According to Girolametto, Hoaken, Weitzman, and Lieshout (2000), there are three main subtypes of directives used by caregivers. These three subtypes are behavioral control, turn-taking control, and topic control. However, Girolametto et al. (2000) has added another two subtypes. These are behavioral control and conversational control. The aim of the study by Girolametto et al. (2000) is to measure teachers’ directives and measure the language productivity of a child. The result showed that teachers of toddlers used more attention calls in the book reading than the play dough. From the teacher-child interaction result, it seems that the use of attention calls was less than the group management. This is because the interaction was during the play-dough activity. Moreover, the teacher-child interaction was almost conversational control. The teacher has used about 42 conversational control directives such as Wh-questions, conversational Y/N, and clarification questions. This result correlates with the Girolametto et al. (2000) study, which found out that teachers use the three questions types of conversational control more in the play-dough activity than in the book-reading context. The reason why both results correlate is that the teacher-child interaction was in play-dough activity time. However, the teacher has used response control on fewer occasions and the most common use was commands rather than test questions or directive questions. This result differed from Girolametto et al. (2000) because it showed that the teacher used more of these two types than the other types such as choice questions or commands. From the teacher-child interaction result, the use of questions was significantly higher than the use of other types of direction strategies. This finding shows a relationship with the result of Girolametto and Weitzman (2002), which found out that numerous questions tend to be used more in the play-dough context than in the book reading time. Additionally, the teacher has used expansion several times, and this result can be associated with the study by Girolametto and Weitzman (2002), which found out the use of expansion is higher in the play-dough activity than in the book reading time.
The MLU for the teacher should match the average child in a group (Girolametto et al., 2000). However, the teacher’s MLU was unusually high, around 5.9. This may be because the teacher has repeated the questions several times in different ways to get the child to talk. The teacher asked questions related to what the child was doing. The teacher asked the questions out of real interest, stimulating a discussion. The most appropriate types of questions are the open-ended ones. This is because they make children strive towards describing their thinking. For example, “how can you tell?”, “How do you know?” The teacher has used many open-ended questions in the conversation to develop the child’s thinking. The teacher-child interaction was highly significant. However, in order to improve the interaction, the teacher’s use of language should be slow in pace. It should also be shorter and have fewer utterances (Girolametto, Hoaken, Weitzman & Lieshout, 2000). The recording sample has been impacted inadequately due to the background noise as well as the movement of the children observed. There were also many repetitions from the teacher to get the child to talk, which maybe because of the many interactions with other children. To improve the sampling, I would suggest making the recording in a small room to limit the children’s movement.
Patients have suffered injuries at the hands of caregivers. The caregivers are in most cases qualified to practice within the medical field, like nurses. Due to offenses committed against patients, the nurses are required to follow ethics. Some torts are well defined and punishable by law. They include negligence, assault, battery, and false imprisonment. The punishment is meant to discourage the reoccurrence of the same behavior and compensate for the damages (Dearmon 2010, p. 471). Using the scenario given, this paper will identify and show their application.
Definitions of Assault, battery, false imprisonment, and negligence
Tort
A tort is an unlawful act committed against another causing them harm. The harmed patient is entitled to compensation. The other purpose of tort is to discourage others from harming patients. Dearmon indicates that tort can be intentional or unintentional. An intentional tort occurs in cases where there was intent to act in a way that would cause injury. An unintentional tort occurs when for instance a nurse harms the patient without a prior objective. It can be an accident or a result of carelessness.
Negligence
Dearmon (2010, p.472) says that a nurse demonstrates negligence if they do not perform their duties as their profession requires. Guido and Watson (2006) further insist that negligence is performed by disregard when performing tasks that a sane person would perform in a specific situation (p. 72). From training, the nurses are believed to be equipped and ready to give services. When they do not give health care as they were assigned, they can be considered careless, hence negligence.
Assault
Guido and Watson (2006) say that an assault can be said to have been committed if the nurse in their conduct threatens to hurt the patient physically, insults them, and handles them offensively. Assault does not include physical conduct, for this reason, resting patients cannot be assaulted (p. 75).
