Discuss services available to the older person

in Ireland

1.Friends Of The Elderly Ireland - Helping Ireland's

Older People

Friends of the Elderly is an Irish volunteer based charity

established in 1980 to bring friendship and companionship
to older people living alone or who feel lonely. Since
opening doors they have been working to improve the
lives older members by offering emotional and social
support. With a small staff and a dedicated crew of
volunteers, reach out in various ways to older neighbours.
Members to maintain their independence while helping
them feel connected to a larger community. They offer
volunteers the opportunity to join older members in
friendship and celebration of life.
Focus is on a practical approach to dealing with
loneliness and social isolation, alleviating its effects by
providing social engagement programmes such as Home
Visitation, Friendly Call Service, Social Club and
organising Day Trips or Social Events. In the last year
were privileged to touch the lives of up to 500 older
women and men, all with the help of over 150 volunteers.
Friends of the Elderly receives no government funding: all
funds are raised from individual and corporate donors.
Make New Friends
Each volunteer makes a huge impact on isolated older
people by visiting them in their homes for company and
conversation. Sometimes people sit and chat over a cup of
tea, or they may play board games, watch TV or go out to
a cafe.

They offer a telephone befriending service where an

actual visit isn’t required or may not be possible.

Popular social clubs offer activities, events and outings.

It’s an opportunity for older people to socialise and mix
with others both young and older, which is essential for
health and well-being.
They provide opportunities for older members to form
friendships with volunteers and peers. they have make a
lifelong commitment to older members so that no one
grows old alone.
Friends of the Elderly depend on our support to continue
to reach out to the elderly who are alone.
They do not receive any Government support, yet
volunteers are enhancing the social quality of life for
hundreds of elderly people every day. There are lots of
ways that we can support it. -Charitable Challenges; Runs;
Walks, Organise an event , Fundraise at Work
Friends of the Elderly, contact
Deborah Costello at 01-8731855 or
email info@friendsoftheelderly.ie

Friends of the Elderly Ireland

25 Bolton Street
Dublin 1
Ireland
Phone: +353 (0) 1 873 1855
Email: info@friendsoftheelderly.ie

2.Home Support Services - services provided by the

HSE to help an older person to be cared for at home.

The HSE delivers health services through six Hospital

Groups and nine community health areas called
Community Healthcare Organisations (CHO) across the
country.
Hospitals provide planned and emergency inpatient care,
emergency department, maternity care, outpatient and
diagnostic services. Some acute hospitals provide day
hospital services which are generally Consultant led and
provide a full medical service. Referral to this service is
through GP. If a patient is being discharged from an acute
hospital the staff there will speak to the appropriate
community staff to organise care following discharge.
Family carers and relatives may be involved in the
discharge process with agreement of the patient.

The Community Healthcare Organisations (CHO)

support people who are dependant at home. The CHO
also provides support to family carers and informal carers.
The Primary Care Teams provide core support services
including Family Doctor, Public Health Nurses,
Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and
Language Therapists. Older Persons Services provide
home support such as home help, homecare packages,
daycare, meals on wheels and residential services
including long stay care, respite care and short stay care.

Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA)

HIQA is the Government appointed organisation to
register and inspect residential services and monitor their
compliance with the National Quality Standards for
Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland. 021
240 9300 info@hiqa.ie www.hiqa.ie

Alzheimer's Society of Ireland

National Helpline Freephone 1800 34 13 41 (Monday to
Friday 10-5pm Saturday 10-4 pm) www.alzheimer.ie
A free, confidential service providing information, support
and a listening ear for people with dementia and their
families as well as people who are concerned about their
own or a loved one's memory. They also work with health
and social care professionals.

Senior Helpline
LoCall 1800 80 45 91 (Daily 10am to
10pm) www.thirdageireland.ie/senior-helpline
Senior Help Line is a confidential listening service for older
people provided by trained older volunteers for the price of
a local call anywhere in Ireland.

Support and Advocacy Service for Older People (SAGE)

The SAGE Support and Advocacy Service for Older
People aims to deliver a representative advocacy service
to older people.The mission is 'to promote and protect the
rights, freedoms and dignity of older people by developing
support and advocacy services wherever ageing poses a
challenge for individuals'.

