Running head: NEED FOR SENIOR CARE PROVIDERS

The Essential Need for Encouraging Senior Care Providers

Sarah L. Haid
sarahhaid@yahoo.com
Waxahachie Global High School
December 2014

ESSENTIAL NEED FOR SENIOR CARE

Table of Contents
Abstract..3
Introduction4
Elder Abuse and Neglect.5
Physical Abuse..5
Emotional Abuse...5
Nonverbal Abuse..5
Deadly Emotions of Caregiving..6
Guilt.6
Resentment6
Anger..7
Worry..7
Loneliness..7
Figure 1. Senior Activities7
Grief....8
Defensiveness...8
Why it is Important8
Conclusion.9
References.10-11
Appendix: Statistical Data.......12-13

ESSENTIAL NEED FOR SENIOR CARE

Abstract
The elderly population is increasing, and the need for senior care providers are
increasing too. Statistics show that the population is gradually increasing due to the
baby boomers of America. It is of upmost importance that these seniors are not only
cared for, but cared for with love. As members of the baby boom generation get older
and reach retirement age, they present an increasing challenge and opportunity for
health care, which in turn means the need is now, and it needs to be done effectively
(Barr, 2014). Seniors undergo a lot of different emotions in this stage of their life, and
sometimes it can be overwhelming. As they start to make the decision of where they are
going to live when they get older, they need the support and love from their family
members, and the care providers that are working there. Senior care may fall short of
what they deserve if change doesnt happen soon (Senior Care, 2014). The abuse and
neglect that seniors receive produce outcomes that are hard to believe, especially for
someone as old as they are (65 and older). The need for encouraging senior care
providers is necessary, and increasing. Now is the time to change the way we act
towards the older crowd, and better understand their feelings to satisfy their needs for
improved living.
Keywords: senior care providers, neglect, elderly, abuse

ESSENTIAL NEED FOR SENIOR CARE

The Essential Need for Encouraging Senior Care Providers

Introduction
James J. Pirkl (2009) proposed that right now in history never has our planet
contained so many older people. The baby boomers from 1946 to 1964 are becoming
older, and they are increasing in population for the elderly. The percentage of elderly
people ages 65 and older in 2014 compared to other ages is composed of 13% of the
overall population, including a total of 40.3 million people (Trends and Statistics,
2014). With the increasing numbers, this in turn requires more senior care providers
(see Appendix for demographic information). They cannot just be a senior care provider
with the certificate that says they are eligible for the job, but to devote their own
emotions towards the seniors. Most seniors are put into nursing homes or assisted
living by relatives that dont have the time to deal with them. They are basically
dumping them off. I interviewed a resident at Whiterock Court (independent or
assisted senior living) who said she was not forced; luckily, that it was her own decision
since her daughter, who she lived with previously, was moving to Houston, and she has
friends where she lives now (A. Gibboney, personal communication, November 11,
2014). It is important that seniors are making the decision in agreement with their loved
ones. Now is the time to treat seniors how they should really be treated with fair
decisions, and loving care. They may not know what is always right for them, so with the
help from the ones they love, they can enjoy the last years of their life and make the
best of every moment to improve the emotions they carry.

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Elder Abuse and Neglect

Seniors can undergo three different types of abuse: physical, emotional, and
sometimes even sexual abuse.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse to elders is non-accidental use of force against an elderly person that
results in physical pain, injury, or impairment done by another person (Robinson et al.,
2014). This is not only physical assault, but also the use of drugs, restraints, or
confinement (Robinson et al., 2014).
Emotional Abuse
As far as emotional abuse, others can speak and treat elderly persons that will in turn
cause pain or distress. The verbal forms of emotional elder abuse are: Intimidation
through yelling or threats, humiliation and ridicule, habitual blaming or scapegoating
(Robinson et al., 2014).
Nonverbal Abuse
For nonverbal psychological elder abuse this can be done through: ignoring the elderly
person, isolating an elder from friends or activities, or terrorizing or menacing the elderly
person (Robinson et al., 2014). An example of this took place at the Holiday Retirement
at Whiterock Court in Dallas. In their Holiday World Monthly they describe an incident
where, A resident fell in the middle of the dining room and couldnt get back up. While
waiting for EMS to arrive, other residents began to gather and gawk, making the woman
who fell feel uncomfortable and embarrassed (Lying down on the job, July 28, 2014).
Just imagine how that made her feel. Then there is neglect, which can be done