Battery
According to Guido and Watson (2006), Battering involves conduct with the patient where the nurse for instance without the permission of a patient gives treatment resulting in injury and against their will. Dearmon (2010) indicates that the nurse commits an offense even if the treatment is of benefit to the patient. Coming into contact with the patient’s belonging is viewed as a form of battery. In some cases, even if there is no injury, what is considered is that the nurse touched them (p.472).
False imprisonment
False imprisonment is the withdrawal of a patient’s freedom without legal justification (Guido and Watson 2006, p. 75). In his book, Dearmon (2010) notes that false imprisonment could occur if the patient cannot leave their premise because it is locked, they are tied up in one place, have been injected with drugs that will reduce their movement, and are threatened that action will be taken against them if they leave. False imprisonment is not limited to medical practitioners; family members can also play a role. There are cases that false imprisonment that may be justifiable. Patients who have mental illness are dangerous to the surroundings and themselves. There are legal provisions that are provided by different states and thus the nurse can follow the procedures (p.472).
Case scenario on assault
In the scenario, some torts can be identified. There was an assault committed by the new nurse. Allison the new nurse uses authoritative language to force the patient to elevate the leg in her bed. This behavior makes Ruth, the patient feel offended. After dressing her wound Allison threatens Ruth that in the future the nurse may refuse to come if she continues with her demands. She goes ahead to request the neighbor to assist the old sick woman later. Something that Ruth sees as an intrusion in her home. The neighbors may fail to come making her uncertain how she will manage in her house alone.
Assault is punishable by law even for other offenses outside nursing as Skene (2004, p. 6) mentions. The nurse has to learn to be a good communicator. Most importantly they must learn to listen to patients to know their wishes. In some cases, the patient may just node to accept or reject something. Insults that are used against the patient may have a negative effect. The patient will not be pleased with the services and might be psychologically affected. Instead of becoming hostile and commanding to a patient, the nurse can listen to the patient’s explanation. They can have a negotiation where the nurse will offer the best treatment and still have the patient’s consent. The nurse must have a good relationship with the patient.
Case scenario on Battery
It can be argued that Ruth was battered. Allison was to change the dressing of her wounds using a compression bandage system which she rejects because it causes more pain. Ruth is forced to go to bed where she did not wish for. She had preferred to stay in a chair and rest the leg on a stool.
By Preston (2007), patients need to be informed of any procedure that is done on them and why. The nurse can have a dialogue before administering the treatment. Where patients have complained about a certain treatment, the nurse should look for an alternative. The nurse must consent with the patient and be kind. The battery can result in complications. The patient can place charges. In case the treatment did not benefit the patient, the nurse can be accused of criminal acts (p. 56).
The nurse in charge of a patient is accountable for her well-being. Her actions should be to provide health care while following the best practice and standards. She must also learn to make decisions that would benefit the patient and at the same time remain ethical (Skene 2004, p. 7).
Case scenario on False imprisonment
The new nurse after forcefully taking the sick old woman to bed takes the walking frame and puts them in the hallway. Alison tells her that she should stay there until the neighbor comes in to assist. Ruth eventually needs to go to the bathroom where in the process she falls and gets hurt. Her freedom of movement is taken away.
A patient has the freedom to move. Those giving care should assist the patient and not withdraw their rights. Patients may be exposed to danger when they are denied privileges. Patients can recover quickly because they are not exposed to danger. In the scenario, Ruth was entitled to use her walking frames. They were safe for her since her feet were weak (Preston 2007).
Case scenario on Negligence
Upon realizing that the leg ulcers are in a bad state and swollen, she fails to give proper medical care. This leads to the worsening of the condition considering that she is diabetic. Alison further fails to inform Ruth of the state of her leg ulcers. The swelling, the moist and inflammation are not attended.
Dearmon (2010) reveals that when they are training, the medical personnel are taught the best practices in the medical field to assist patients in their illness. There are standards of giving care that is defined according to skills and knowledge (p. 474). Considering that she was a qualified nurse, Allison was aware that the condition of the wound then needed more care than she gave. Alison carelessly left the patient with a wound that needed further treatment.