Free call Samaritans

Freephone: 116 123

3.Age Action is Ireland's

Age Action is Ireland's leading advocacy organisation for

older people and ageing. As well as informing and
influencing policy we provide practical programmes to
support older people to age in place and combat digital
exclusion through Care and Repair, Getting Started and
Information Service.
They need help to provide vital services. We can use our
voice, time or funds to support they work on equality and
rights of all of us as we age.
Services and programmes will support older people and
their families to live full and independent lives and
endeavour to ensure these services and supports are
models of good practice.
Age Action supports and advocates for equality and
human rights for older people. Age Action is a values-led
organisation. They core values of: Dignity, Participation,
Diversity, Social Justice, and Professionalism, are central
to driving they work to promote equality for and fulfil the
human rights of older people.

Age Action published Spotlight on Income in Older

Age—The State of Ageing in Ireland 2023
To mark International Day for Eradication of Poverty,
Age Action published Spotlight on Income in Older
Age—The State of Ageing in Ireland 2023 which
reveals the importance of social protection for us all
in older age. 3 in 10 people aged 66+ rely on social
protection for over 90% of their income and a further
4 in 10 people aged 66+ rely on it for more than half
of their income. As a result, older people highly
value the Irish state pension, as well as ‘precious’
supports such as Medical Cards and the Free Travel
Pass.
“Age Action’s latest report shows just how reliant we
are on the state social protection system for our
incomes in older age. Ireland provides valuable
social protection supports to its older population,
from the state pension system and supplementary
payments through to public transport, housing and
healthcare. However, Age Action’s report shows that
poverty, deprivation, and income inadequacy are
facts of life or many of us who rely on the state
pension, which is the second lowest level of income
replacement in the EU. In addition to benchmarking
social protection rates to 34% of average earnings, a
comprehensive cost of ageing study should be
commissioned by government to strengthen social
protection and public service planning, so they are
made adequate and sustainable into the future” said
Celine Clarke, Head of Advocacy and Public Affairs
at Age Action.
Highlighting the changing experiences of people in
older age Clarke said “The Irish pension system is
highly reliant on homeownership which reduces the
need for a weekly supplementary payment in older
age. Census 2022 found that the absolute number of
older renters doubled since 2016. With nearly 10%
of those aged 50-64 renting in 2022, we know that
the proportion of people who are renting in the
private rental sector in older age will increase,
indicating that many of us could be relying on the
state to support our housing needs in older age.
The Spotlight on Income in Older Age report shows
that while social protection keeps many out of
poverty, many people find it difficult to meet one off
costs. New costs associated with older age, in
areas such as health, transport and housing are
often large one-off sums that older people cannot
cover with their modest weekly incomes, which
causes significant distress and anxiety. Surveys
show that a fifth of older couples and two fifths of
older persons living alone could not cope with a
once-off expense of over €1,200.

The report demonstrates that a secure income in

older age is not only essential for basics like food
and energy, but all measures of quality of life in
older age. Incomes often determine what
opportunities we have when it comes to looking after
our homes and our health, maintaining our
independence, and getting involved with our
communities and wider society.
They run computer training classes, we offer a home
repairs and maintenance service and they have an
Information team waiting to take your call.

Contact us at any of the numbers, addresses or

emails below.

Head Office
Address: 30/31 Lower Camden St, Dublin 2, D02
EC96
Phone: 01 4756989
Email: info@ageaction.ie
Information Service
Phone: 01 4756989
Email: info@ageaction.ie
Advocacy & Public Affairs
Phone: 01 4756989
Email: advocacy@ageaction.ie
Services
Care & Repair Programme
Phone: 01 4756989
Email: careandrepair@ageaction.ie

Phone: 021-2067399
Email: aac@ageaction.ie

Phone: 091 527831

Email: aaw@ageaction.ie
Getting Started Computer Training Programme
Phone: 01 4756989
Email: gettingstarted@ageaction.ie
University of the Third Age (U3A)
Phone: 01 4756989
Email: u3a@ageaction.ie
Regional Offices
Age Action West
Address: 3 St Francis Street, Galway, H91 XF1P
Phone: 091 527831
Email: aaw@ageaction.ie
Age Action South
Address: Age Action, Core House Westpoint
Business Campus, Link Rd., Ballincollig, Co. Cork,
P31 E446
Phone: 021-2067399
Email: aac@ageaction.ie
Data Protection Officer
Email: dpo@ageaction.ie
Phone: 01 4756989
Explore the needs of the care staff who work
with older people

HCA play a vital role in the health care system of any

country whose main goals are to promote healthy
lifestyles, prevent diseases, alleviate suffering and
rehabilitate individuals that are differently abled.
HCA are accountable for facilitating safe and therapeutic
environment for the patients, delivering holistic and
personalized care, maintaining accurate and up to date
records and report, protecting patient’s legal rights and
privacy, maintaining collaborative relationship with other
health workers , working within ethical and legal
boundaries, responsibility appropriately, providing health
education, focusing on evidence-based practice and
contributing to the professional development.

