and for adults like Mrs Smith this allows ease when looking for support from health and social care providers. Assessments are assessed by categorised which informs the decision that will be made by professionals in what support a service user will receive from health and social care providers. The FACS produced levels of risk, low to moderate and substantial to critical, Mrs Smith would fall under the low to moderate category due to her issues. Falling below these categories deems a person ineligible for care and an individual would have to seek and pay for their own care (Care Quality Commission, 2010). However, Mrs Smith is not categorised as critical under the FACS categories she is still assessed as moderate and will therefore receive a definite amount of provision from local council.
Sheltered housing schemes enable the elderly and the likes of Mrs Smith to ensure extra provision all the while promoting and upholding autonomy for the individual. Sheltered housing services provide services such as alarm call services allowing emergency services to be alerted in the event of a fall. Sheltered housing may also provide a warden service this service would check on residences, safeguard the residences, and promote safety and autonomy (Shaw et al, 1998). Mrs Smith has an emotional affection to the family home so the option of sheltered housing may not be for Mrs Smith, the option of supported living may suit Mrs Smith more than sheltered housing. This will allow Mrs Smith to continue being independent and living her life as she wants. The supported living will visit Mrs Smith and, encourage, maintain and support Mrs Smith in daily tasks like house work, shopping , personal hygiene and care if Mrs Smith requests this (NHS, 2016).
In conclusion the evidence to suggest that isolation and loneliness amongst the elderly is still prevalent in contemporary society in the UK today. Discrimination is a key factor in this issue towards the elderly, legislation and policies tackle the discrimination that is still happening. Theories, which have been debated within the essay, give professionals a greater understanding and knowledge in which ole age and the elderly are perceived. Referring back to the case study Mrs Smith’s case is not an infrequent case where the elderly is concerned, and it is therefore imperative that professionals realise the issues Mrs Smith is fronting. This will give future professionals and students a broader knowledge base of the issues that the elderly generation can and still could face and the best technique in which it is undertaken.
References
Age UK. (2012). What is ageism. Available: http://www.ageuk.org.uk/work-and-learning/discrimination-and-rights/what-is-ageism/. Last accessed 30th March 2016.