The paramedics portray negligence when they depart from the emergency department before handing over the patient. Their plan to have lunch before handing it over makes Ruth stay for long before being attended to.
Skene (2004) indicates that medical procedures are better known by the professional, each in their specialized field. The health of a patient comes first. The paramedics were careless to leave the old sick woman, alone and unattended. Ruth ended up enduring pain while waiting for intervention (p. 6).
To avoid negligence, nurses can form a habit where they follow the nursing standards in giving care. They can also practice good communication with the patients. Additionally, the nurse can document what she performed and observed on the patient. They can also evaluate the condition of the patient and give correct intervention which should be in the best interest of the patient (Kerridge, Lowe, and Stewart, 2009).
Recommendation
Whenever a nurse stands in for another, they should not force the patient in any circumstance. Dearmon (2010) suggests that the nurse can initiate a dialogue that explains the importance of the treatment and other activities which will benefit the patient. The nurse can indicate somewhere so that they cannot be accused of negligence. He emphasizes that patients’ consent must be obtained in every stage of caregiving. Before sending Alison, sally could have notified Ruth if there was an opportunity. Consent can be formal or informal, the patient’s wish must be granted (p. 475).
Conclusion
In conclusion, this paper has identified torts in the scenario. Ruth old and sick was assaulted by Allison the nurse who threatened that nursing services would be terminated if she did not comply with her commands. Another tort is a battery where the nurse dressed the wound with a compressed bandage against her wish. Ruth suffered false imprisonment where the nurse places the walking frame in the hallway so that she could not leave. This led to her injury where she fell and was taken to hospital for treatment. Moreover, negligence is identified. Allison did not give treatment to the moist, swollen, and inflamed leg ulcers. The paramedics also leave the old woman in the emergency department without handing over where she spends hours before being attended to.
There are standards that the nurse can use to correct the offenses and avoid causing injury to patients. Good communication skills can be implemented so that the nurse can listen to the patient and also explain the medical procedures. There must be consent from the patient in the process of caregiving. The nurse must document their activities and the progress of the patient.
Reference list
Dearmon, V. (2010). Risk management and legal issues chapter 15, 471. USA: Jones And Barlett Publishers.
Guido, G, W and Watson, A. (2006). Ethical and Legal Guidelines for Nursing Practice Chapter 4, 66-84. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Kerridge, I., Lowe, M., & Stewart, C. (2009). Ethics and Law for the Health Professions (3rd Ed.). Sydney: Federation Press.
Preston, N. (2007). Understanding ethics, (3rd Ed.). Annandale, NSW: The Federation Press.
Skene, L. (2004). Law and medical practice: rights, duties, claims, and defences (2nd Ed.). Sydney, NSW: Butterworths.
Older people are especially vulnerable due to health issues and the inability to preserve complete autonomy. It results in physical abuse, financial abuse, neglect, and other forms of unacceptable attitude. Older individuals who suffer from serious illnesses that make them dependent on caregivers become victims of neglect, and they cannot report it or change this situation. Neglect of older adults by caregivers is an example of emotional and physical abuse, which foregrounds the need for a vigilant attitude of nurses to the signs of violence.
Caregivers accused of neglect of older adults try to justify their actions with the inability to manage psychologically with their duties. The investigation by Fang and Yan (2018) shows that most families with caregiving responsibilities imposed on the patient’s relative cannot cope with it. They disregard the opinion of older people, ignore their needs, underfeed them, and do not allow them to communicate with others (Fang &Yan, 2018). Thus, taking care of elderly individuals with physical and mental problems is challenging for caregivers who are not ready for this. In this case, asking the professional nurse for help and supervision might decrease the number of elderly neglects.
It is vital to establish adequate control of both professional and unprofessional caregivers, which might decrease the number of older people who suffer from neglect. The critical detail is that professional nurses who qualify to become caregivers also show signs of neglect towards older adults when they know that their patients will not disclose this information (Fang & Yan, 2018). Even though these situations are comparatively rare, it is not right to ignore them. Moreover, it is necessary to guarantee that the nurse understands the professional code of ethics that does not allow abusive behavior toward elderly patients.