The human body is full of mystery, and every part of

the human body can be a miracle
In order to feel fulfilled, people feel the need to grow,
to advance, and in order to get where they want to be, it
is necessary to follow a well-structured plan step by
step. A plan so that the individual can reach the
maximum level of his life can be structured with the
help of the hierarchy proposed by Abraham Maslow.

Abraham Maslow's theory is represented by the

hierarchy of human needs. In his conception, people
are characterized by two large categories of needs
determined by the internal structure of people. The two
categories are basic and developmental needs.
Maslow identified the following types of needs:
physiological, safety, love, esteem or respect and self-
actualization. The satisfaction of these needs identified
by Maslow is very important for reaching the
maximum level of the individual's life.

HCA must have; a systematic body of knowledge that

provides the framework for the profession's practice,
standardized formal higher education, commitment to
providing a service that benefits individuals and the
community, maintenance of a unique role that recognizes
autonomy, responsibility and accountability, control of
practice responsibility of the profession through standards
and a code of ethics, evidence based practice and
commitment to members of the profession through
professional organizations and activities.
It's important for HCA to get seven to nine hours of sleep
every day. If you're a shift worker, you must make sleep a
priority. The following tips can help: Follow bedtime rituals
and try to keep a regular sleep schedule, even on
weekends and days off from work
Typically, the list includes basic commodities, such
as food (eating nutritious meals ), clothing, and
shelter(bedtime routine and sleep hygiene =enough
sleep,cope with stress ), Stronger immune system, as
well as essential services, as access to drinking water, to
sanitation, to education, to healthcare facilities, and to
transportation.
Quality sleep is essential to good health. Improving the
quality of the sleep you get each night, coupled with a
healthy diet and regular exercise, lowers your risk of:

 Obesity
 Diabetes
 Strokes
 High blood pressure

The five levels of the pyramid — from lowest to

highest — include:
 Physiological needs-have adequate nutrition, hydration,
 Safety and security.
 Love and belonging.
 Self-esteem.
 Self-actualization.
Social support -attend an exercise class or work out
with a friend, the social aspect will enhance the
mental benefits .
Exercise- Start day with simple exercise and get body
moving research found that exercise can boost the
brain's dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels
and all these will affect focus and attention. Individuals
who do some form of exercise or sports perform better
on cognitive tasks. Physical movement helps relax the
muscles and relieve tension in the body.

Take a short break. This also might seem counterintuitive,

but when you focus on something for a long time, your focus
may begin to die down. You may feel more and more
difficulty devoting your attention to the task.

Connect with nature- Finding time to take a walk in the

park or appreciating the plants or flowers in garden can
boost concentration and help feel refreshed.
Train brain-games include jigsaw puzzles, sudoku, chess,
and brain-stimulating video games. Mind-body connection

Listen to music. Music has been shown to have

therapeutic effects on our brains . Light music may help
you to concentrate better, but some music may
distract .Experts generally agree that classical music
and nature sounds, such as water flowing, are good
choices for concentration while music with lyrics and
human voices may be distracting. Multiple apps and
services offer background music and soundscapes
designed for different types of focus and work needs.

Eat well. Choose foods that moderate blood sugar,

maintain energy, and fuel the brain. Fruits, vegetables,
and high-fiber foods can keep blood sugar levels even.
Reduce sugary foods and drinks that cause spikes and
dips in your sugar levels make you feel dizzy or drowsy.
brain needs lots of good fat to function properly. Nuts,
berries, avocados, and coconut oil are all great ways to
get healthy fats into diet and help brain run more
smoothly. Research has found that foods like
blueberries can boost concentration and memory for up
to 5 hours after consumption due to an enzyme that
stimulates the flow of oxygen and blood to the brain,
helping with memory as well as our ability to focus and
learn new information. Leafy green vegetables such as
spinach contain potassium which accelerates the
connections between neurons and can make our brain
more responsive.

