Apart from the physical infirmities and deteriorating health conditions, the elderly citizens quite often experience emotional trauma caused by neglect by their children, bereavements in the family, loss of company etc. Left isolated, depression not only prevents older people from enjoying life like they should, but it also takes a heavy toll on their mental health. Senior citizens with a personal history of misfortunes, victims of elder abuse and old persons with inadequate social support are the ones most susceptible to emotional upsets and bouts of depression. Loneliness and isolation, a feeling that they are no longer needed, chronic physical pain, family bereavements and fear of death – are some of the common causes for depression in the elderly persons.
Although depression in the elderly is quite expected and a common problem, only a small percentage of senior people get the type of relief they need. Most of us tend to overlook seniors with depression problems and dismiss them as part of old age syndrome. Likewise doctors attending on aged people more often ignore depression and concentrate only on their physical complaints and health problems. Depression need not be a normal or necessary part of aging. But, we also cannot brush aside the fact that several old men and women are averse to talk about their hurt feelings or seek emotional support. The good news is that with treatment and support, depressed seniors can improve and overcome depression. If caregivers to the elderly can learn how to spot the symptoms of depression and find effective ways to support the aged people, the elder citizens will continue to remain happy and vibrant throughout their golden years.
The Senior Citizens Bureau is a national, non-profit community resource for the elderly and children of the elderly. They have the experience and expertise and trained staff to provide exemplary care to senior citizens. To avail their services contact: 832-230-1238 or e-mail them at director@seniorcitizensbureau.com. Visit www.seniorcitizensbureau.com for more information.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The Role of Caregiver to the Elderly
No one can arrest the passage of time and old age will positively catch up with every one of us. The need for elderly care assumes greater significance particularly because more and more families are becoming nuclear. There is no denying the fact that elderly people at home contribute greatly towards enriching the family atmosphere till they become weak and infirm. When they attain this stage, they cease to contribute actively to the family and begin to think they are no longer wanted. So, the onus of the caregivers to the elderly becomes increasingly difficult as they have to cater both to the physical and emotional needs of the senior citizens. Thus the old age caregivers must be of the right temperament and display patience, understanding and mental composure.
Elderly persons are prone to age-related health disorders and there could be sudden emergency situations to cope with. An ability to perceive the wants of the old people and understand their gestures are essential qualities for the elderly caregiver. Elders are immensely pleased when the caregiver anticipates and does things for them even before they ask help. Solving the problems of the elders may not be easy all the time but reassurance has to be given to them regularly so that the seniors do not feel neglected. Loneliness is one thing the aged people resent most and they want company most of the time.
The Senior Citizens Bureau is a national, non-profit community resource for the elderly and children of the elderly. They have the experience and expertise and trained staff to provide exemplary care to senior citizens. To avail their services contact: 832-230-1238 or e-mail them at director@seniorcitizensbureau.com. Visit http://www.seniorcitizensbureau.com/ for more information.
Elderly persons are prone to age-related health disorders and there could be sudden emergency situations to cope with. An ability to perceive the wants of the old people and understand their gestures are essential qualities for the elderly caregiver. Elders are immensely pleased when the caregiver anticipates and does things for them even before they ask help. Solving the problems of the elders may not be easy all the time but reassurance has to be given to them regularly so that the seniors do not feel neglected. Loneliness is one thing the aged people resent most and they want company most of the time.
The Senior Citizens Bureau is a national, non-profit community resource for the elderly and children of the elderly. They have the experience and expertise and trained staff to provide exemplary care to senior citizens. To avail their services contact: 832-230-1238 or e-mail them at director@seniorcitizensbureau.com. Visit http://www.seniorcitizensbureau.com/ for more information.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Helping Seniors
Do you have any personal stories that have led you to want to help seniors in the community? Are there any ideas or experience you would like to share with other volunteers?
Here are few statistics about volunteers and how they help others throughout the world:
About 60.8 million people volunteered through or for an organization atleast once between September 2006 and September 2007, the Bureau of LaborStatistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The proportionof the population who volunteered was 26.2 percent. This 0.5 percentagepoint decrease in the volunteer rate follows a decline of 2.1 percentagepoints in the prior year. The volunteer rate had held constant at 28.8 per-cent from 2003 through 2005, after rising slightly from its 2002 level of27.4 percent. These data on volunteering were collected through a supplement to theSeptember 2007 Current Population Survey (CPS).
The supplement was spon-sored by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The CPS is amonthly survey of about 60,000 households that obtains information onemployment and unemployment among the nation's civilian noninstitutionalpopulation age 16 and over. Volunteers are defined as persons who didunpaid work (except for expenses) through or for an organization. Formore information about the volunteer supplement, see the Technical Note.Volunteering Among Demographic Groups In the year ending September 2007, both the number of volunteers and thevolunteer rate declined from the previous year. About 29.3 percent of womendid volunteer work during the year, down from 30.1 percent during the prioryear. The volunteer rate for men was about unchanged at 22.9 percent.
As in previous years, women volunteered at a higher rate than men across allage groups, educational levels, and other major characteristics. (See tablesA and 1.) By age, persons age 35 to 54 continued to be the most likely to volunteer(30.3 percent), while persons in their early twenties were the least likely(17.7 percent).
The volunteer rate for teens showed the largest decline inthe year ending in September 2007; the rate for females age 16 to 19 fellfrom 28.8 to 26.6 percent and the volunteer rate for males of that age fellfrom 24.1 to 22.5 percent.
Here are few statistics about volunteers and how they help others throughout the world:
About 60.8 million people volunteered through or for an organization atleast once between September 2006 and September 2007, the Bureau of LaborStatistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The proportionof the population who volunteered was 26.2 percent. This 0.5 percentagepoint decrease in the volunteer rate follows a decline of 2.1 percentagepoints in the prior year. The volunteer rate had held constant at 28.8 per-cent from 2003 through 2005, after rising slightly from its 2002 level of27.4 percent. These data on volunteering were collected through a supplement to theSeptember 2007 Current Population Survey (CPS).
The supplement was spon-sored by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The CPS is amonthly survey of about 60,000 households that obtains information onemployment and unemployment among the nation's civilian noninstitutionalpopulation age 16 and over. Volunteers are defined as persons who didunpaid work (except for expenses) through or for an organization. Formore information about the volunteer supplement, see the Technical Note.Volunteering Among Demographic Groups In the year ending September 2007, both the number of volunteers and thevolunteer rate declined from the previous year. About 29.3 percent of womendid volunteer work during the year, down from 30.1 percent during the prioryear. The volunteer rate for men was about unchanged at 22.9 percent.
As in previous years, women volunteered at a higher rate than men across allage groups, educational levels, and other major characteristics. (See tablesA and 1.) By age, persons age 35 to 54 continued to be the most likely to volunteer(30.3 percent), while persons in their early twenties were the least likely(17.7 percent).
The volunteer rate for teens showed the largest decline inthe year ending in September 2007; the rate for females age 16 to 19 fellfrom 28.8 to 26.6 percent and the volunteer rate for males of that age fellfrom 24.1 to 22.5 percent.
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