Summing up, elderly neglect is a serious problem in health care that is a sign of abusive behavior toward older adults. Caregivers often use the vulnerability of their patients and do not try to control their negative emotions. It is critical to ensure that healthcare organizations maintain professional and nonprofessional caregivers and nurses understand their code of ethics that prevents abusive behavior toward elderly patients.
A chronic illness persists over a long period and may not cure. Chronic illnesses include heart diseases, dementia, asthma, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, and genetic disorders, which contribute significantly to the burden of diseases in the world. Although infections are widely spread in all ages, a more significant percentage lingers with elderly folks. Noce et al. (2021) assert that living an unhealthy lifestyle characterized by excessive alcohol, unbalanced diet, smoking, and lack of exercise and stress can lead to the onset of chronic illnesses. To understand the debilitating impacts of chronic illness on the aged, I had the chance to interview E James, a distant aunt who has dementia.
Dementia is a chronic illness characterized by memory loss and poor judgment. Through the interview, I understood the disease’s effects on E and her family and how they can respond to the effects. I also received life advice on how to live during my young age to prevent dementia and other chronic illnesses. E is a 71-year-old Black American woman who resides at the shores of Lake Michigan near Ludington Town. She has, however, spent most of her life in Chicago. E was born in Texas, where she lived with her parents and siblings before being married at the age of 15 years to R. J., the love of her life. R worked in Chicago as a chef for a European family.
E later joined her husband in Chicago, where they lived together in the servant quarters before inheriting the main house from her husband’s employer years later when they went back to Europe. The union between E and R was blessed with three kids, namely RU, ES, and D
E explains that the death of a loved one is inevitable. She says that it is harrowing and that everyone should prepare to cope with it when that time comes. Although E had not fully processed the death of her husband, which occurred five years ago from the date of this interview, she was still in the process of recovery. E also feels that aging is also an inevitable stage of life which she has accepted. Aging has helped her adopt healthy living methods such as eating right, avoiding alcohol (which she was a fan of in her youthful years), and exercising through farm work. E talks of the challenges of growing old; one is memory loss. Two years after her husband’s death, she has diagnosed with a major neurocognitive disorder; dementia. The first time was when she lost her memory and couldn’t even remember her name and children.
E explains that her workers took advantage of her situation then and would steal from her. The condition led to the collapse of her hotel business. She usually had a hard time communicating as her speech was overly disoriented. This reduced her social interaction. She found herself only communicating with her children, especially RU, her firstborn daughter. She also had agnosia. She tells me it was difficult to recognize her children who came to the U.S overseas for their father’s funeral. They had to show her the family album to help them explain who they were. Her daughter RU took her to the family doctor, who ran some tests and diagnosed her with dementia.
The symptoms were mild at that time, and the doctor told the family not to worry. However, with time, the symptoms became severe. She narrates that she often hallucinated in the night. She would see R’s images making her scream or talk to herself. Her neighbors once thought that she had gone mad. With time, her physical coordination deteriorated, and she began finding some tasks which she once did with ease, challenging.
Her children learned of this, and they flew to the U.S to be with their mother. She narrates that they understood the seriousness of the matter at that time. They, therefore, had to be with their mother. However, they were assured by their family doctor that dementia is a common health condition among people aged 60 years and over, primarily among women. It was, however, important that she gets treatment so that the condition be managed. E explains that when her doctor explained to her about the condition, she had a hard time accepting it. It was even worse when she learned that dementia had no cure. E thought she would go crazy and be taken to an elderly home where her children would abandon her. She explained her fears to RU, who assured her that none of that would happen.