1. Physiological Survival Needs:

o Air-Without air you survive only 3 minutes

o Water=Without water only 3 days,
 o Food-Without food somewhere between 3 weeks to three months
o Shelter-Shelter is much more elusive and sleep is more serious than
most think
o Sleep=Most people need about 7.5 hrs of sleep per day
o Some can last with less, as they take 'catnaps' during the day.
Others need as much as 9 hrs, because of poor sleeping habits.
o Other physical essentials
2. Safety and Security Needs:
Safety needs can be fulfilled by the family and society (e.g., police, schools,
business, and medical care).

For example, emotional security, financial security (e.g., employment,

social welfare), law and order, freedom from fear, social stability,
property, health, and wellbeing (e.g., safety against accidents and
injury).

o Free from dangers

3. Need for Belongingness
o Social Acceptance
o Social Interaction
o Social Affiliation
4. Need for Esteem
include self-worth, accomplishment, and respect.
Maslow classified esteem needs into two categories: (i) esteem for oneself
(dignity, achievement, mastery, independence) and (ii) the desire for
reputation or respect from others (e.g., status, prestige).

Esteem presents the typical human desire to be accepted and valued by others.
People often engage in a profession or hobby to gain recognition. These
activities give the person a sense of contribution or value.

Low self-esteem or an inferiority complex may result from imbalances during

this level in the hierarchy.

Maslow indicated that the need for respect or reputation is most important for
children and adolescents and precedes real self-esteem or dignity.

o Self-worth, Competence, Skill(s)

o Appreciation, Recognition, Respect
5. Need for Self-Actualization
are the highest level in Maslow’s hierarchy, and refer to the realization of a
person’s potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth, and peak
experiences.

o Physical
o Emotional
o Mental
o Spiritual

For the safety tier, offering job stability, secure working

conditions, and equitable compensation is essential.
Employees /HCA are more motivated when they feel both
financially stable and physically safe within their workplace
HCAs need access to vital services and
opportunities while at work to feel their most basic needs
are being met, need access to a restroom, a place to get
drinking water, breaks to eat meals and snacks, and a
comfortable working environment.
Secure Working Conditions

Safety is a fundamental want inside and outside of work.

And there are two aspects to safety.
The first is physical safety. Your people need to know their
personal property is safe and secure. Another aspect of
safety is psychological. Employees should be able to work
without fear of harassment or bullying. Psychological
safety is all about building trust and mutual respect
between managers and co-workers.
Job Security

Employees stressed about losing their jobs find it hard to

perform at their best. They need confirmation that their job
is safe if they continue to perform.
Health And Wellbeing
When it comes to needs work should fulfill employee
wellbeing is up there. Staff want to feel valued as people.
Looking after their health and wellbeing clearly
demonstrates your commitment. And it makes good
business sense too. After all, healthy employees take less
time off sick. And they can focus more on the job at hand.
Here are some wellness initiatives you could introduce:
 Free health screenings

 Fresh fruit and healthy office snacks

 On-site or virtual yoga and mindfulness sessions

 Workstation ergonomic assessments

 Free or discounted gym membership

Social Needs

 Call it camaraderie or team spirit. Sharing a chat, a

joke, and a smile with your colleagues makes for a
happier team. And happier teams are more motivated
and productive.
 You can address employees’ social needs by
providing opportunities to connect socially.


 Employee Growth
Investing in workers’ professional development is another
sure-fire way to show how valued they are. No one wants
to feel like they are stagnating in a job. Opportunities for
growth and developing new knowledge and skills are
essential for workers. And can be incredibly motivating.
There are some ways encourage employee growth:

 Formal training and development courses to learn

new skills and technologies
 Investment in tools and systems to enable staff to get

on with their work

 Mentoring or job shadowing opportunities

 Lunch and learn events

 Industry webinars, conferences, and seminars

Make sure you regularly talk to your people about their

career goals and aspirations. And look for every
opportunity to satisfy this fundamental need.
Recognition

Recognition is another one of the basic needs work should

fulfill. Your people want to know their efforts are
appreciated and make a difference. Recognition builds
workers’ confidence. And it keeps staff motivated and
keen to give their best.
Constructive Feedback

Encouraging employees with positive feedback and

positive criticism is vital. Your people need confirmation
when they are doing good work. And they need help and
guidance to ensure they continue to grow.

