Ageing Case Study

Ageing is a natural process, which presents a unique challenge for all sections of the society. With gradual improvement in health-care delivery services, people in the UK are living longer, but not necessarily healthier lives. As a result, the number of people who require care in their old age is increasing dramatically. There are currently three million people over 80, and this number is expected to almost double by 2030. There are also an increasing number of elderly people living on their own, increasing the demand for specific elderly care.
Ageing is not inevitably associated with failing health, but many elderly people are living with one or more long-term medical conditions and for a significant number, advancing age brings complications

For example, senility, which usually comes on at a gradual pace, may mean that a person who once remembered to take medication on time is now having difficulty doing so. Failing eyesight may mean your loved one is gradually losing the ability to move safely about the house, or advanced arthritis may mean he or she is having difficulty getting in and out of the bathtub without assistance.
It is very rare for the elderly individual to notice themselves whether they need care or not. Typically it is those closest to them who notice the changes in behaviours and abilities and consequently the need for elderly care. This in turn can create challenges as – particularly with them having been your parent or care-giver – they are used to looking after you and are often fiercely independent.
Family members or a doctor are usually the first to recognize a need for elderly care. The type of elderly care that is right for your loved one, however, is largely dependent upon the type of health conditions he or she suffers from, the severity of the conditions, and the deficiencies experienced as a