With time, she had to slow down with her activities to compensate for her difficulties. She tells me that this is also one of the reasons she left the busy Chicago and moved to the then sleepy Ludington Town at the shores of Lake Michigan. Farming became her hobby. She did this to pass time and as therapy too. Though she still faced challenges, things were improving. She narrates that her friends and family have been very supportive. She especially credits her children for the extra love and cares they have shown her since the diagnosis. They have become her most vital support system. E says that ES and D visit her more often as she lives with RU, now a medical psychologist in Mercy Health Rehabilitation Centre.
She recalls with humor how she once forgot she was holding her cup in her hand and went ahead to look for it in the house. It was only at noon when RU came to check up on her from work that she informed her that she was holding the same cup she was looking for. They laughed together that afternoon. Laughing off such funny incidents in her life has been a form of therapy for her. It has helped her overcome such symptoms of dementia instead of feeling miserable.
She no longer goes out without the knowledge of her daughter RU, nor does she use sharp or dangerous objects without supervision. E also says that she has to walk with a card in her pocket containing information about who she is, her condition, and her children’s numbers. All these measures have been put in place to assure her safety if she experiences memory loss and poor judgment. RU has been her greatest support since she helps her out with everything in the house. She handles all transactions and every farm record.
E tells me that RU has become more than a daughter. She sees RU as her friend, mother, and teacher at times. Her situation has also made her rely on God for courage and strength. She believes that there is a supernatural power and being that allows everything to happen as it does. She informs me that she has found herself praying and reading the Bible more often than before. She has also become a member of a women’s support group in the church. Here, women suffering from various chronic illnesses and mental disorders due to life issues share experiences, encourage, and pray with each other.
RU narrates that she became worried when her mother couldn’t differentiate who was among the three children. In addition, she couldn’t bear her mother’s screams during the night whenever she hallucinated. She explains that her husband understood the seriousness of the matter and allowed her to come to the U.S. and take care of her mother as he lived with their kids in the U.K. They agreed that she was the best person to give her primary care as she was the firstborn daughter, though the others would also chip in whenever she went to see her family in the U.K. She says that all of them, the three kids of E, usually take the role of caregiving to their mother, whom they all love, adore, and respect. They agreed that they all had a responsibility to do so regardless of their age, gender, and other commitments.
RU cares for her mother by taking her to the doctor’s appointments, cleaning for her, cooking for her, ensuring she has taken her medicine at the right time, and taking her to her women’s support group meetings. Whenever RU is at work, she assigns Leela, their cousin who has just finished college and lives with them, to do what is required. RU explains that they have agreed to have a get-together party every year to meet as a family. They usually have talk sessions, games, and food. They also invite the family doctor to talk to them about continuing caring for E as she ages.
RU says that she considers a 60-year-old person to be old. She says that her mother is, therefore, a senior citizen who requires proper care and attention. The first word that comes to her mind when RU sees an older person is respect. She explains that being polite to older adults is not the same as respecting them. RU feels that not all seniors are treated with dignity in Kenya. Her experience living in the village has made her meet many senior adults, especially those living with chronic illnesses, abandoned by their children and society. Only a few people take responsibility for the old members of society and give care where needed.
RU feels that people tend to become more religious and dependent as they grow older. Most become like ‘babies’ who need to be cared for, looked after, fed, and cleaned. They also become more appreciative of what they have achieved throughout their lifetime. RU confesses that she has become more spiritual and appreciative herself. As I interviewed E, I understood the contribution of older adults to families and society. Their contribution is dependent on their health a great deal. Though there is very little evidence to show that older adults are enjoying their sunset years in good health, they show that society has a strong pillar. I got to understand that though E is still battling her chronic illness, she’s become a stronghold for her family. Through her, the family is united and meets every year for a get-together just for her sake.
I am surprised to have learned that when an old family member is diagnosed with a chronic illness, it does not necessarily mean that the family will divide. This is due to the psychological, financial, and emotional drainage it causes them. According to Lee et al. (2017), when the family is healthy, the person with chronic illness does even better. I have also noted that daughters are more likely to care for their ailing mothers than sons due to the incredible bond and intimacy between the two. The immediate family of the older adult is usually the significant support in time of illness. Though sons can do it, daughters are highly likely to do so. Women, as daughters, work to overcome constraints and will go ahead to sacrifice themselves to provide end-of-life care for their parents (Abrego, 2020). Moreover, daughters tend to spend more time caring for their sickly old parents than their sons.