Purpose

Employees want to know their work has a purpose. It’s not

all about the daily grind and increasing company profits. A
sense of purpose and understanding of the impact of their
jobs are needs work should satisfy.

Work-Life Balance
Our lives are hectic both inside and outside work. Many
staff members will have caring responsibilities for elderly
parents or young children
Flexible hours and remote working are obvious ways
employers can do their bit. Just as important is
encouraging staff to take lunch breaks and their full quota
of vacation leave.

Respect

Workers who feel respected are more likely to show

respect to others.
You can demonstrate respect for your team by asking for
and listening to their ideas and insights. Take time to get
to know them as individuals. Find out about their families,
hobbies, and interests outside work. Treat all employees
the same. And try to avoid having favorites among the
team or showing preferential treatment.

Whether at work or during our studies, most of us have

come across Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. First published
in the 1940s, Maslow identified the following five needs.
He argued these needs motivate human behavior. And
they are still relevant today.
 Psychological (food, clothing, shelter)

 Safety (personal security, employment)

 Love and belonging (friendship, family, sense of

connection)
 Esteem (respect, recognition)

 Self-actualization (achieving your full potential).

The HCA job usually requires flexibility, patience and

Physical resistance
Caring for the sick is hard work, which requires serious
efforts and input
appreciable intellectual. Service in aid given to the
sick, alternating night watches
with the day service, the infectious environment in
which a large part of the medical personnel work and
care
against the sufferings of the sick make the care of the
sick demand a strained work from the part
medical personnel.
The HCA must organize itself in this way
such a way of life as to easily support the efforts
required by professional work.
The HCA must take special care of his personal
hygiene. HCA must be
example of cleanliness, not only at work, but also at
home. Maintaining daily hygiene is
mandatory. HCA's exterior must be correct at home as
well, but especially on the street or in places
public. Special care must be given to the hands, which
are one of the most important
valuable tools of any medical staff.
The HCA must report regularly for periodic health
checks.
The care activity exposes her to infections, which it is
good to discover as early as possible. In the
at the same time, working with the sick, who are more
susceptible to infections, HCA can represent a source
of additional illness for them. Pulmonary radioscopy,
serological examination of blood and in
especially coprobacteriological and
coproparasitological examinations are mandatory for
prevention of nosocomial infections.
Shoes are of particular importance. They must be made
of one material
soft, noiseless, low-heeled, comfortable, given that
HCA work takes place standing up

The Role of the HCA in promoting positive

attitudes to ageing
Normal aging refers to a level of health performance
and activities that correspond to the majority of the
elderly population. Active aging means growing old in
optimal health conditions, an active role in society and
professional fulfillment, but also autonomy in everyday
life and involvement in civic activities. Regardless of
age, we can play an important role in society and not
enjoy a good standard of living, even in old age. The
challenge is to make the most of the enormous
potential that the elderly have.
Of course, there are quite a few elderly people who
manage to preserve their lucidity and general mental
balance and remain active, cooperative, open to new
things, and maintain a level of good adaptation for a
long time. There are no people with an absence of
psychological aging, but there are people who, even at
the most advanced ages, retain a good adaptability of
mental functions.

Ways of experiencing time in old age vary depending

on the thymic state and personality traits. Active
elderly people, living with the fear of not finishing
their projects, have the impression that time is speeding
up. Depressed, isolated, unemployed people
experience, on the contrary, a feeling of time slowing
down.

Aging reduces extra-familial social contacts

(professional and cultural) and, therefore, family
relationships end up occupying the most important
place. Interpersonal relationships in the family are
particularly important for the mental balance of the
elderly, even the simple belonging to a family
environment is a positive factor in maintaining mental
health.
The changes in the elderly person's relationship with
society have important psychological effects and also
have an important impact on his health.

Demographic aging implies a series of challenges: for

the labor market, for the health systems, but also for
the quality of life after retirement. By ceasing the
professional activity, the social disengagement of the
elderly (usually sudden cessation, without preparation
during the pre-retirement period) there is a social
leveling, the elderly person loses his sense of social
usefulness, loses his active social role, a loss that
constitutes a stress that acts as a true pathogen
generating in many cases what was called "withdrawal
pathology".

