Long Term Care And Family ValuesThere is an unspoken indictment against long term care as being indicative of the "inability" or the "callousness" of Westerners when it comes to the care of the elderly who are most often of course, their immediate family members. Among a group of multi-ethnic friends talking about the problems and issues of family, Asians or Latin Americans would most often be horrified at the thought of a dear mother or old unmarried sibling being taken care of by "complete strangers" "in a cold, impersonal place." Yet such views of long term care ultimately evaporate when ethnic groups relocate to relatively highly-industrialized societies where the pace of life makes it necessary for such care. An American friend found it best to keep her counsel when her Asian friend expressed her views about having her elderly mother stay in a long term health care facility. She waited until the friend and her mother relocated to the US mainland and got settled in as the Asian friend found work as a nurse in a major hospital. Within 6 months, the friend had changed her views entirely and considered long term care for her mother who clearly was not benefiting from her daughter's long hours at work, even if they had a stay-in helper. Cultural views aside, long term care should not serve as a measure of how much families care for their elderly, nor should it point out to a personal inadequacy on their part. Long term care is essentially necessary for more common scenarios among the nation's elderly where chronic illness and challenging disabilities present nearly impossible situations even among families who are willing to take on the challenge. In the long run, assuming responsibility for what is essentially a situation best handled by professional health care workers puts the patient in even greater risk. The main fear that patients under long term care are handled by "uncaring" and "indifferent" health care professionals under "cold and impersonal conditions" is unfounded. Long term care facilities with long histories have become virtual second-homes for the patients who have lived out the rest of their lives there. While staff is trained essentially to be patient, health care workers in long term care facilities look to their own experiences as also people with elderly parents or family members to understand the nature of their job. Most long term care facilities as a matter of policy hire staff based on how they empathize with patients. As expected of any health care facilities, there are some issues and problems regarding medical lapses, inadequate facilities or even negligent staff, but as a whole, long term care facilities and services continues to provide an important function in the lives of the elderly and their families. Present estimates of people over 65 needing present or future long term care, puts the figure well in excess of 9 million. With the present rates of debilitating or chronic illnesses staying where they are, it is expected that the majority of such patients will avail of such services based on medical needs. Contrary to the perception that Western societies are callous and indifferent, the statistics show that the majority of elderly patients would still be under the care of their families or would be looked after in their homes by professional caregivers. |