Conclusion
Every individual needs to consider living a healthy lifestyle to avoid chronic illnesses in all spheres of life. This includes maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, avoiding stress and drugs. A correct lifestyle and healthy diet increase the life expectancy of individuals in the world. Family members need to understand each other in difficulties and, in turn, stick together. The immediate family is the primary support system of every individual in times of crisis. The interview explored in this essay changed my personal view of aging and older adults living with chronic condition and their families.
Initially, I believed that older adults lacked the ability to learn new things and acquire new skills. Surprisingly, as indicated in the case study, older adults have the capability to learn, build new recollections, and enhance their proficiency in a number of abilities. Although aging will often coincide with adjustments in cognition due to chronic conditions, several positive brain function changes can also occur. Among those changes include gaining more insight and knowledge from a lifespan of adventures. E’s case has shown that many families caring for older adults with chronic illnesses may not be aware of this fact. Consequently, practicing and mastering new skills and abilities may potentially boost older adults’ cognitive functioning.
References
Abrego, L. J. (2020). Sacrificing families. Stanford University Press.
Lee, A. A., Piette, J. D., Heisler, M., Janevic, M. R., Langa, K. M., & Rosland, A. M. (2017). Family members’ experiences supporting adults with chronic illness: A national survey. Families, systems & health: The journal of collaborative family healthcare, 35(4), 463–473. Web.
Around the world, the proportion of the population at older ages is increasing. According to research, in 1950 only 1% of all people were over the age of 80, by 2010 they were already 4%, and by 2050 the same research predicts their share will increase to 10% (Bauer & Sousa-Poza, 2015). This exacerbates the problem of caring for the elderly. In most other countries, it is the relatives who bear the main burden of caring for the elderly and people with disabilities, which cannot but affect their socio-economic situation in one way or another. Caregiver burden refers to stress which one experiences while caring for elderly, physically or mentally disabled family members or because of the home care situation, in general. Due to increasing amount of people choosing to take care informally, the stress level of caretakers increases. Informal caregiving also affects employment rates. Thus, it can be said that informal caregiving has a negative impact on caregivers’ lives.
In the scientific literature, both quantitative and qualitative, is devoted to how caring for elderly family members or people with disabilities affects life of those who care. Although most of the literature focuses on negative impacts, there are also studies that focus on the positive effects of care on the health and well-being of caregivers. Quite a lot of articles are devoted to the problem of a double load, the so-called sandwich generation, which takes care of both children and elderly parents at the same time.
Support for family caregivers is essential given that for people of working age, the main problem is the difficulty of balancing assistance and paid work. They often must make the choice to reduce working hours or stop working altogether, which is not only affects their income but also makes it harder to find a job in the future and reduces the likelihood of returning to the labor market (Bauer & Sousa-Poza, 2015). In addition, this type of long-term care can lead to increased levels of stress, potentially leading to poor physical and mental health.
According to research, in the countries with higher amount of informal caregivers, the rate of unemployment is significantly higher (Plöthner et al., 2021). Long-term informal care is usually understood as intensive care, when a person cares for a certain number of hours per week of someone who has completely or partially lost the ability to perform activities of daily living (Activities of daily living, ADL), as well as the ability to live independently and perform daily activities (shopping, filling out documents, cooking, etc.) (Bauer & Sousa-Poza, 2015). The concept of ADL is widely used throughout the world. However, a more precise definition of long-term care is difficult due to the fact that it varies from country to country. One of the most important aspects is the impact of leaving on the level of employment. The more people take care of their family member, the less likely they to be employed now or in the nearest future.
Beyond the threshold of 20 hours of care per week, the caregiver’s likelihood of being employed is reduced, as is their hourly wage compared to non-caregivers. At the same time, if less than 20 hours a week are spent caring for a loved one, then the likelihood of employment for caregivers, on the contrary, is higher than for those who do not care for anyone, but the number of working hours is lower. Similar results were obtained in other, more recent studies.