Resignation from active life imposed by society,

natural, but applied without adequate preparation, is
equivalent for some people (especially men) to a
drama, to a "social death". To the loss of the productive
social role is added the loss of social prestige gained
over the years, the loss of roles and statuses in the
family (marginalization of the elderly), therefore other
psycho-social factors with a stressful and senectogenic
effect. Mental preparation for accepting and adapting
to retirement involves stages summarized in:

the pre-retirement phase, where the active are

emotionally supported to accept the idea of retirement -
familiarization with the idea of retirement.
the phase immediately following retirement, in which
the person regains the pleasure of spending time
satisfying some hobbies - trips, sports, collections, but
also other concerns - raising grandchildren, etc.
Healthcare assistants must ask themselves the question:
What do you need to do to age gracefully? and apply a
solution
- to be the master of your mind. = reading,
memorizing helps the brain to keep active
- to feel good in your own skin = to keep an optimistic
tone
 - to be independent = to be able to eat, drink water
alone, use the toilet and the shower,
- to have freedom of movement and action = sports,
yoga,
shopping
- to trust yourself and in life - to dream, to hope, to
make plans for the future - to be optimistic, happy, to
enjoy everything you have achieved - to consider the
passage of time not as a threat causing anxiety, but as
an aspect of life, which must be viewed with
detachment, you must know in advance what are the
threats to health and the future, to understand that
prevention is the main weapon in the fight against the
passage of time.
Healthcare can recommend drinking Green tea, red
wine and the spice called curry-food

Stimulating the production of neurons Green tea, red

wine and the spice called curry maintain nerve cells
and prevent aging. According to specialist doctors from
Romania, the USA and the Netherlands, all these
products contain polyphenol, a powerful antioxidant
that pharmacists now use to prepare a medicine against
the degradation of brain cells.
Healthcare can recommend drinking water. The body is
75% water, and the brain about 78%. He should not
wait until he is thirsty to drink water, because then he
may already be dehydrated

Water hydrates the whole body, cells, hair, skin, and

helps eliminate toxins.

if possible, use water filters. It is healthier.

Healthcare can recommend- Reduce sugar in your diet

as much as possible. The beneficial effects will not
take long to appear.

This legal drug is the main cause of many illnesses,

depression or mood swings.

Moreover, consuming it in moderation to eliminate

sugar helps prevent premature aging and disease.

Choose honey because it is much healthier.

Healthcare can recommend -Use body care products
that are as natural as possible, without parabens and
other chemicals that harm the body.

There are numerous recipes that support the patient

with examples of remedies based on natural products.

The same method can be applied to room cleanliness

and maintenance. Eliminate products that can harm the
skin, but also the body by inhaling the vapors.

Healthcare can recommend -rest is important

As we age we tend to sleep less.

Not getting enough sleep has repercussions on our

physical and mental health.

Make the bedroom the most pleasant resting place and

enjoy it.

A good sleep helps longevity, beauty, well-being.

Healthcare can recommend ---digestive tract and liver
health. Help your body be healthy by paying attention
to what you eat.

Eat foods that do not burden the digestive tract, liver or

other important organs.

This way you also avoid problems related to

constipation, bloating, but also fluid retention, acne,
skin staining, etc.

Whatever you eat has an effect both ways, internally

and externally. Eat little and often, healthy foods that
will keep you away from drugs and doctors.

Healthcare can recommend -diet

Eliminate those unhealthy, semi-prepared, fast food
products from your diet, and choose healthy ones.
The healthiest are fresh vegetables and fruits, raw nuts,
honey, fish, lean meat, dairy products, natural foods.

The specialist can also prescribe vitamin supplements

where appropriate, if the diet does not provide you with
the required amount.

Healthcare can recommend -MOVEMENT

There are many people who, as the years go by, realize
how important movement is for a healthy body.

Many of them start going to gyms, walking in parks,

doing moderate sports, taking dance classes and
anything else that involves movement.

If possible, these activities can be done together with

your partner or friends.

You will have an even greater desire to exercise in

pleasant company.
HCA can teach the patients the importance of a
good healthy, balanced diet, the need for nutrition,
and many more important aspects of healthy living.
The concept of positive ageing is about making the
most of the benefits of being old and keeping a good
attitude about life. It is about keeping a positive
growth mindset throughout older age just like any
other phase of life, regardless of challenges or
opportunities.