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intentionally or unintentionally. In 2002, one study interviewing 2,000 nursing home

residents reported that 44% said they had been abused and 95% said they had been
neglected or seen another resident neglected (Broyles, 2000). Caregivers can fail to
fulfill some caretaking tasks, which constitutes more than half of all reported cases or
elder abuse (Robinson et al., 2014). There are many tasks to be done (see Appendix
for demographic information).
Deadly Emotions of Caregiving
It is said that seniors can take on a lot of emotions as they begin their older years
(65 and older). Most people dont want to grow old, and that is a given, so for most it is
a hard adapting factor. According to Paula Scott (2014) there are seven deadly
emotions of caregiving, the first being guilt.
Guilt
Guilt can be caused from telling yourself that youre doing something wrong, or saying
the wrong thing. If an elderly has dementia, you may get frustrated at them and lose
your temper, which can cause you to feel guilty for that. Or most people can relate to
having the guilt of not visiting your grandparents as must as you should. Theyll call you
from time to time and say to come visit them, but you never do.
Resentment
The second emotion she said is resentment (Scott, 2014). A lot of the times
caregivers will feel all of the pressure to take full responsibility of taking care of the
elderly, and they feel resented by others (family members) that they arent there to help
them. The person feeling cared for can also receive this feeling because they feel like

ESSENTIAL NEED FOR SENIOR CARE

the caregivers life feels hijacked by responsibility and out of his or her own control
(Scott, 2014).
Anger
The third emotion is anger, which can be caused from high blood pressure, heart
attack and heart disease, digestive-tract disorders, and headaches (Scott, 2014).
Worry
The fourth emotion is worry which is linked to the good feeling of love and wanting
whats best for your elder (Scott, 2014).

Loneliness
Loneliness can come from the feeling of friends and loved ones backing away, which
makes the elderly feel unwanted (Scott,
2014). In nursing homes though, like at
Whiterock Court, they keep the seniors
interactive. On the figure to the right,
Figure 1 shows seniors being
interactive in a nursing home. Annette

Figure 1. Senior Activities

Gibboney, who lives there, said they have at least four or five activities daily, and they
alternate everyday (A. Gibboney, personal communication, November 11, 2014). She
said also they make it interesting where there is a mystery trip every Monday, where
you sign up and its a surprise where they will be going, she said this way she is always

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active, of course when she wants to be (A. Gibboney, person communication,

November 11, 2014).
Grief
Grief is usually linked to death, but if your elderly is diagnosed with a terminal illness,
the grief begins here (Scott, 2014).
Defensiveness
Lastly, defensiveness results from going close to your elderly, when you think you
know what is absolutely best for them, besides nurses, or even other loved ones who
come into the picture and think they know whats best for the elderly (Scott, 2014).
Why it is important
Just as we are having as many seniors we have had more than ever, the seniors
need the support and love of family members more than ever (Senior Care, 2014). As
seniors lose their ability to talk, think, and act correctly, they need their care providers
more than ever. Throwing them in a nursing home, senior assisted care, or independent
living, they still need the encouragement and support from a loved one, or a close
individual to keep them going. As of today, 80 percent of older Americans prefer to stay
at home as they age, this is why we need to make them feel as comfortable as possible
when they are at the point where they need to be put into a home (Senior Care, 2014).
As a senior reaches the 65 or older age, they most definitely do not lose their
individuality. They are still a person with emotions, feelings, and thoughts. The more
time and effort we put into spending time with our elders, the better their risk of not
dying is, isnt that scary? A research done by Dong X., Simon M, Medes de Leon C.,

