What are the important features of elderly care facilities?

It is estimated that the elderly population of Singapore would double by 2030, leading it to a staggering number of 9, 00,000! This would have many implications. Most importantly this would create surging demands for health care services for the elderly people. In this light, it might be a sound idea to understand what the specific aspects of elderly care are. Other than quality medical services, the domain of old age health incorporates several elements that ensure all round healing and well-being.

Physical care:

This is the first specialization for any health care set-up. Again, it needs to be specialized for the group that is targeted, the elderly in this case. Aging imposes several physical restrictions that make medical treatment complex. Old age healthcare, therefore, involves expertise and professional experience in dealing with elderly patients. Any treatment needs application based upon fragility and existing health conditions.

Moral support:

The staff in an old age nursing home should have social skills and empathy along with professional skills. This is required for dealing with aged patients who need to be attended with compassion and dignity. Elderly people often suffer from a sense of incompetency, which increases while they are sick. A degree of empathy is needed to make such a person feel at ease and help in recovery. This forms another important pillar in specialization.

Social engagement and emotional support:

A nursing home or health institution for the aged provides a scope for social interaction among like-minded or similar individuals, to a certain degree. There is a lower probability of a person feeling out of place because the social group belongs to the same age group, with some common problems and hence creates a sense of identification. Interaction among such people along with some engagements and entertaining activities (often provided by the health care center) render a positive support in recovery.

Family support:

Family support is important for the elderly patients who enroll for recovery. An elderly person often retracts from social involvement due to age. For this reason, a bigger involvement takes place with family members who take care of them to a large extent. For elderly patients, it is important that they continue to feel being part of their family and an elderly nursing home would make sure that such connection remains in continuity. Family involvement in every matter, including recovery updates and treatment courses, should form a vital part in helping a patient and his or her family.

The above mentioned features indicate health care should always focus on specializations based upon diversity. It is understood, that for elderly care Singapore needs constant improvisations for the rising aging population of society.