Having a positive attitude during times of loss or

change can help to make those life experiences
easier and make life generally more satisfying.
According to the Office for Seniors, positive ageing
covers the full spectrum of experiences including
health, independence, financial security, self-
fulfilment, personal safety, and living environments.
Key factors for positive ageing

Positive ageing can be influenced by attitudes and

qualities. Some examples of good key attitudes to
keep a positive mindset while ageing include:
 Being adaptable and embracing change
  Having a sense of humour
 Being determined
 Staying optimistic
 Wanting to maintain social relationships
 Learning to live with limitations
 Being aware of the need to make the most of
what you have
 A desire to live a quality life
As you get older, you will experience lots of changes
that may be challenging to accept. You may have
difficulties with transitioning out of work, requiring
new living arrangements, changes in your social
networks, bereavements, and health and ability
changes. Being adaptable and embracing these
changes will help you take advantage of what you
can do rather than focusing on the negative aspects.
The Positive Ageing Strategy, written in 2001 and
updated in 2014, outlines a strategy for communities
to promote the positive ageing of older people. It
aims to create communities where older people are
highly valued, recognised as integral parts of
families, are acknowledged for their contributions,
and are encouraged to participate in their community
8 POSITIVE AGEING TIPS

1. Incorporate Physical Activity Into Your Daily

Routine

As you get older, it’s important to be mindful of your

fitness level. HSE recommends at least 30 minutes
a day of moderate exercise for at least five days
every week.

2. Maintain A Healthy Social Life Research on the

longest living communities in the world has found a
positive link between older peoples’ social networks
and their health behaviours. Therefore, it’s vital to
spend time out of the house meeting like-minded
friends.
3. Give As Much Time As You Can To Family Family
life plays a key part in positive ageing. Families -
communities tend to live

4. Have A Clear Purpose , having a sense of

purpose can add up to seven years to your life
expectancy. However, retirement offers a wonderful
opportunity to rediscover your passions and focus
your time on the things that are important to you.

5. Find A Way Of Relieving Stress It’s normal to

experience a little stress from time to time. As we
age, coping with stress can become more difficult so
it’s important to learn effective stress management
techniques. Some effective ways of managing stress
include yoga, tai chi, meditation, guided imagery,
and deep breathing exercises.
6. Enjoy 1-2 Drinks A Day! Moderate consumption of
alcohol - red wine, in particular, has been linked with
a wide range of health benefits including protection
against certain cancers, improved mental health,
and better heart health.

7. Go Green With Your Diet

Medical studies have found that those who reduce

their meat intake tend to live longer. Meat is
consumed just five times per month. Meatless meals
are based around beans, lentils, vegetables and
whole grains. “Healthy Nutrition for Older People”,
to learn more about how to maintain a healthy, well-
balanced diet.

8. Adopt The 80% Rule For Eating

“Hara Hachi Bu” which dictates that you eat until you
feel just 80% full. It takes approximately 20 minutes
for our stomachs to tell our brain that we are full.
Research on positive ageing shows us time and time again that attitude is
everything. No matter your age, if you have a negative attitude, it will worsen
your quality of life. Yes, sometimes getting older can be hard, but studies tell us
that, above all, it is our attitudes that most significantly impact how the
negatives affect our lives.

Explore the role of the HCA in the

recognition of cultural differences amongst
older people
Cultural Differences in Elderly Care is what this
thema is about.