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Fulmer T., Beck T., & Hebert L., in 2009 stated, Elders who experienced abuse, even
modest abuse, had a 300% higher risk of death when compared to those who had not
been abused. There is a lot for a senior to go through when they reach a certain point,
and they cant always do it alone. They have a lot to decide: where they are going to
live, do they have good eating plans, are the nurses helpful, do they offer senior
activities, etc. Then, once they have chosen the living conditions that best fit their
needs, and medical expenses, this Is when care providers need to make the
commitment to spending time with the elderly and making them feel involved, just as
they were when they were younger.
Conclusion
In conclusions, all of the effort put into spending time with the elderly is not easy;
it requires a lot of time, money, and effort. Not only is it just one person being there to
care for the elder, it takes a whole familys support and love. Statistics show that the
elderly are taking up a large portion of our population, and this rate will continue to
increase. Nursing homes need an increase of benefitting factors, not only the caring
nurse with positive attitudes, but activities and pluses that the nursing homes provide.
Annette Gibboney said that she decided to pick living under independent living services
versus alone because of the things they offered: three cooked meals a day, free
transportation, activities, and friendly people (A. Gibboney, personal communication,
November 11, 2014). The need for care providers and homes are going to increase,
and their needs to be an increase and support for the elders in your life.

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References
Barr, P. (2014, January 14). The boomer challenge. Retrieved from
http://www.hhnmag.com/display/HHN-newsarticle.dhtml?dcrPath=/templatedata/HF
_Common/NewsArticle/data/HHN/Magazine/2014/Jan/cover-story-baby-boomers
Broyles, K. (2000). Statistics/Data: Abuse in Nursing Homes and other Long Term Care
Facilities. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved November 8,
2014, from www.ncea.aoa.gov/Library/Data/#
Dong X, Simon M, Mendes de Leon C, Fulmer T, Beck T, Hebert L, et al. (2009) Elder
self-neglect and abuse and mortality risk in a community-dwelling population.
Journal of the American Medical Association, 302(5), 517-526.
Gibboney, A. (2014, November 11). Telephone interview.
Pirkl, J. J. (2009). The Demographics of Aging Transgenerational Design Matters.
Retrieved November 7, 2014, from Transgenerational.org
Robinson, L., Saisan, J., MSW, & Segal, J. (2014, October). Elder Abuse & Neglect.
Helpguide.org. Retrieved November 7, 2014, from helpguide.org
Scott, P. S. (2014). The 7 Deadly Emotions of Caregiving. Caring.com. Retrieved
November 6, 2014, from https://www.caring.com/articles/7-deadly-emotions-ofcaregiving?page=4
Span, P. (2012, July 5). New Numbers on Elder Care. The New York Times. Retrieved
from http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/05/new-numbers-on-eldercare/?_r=0

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Senior Care is a Family Issue. (2014) Comfort Keepers. Retrieved November 6, 2014,
from www.comfortkeepers.com/home/info-center/senior-care-is-a-family-issue
Trends and statistics relating to U.S. seniors, elderly: Census Bureau 2014 report.
(2014, August 14). Journalists Resource. Retrieved from
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/
Whiterock Court. (2014, July 28). Holiday World Monthly [pamphlet]. N.P.: n.p.

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Appendix: Statistical Data

The importance of knowing how many elderly people take up the population of America
reflects the knowledge of importance of senior care providers and who make up those
senior care providers. Also, what tasks these senior care providers do and fulfill.

Figure A1. Demographic Information of Eldercare Providers. This figure shows the
percentage of eldercare that there is, and who those eldercare people consist of.

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Figure A2. Demographic Information for Time Spent by Eldercare. This figure shows
what eldercare providers spend their time doing with the elders.

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