Question

• Discuss the commonly available community-based services for older adults and how these services can be obtained. Font family -Font size - Paragraph 17 BI U 186 X, XE32HBA." DOVC E

Answer 1

Community-based services for older adults.

With the advancement in health care, there are services which are available for the older adult in the community as well, also these services have separate settings which can benefit older adults.

Adults above 60 years of age usually receive community-based services, there are opportunities for the health care providers to expand their area of work by providing care in the community to the older adults.

Community-based services are aimed to provide care to older adults in community settings without disturbing their environment and also by keeping their safety intact.  

In the beginning of community-based services to the older adults, the funds were collected through the federal government with keeping the needs of infrastructure, or various services.

After 10 years of services provided, then came older American adult came into force along with the Medicare and Medicaid Services, these services were made available to avail the best community services with the collaboration of older American adults.

Later administration on ageing services was introduced, in this service, various needs of an older adult were considered, these are,

The services are

1. Needs for nutrition.

In the OAA program, the availability and the distribution of food to the older adult was one of the main aims of the service.

Food was provided for the adults who came for the daycare, also home delivery of nutrients were available.

More than 30% of expenditure was done on food by the older American adults and remaining was obtained from the govt of local and state bodies.

There were several benefits seen in providing nutrients to the older client in the community settings, such as.

1. The need for nursing homes is reduced.

2. Diseases were under control, as the supplied nutrients maintain immunity.

3. Minor ailments are treated in community settings.

2. Centres for senior citizens.

It is important to have all the facilities available in the senior citizens' centre so that the senior can avail the services.

3. Day services to older adults.

Day service centres are the centres available for all day long stay for the older clients,

These centres help to build coordination among people with the advancement in their health, it mainly focuses on three main areas.

a) social health.

b) medical needs.

c) Disease centres need/ especially for mental health.

These centres help individuals to cope up with the stress and promote them to live a quality life.

4. Services to the NORC ( naturally occurring retirement communities.)

These type of services are provided to the people considering geographic location rather than providing services,

Housing services or the accommodation are provided to the people who are older and their health is declining naturally with or without diseases, these services enable them to live their lives independently and proudly.

Funds are provided by the government to build and run these houses where older adults live and maintain a healthy life in the community with all the services easily available.

There are various housing schemes available such as independent senior housing schemes, which can be availed by the senior citizens and can establish a balanced life in the community with the collaboration of community-based services.

5. Counselling families.

It is important to counsel older adult's family before admitting to the community settings, and also the needs, benefits should be properly explained by the health care providers to the family members.

Explain the family regarding the services available and can be accessed easily.

5. Determining the needs of services, and how to obtain the services.

There are online sites and offline brochure available which defines the eligibility of availing the community-based services, there are certain criteria which has to be fulfilled before availing the services.

Also, Eldercare Locator is available which helps to locate the elder centres with the help of computer and cellphone using the internet.