As with the unemployed, the reduction in working hours is mostly felt among those caring for 20 hours or more per week; in some countries (Australia, UK), the effect is already apparent among those who provide related care for 10 or more hours a week (Plöthner et al., 2021). It is also worth noting that if women are involved in family care, they are more likely to refuse employment, while men tend to decrease the number of hours they work per week.
The decrease in earning opportunities is also followed by the fact that, in general, the financial situation of households in which there are carers and those who are cared for is worse, as there is a double loss of income (the one who has lost the ability to self-care and works less or does not the one who cares works). In addition, there may be additional expenses for the adaptation of the home, a special diet, various fixtures and equipment, special clothes, and shoes.
The logical solution to the issue of increasing unemployment due to informal caregiving can be nursing. Nurses are called “professional” caregivers since they are trained and educated to take care of patients with different needs and of different background. Therefore, they can dedicate their time and effort into helping those families that cannot do so. Practicing nurses can help with lifting the burden from family members and, as a result, they can work full-time and focus on their careers without experiencing constant stress and not risking their future.
Thus, it can be said that the provision of long-term care has a direct impact on the fact of employment because the labor market does not provide enough jobs with flexible working hours. At the same time, care decisions and labor market behaviors are influenced by the sociodemographic characteristics of caregivers. Older and less educated family members are more likely to be selected for the role of caregiver, as they have fewer opportunities in the labor market and their employment may generate less labor income. As a result of all the above, it can be assumed that related care increases the risks of poverty for caregivers of the elderly and people with disabilities.
The need for care increases with age as health deteriorates. In this regard, the need to care for their closest relatives (for example, a spouse or parents) arises, as a rule, at the pre-retirement and retirement age. At the same time, one-fifth of family caregivers have underage children and experience the double burden of caring for both their children and elderly relatives. Therefore, the need for presence of nurse is needed more each day. Well educated nurses can not only take care of elderly and disabled more effectively, but also allow informal caregivers to maintain their jobs and routine. Nowadays, caretaking should be done by professionals to benefit both the patient and their families.
References
Bauer, J. M., & Sousa-Poza, A. (2015). Impacts of informal caregiving on caregiver employment, health, and family. Journal of Population Ageing, 8(6), 113–145.
Plöthner, M., Schmidt, K., & de Jong, L. (2021). Needs and preferences of informal caregivers regarding outpatient care for the elderly: a systematic literature review. BMC Geriatrics, 19(82), 1–19.
I interviewed my caregiver neighbor to understand how well she is coping with end-of-life cancer care. Caregivers can have physical or emotional detrimental effects due to the strain of the demands on them. When I reviewed the interview procedure, I realized that caregivers might be undergoing additional pressure because of their overwhelming responsibility (Kusi et al., 2020). I established that caretakers acknowledged their directness might help others, and they were only too glad to share their stories. Moreover, they valued that the importance of their role was being validated. I noticed caregivers oversaw the ill person, thus providing vital information about the ongoing changes.
However, as a registered nurse, I noticed that the caregivers had a crucial role in their services as their focus was on healing and health. Their attention is not attached to curing and the disease. Through the inevitable pain, caregivers outstand their emotions to provide total support to the ailing individuals. In case of demise, one can see it in their eyes as they are impacted similarly to the family members by the loss.
They maintain hope even in the death beds to the patient and the relatives, which is a vital thing to do in such times. From their reviews, the dying process does not inevitably bring despair. In the case of bereavement, caregivers play a significant role in validating the family’s feelings and showing them empathy. When all this is over, they are expected to give directions and the way forward on how the family can easily cope with the grief.
Caregivers do not know what signs to anticipate and which ones are essential to reporting. Sometimes several signs reflect the advancement of a patient’s mild illness, which the caregivers do not know about (Rolling et al., 2019). However, when they are informed about what to anticipate, I realized they gained a sense of control. The lesson I learned from the interview guides me in attaining a more sympathetic attitude in my practice to serve them better.