Senior care training can help family members and caregivers navigate real-life situations and come up with solutions.- 123rf
Nadhira is a university student in her final year. She finds herself torn between her studies, her finances (or lack of), and caring for her grandfather who is suffering from dementia and is nearing his end.
Despite help from the family, the main responsibility of care falls on her. How can she juggle her roles?
Wong is a healthy man in his 40s, until a bad fall took away his ability to walk on his own. In his rehabilitation process, he will need to strengthen his body and mind in order to recover and get back to his former self. How should he go about this?
Tan, aged 80, has just experienced the passing of his spouse, the anchor of his life. His children live far away, each pursuing their own careers and chasing their own dreams. How can he cope with this loss and find a purpose, as an elderly suffering from empty-nest syndrome?
As our population ages, the importance of senior care education becomes increasingly apparent.
At one of Masoc Care’s youth initiatives, a young participant named Marcus shared how difficult it was when he had to care for his father.
“It was an especially tough time for me when I was in secondary school, as I had to take care of my father. That really impacted my studies. It’s good to learn ways to make this easier,” the 17-year-old said.
Each of the scenarios mentioned above don’t come with a specific one-size-fits-all solution. Each case comes with their won web of complications, with so many factors to be considered.
Questions about care
Ageing is something that happens to everyone, and also willa ffect the people around them: Their family and friends, to some extent.
But how many of us know about senior care? How many of us are taught proper senior caregiving skills?
There are many questions that family caregivers may have when it comes to looking after a loved one.
“The need for elderly caregiving at home is what can make or break a family. Who should become the main caregiver to their ageing parents? How do the other siblings show support? All the time and money, plus the physical and mental exhaustion makes this a challenging decision, one that I am struggling to make,” says a 46-year-old family caregiver who wanted to be known as Liew.
It isn’t just the caregivers that should be considered.
Golden ager Robert Lim voices his concerns about how he hopes to age: “I would not want to be part of the statistics of seniors who spend the rest of their ageing days hooked on to medical devices. I need to try and avoid that, to live out my days independently, and with dignity,” shares Lim, 84.
At the Malaysian Association for Social Care Professionals and Homes, we aim to close this gap.
And, the first step to solving the problem is admitting there is one. The second step is to understand it.
Hence, for senior care standards in Malaysia, awareness and education are key inmaking fundamental improvements.
Many elderly individuals face unique challenges that require specialised knowledge and skills to address effectively.
These scenarios highlight the critical role that senior care education plays in ensuring the well-being and safety of all elderly individuals.
By equipping caregivers and family members with the necessary knowledge and skills, we can better support the aging population and enhance their quality of life.
No simple, single answer
Senior care training can help family members and caregivers navigate real-life situations and come up with solutions.
By placing emphasis on the needs of the elderly as well as their condition, the family dynamics as well as looking at available resources. As a group, familes must have a conversation about senior care.
First, family members need to identify the real issues that exist and came up with solutions that can benefit all parties involved in the caregiving process.
This can range from product solutions such as handrails, walkers, to psychological discussions on mental wellbeing and finally to the individual responsibilities of who should be the caregivers, taking turns and creating shifts for everyone to play their part.
They also can explore the option of senior care centres or homes if need be, as well as how to choose the “right” centre or home. It is important to choose a place that has caregiving values which align with the senior.
How do they value the elderly? How will they encourage the elderly to still be independent as much as possible?
In conclusion, senior care education is essential for effectively addressing the diverse needs of elderly individuals.
The scenarios presented in this article underscore the importance of having the knowledge and skills to provide appropriate care and support.
By investing in senior care education, caregivers and family members can better understand the challenges faced by elderly individuals and implement appropriate solutions.
We believe education is the way forward and is a core reason why we were established to support our ageing communities better.
Together, let us prioritise senior care education to ensure that our aging population receives compassionate and dignified care.
This article was contributed by The Malaysian Association for Social Care Professionals and Homes (MASOC CARE).