With the world fast becoming a global village, significantly, it

means people from different or diverse backgrounds, regions and
races, meet to a certain degree. When people meet, there is
usually a high possibility or tendency for exchange of ideas, views
or some kind of interaction. As a result of meeting, exchanging
ideas and interacting, it is soon realized that perspectives,
behaviors, and views differ. These differences may be as a result
of different norms, believes and practices not being identical or
same. People think, feel, act and react differently, and it’s these
differences that distinguish one people or one society from the
other. Cultural difference has to do with the differences of both
visible and invisible aspects of two cultures or different cultures.
As a result of culture being different in relative to another culture,
the same culture might be perceived differently by people from
diverse cultural backgrounds. When looking at or talking about
cultural differences, one needs to be observant about the
gratification it brings as well as the opposite side of the coin.
Healthcare professionals as well as receivers are usually people
from around the world, individuals with diverse backgrounds, and
different works of life, different societal norms who share different
cultural values, norms, believe, or in general, have different
cultural back grounds. Differences in culture have major roles to
play in healthcare deliverance, subsequently, healthcare
professionals have come to realize it is imperative to understand
the cultural values and lifestyle of different people. This is
because the health care sphere is becoming highly multicultural.
When dealing with people from diverse backgrounds, knowledge
on their various cultural values and lifestyle would help caregivers
deliver the best possible care, since such information is required
in nursing decisions and actions.
The health care sector does employ and cater for people from
different cultural backgrounds. Knowing and understanding the
values and norms of people as well as their attitudes tied to
cultural issues will help care givers unintentionally do things that
will undermine or offend the elderly’s core believes. By so doing,
the caregiver strives to ensure proper and successful healthcare
provision or deliverance
Caring for elderly clients with diversified cultural background as
well as working with people from different cultural background that
is not one’s own could be quite challenging. This comes as a
result of the fact that, rules of appropriate behavior varies both in
and across cultures. How people behave or interact could be
shaped by their interaction with members of own culture in
comparison to that of other cultures, education, longevity of stay
in a country, social class, and other personality traits. Information
on what might arise when catering for a culturally diversified setup
will help increase cultural awareness for caregivers, and
subsequently, help in the management and avoidance of
misunderstandings that might arise as a result of culture clash.
Culture care should be a concern for all care givers. It is of great
importance for care givers to learn about the traditions, beliefs
and way of life of clients as far as healthcare is concerned.
Knowledge gained about how they believe and view healthcare
will act as a tool to help caregivers respect and honor those views
and believes, as well as ease its combination into professional
care, thereby delivering a comprehensive care. Clients, their
families and caregivers working hand in hand helps bring out a
clear picture of what those cultural needs of a client are and how
those needs affect their healthcare needs. Sub-cultures exist in
every culture, so caregivers need to be aware and use
professional tact when dealing with clients. Individual cultural
assessment of clients are necessary to know them on an
individual base, what kind of people they are, what they want and
how they want their care, irrespective of the fact that at times,
some client might share same values and norms. Caregivers
need to avoid and overlook stereotypes that pin assumptions on
clients and their needs, but rather as a duty, focus on educating
themselves on the clients as separate individuals in order to
deliver a culture diverse care.
In order for caregivers to reduce health disparities among elderly,
it is important to develop a culturally competence healthcare
providers. This is because healthcare concepts such as illness,
health, suffering and care are perceived differently and mean
different things to different individuals. To provide a better care as
well as avoid misunderstandings among care givers, elderly
clients and their families, knowledge on various cultural customs
and believes is necessary.
The elderly in USA, Western world, the East and Africa In the
United States, the older adult population is divided into three life
stage subgroups. The first category is the young-old, ranges
between the ages of 65 - 74. The middle old which is the next
category of the elderly are those ranging from the ages of 75 - 84
years of age. The last group called the old-old are individuals from
the ages of 85 and above. In a nutshell, individuals are
considered as elderly in the US when they are 65 years of age
and above, though categorized in the above three life stages.
Attitudes on the elderly have changed lately due to the confined
setup of nuclear family. It is no longer common to find older adults
living with their children or grandchildren. It is believed by
researches that modernization and industrialization contributed to
lowering the power, prestige, respect and influence once held by
the elderly. (AMA – Openstax college sociology cap, 2013)
The western concept of elderly in contrast to African concept 13
In developed countries, the chronological age 60-65 which is
roughly equivalent to retirement age plays an important role in
defining old or elderly. The physical decline accompanied by old
age or as a result of an individual ageing, as to the allocation of
roles usually assigned to elderly people is another socially
constructed meaning which is seen to having a significant impact
in defining ageing or the elderly. Realistically, in including a
definition of elderly according to an African context, the ages will
be 50 or 55, which could still be problematic in data comparability
across African nations. Due to the fact that many individuals in
Africa don’t have official records of their birthdate, chronologically
defining ageing or who an elderly is, can differ greatly from
traditional or community settings, given the fact that they define
when a person is an elderly. In all, an African definition of who is
an elderly correlates within the chronological ages of 50 – 65 and
above, depending on the region or the country. The ages are the
ages within which an individual becomes entitled to retirement
benefits and pensions which is the default definition of an elderly.
It could also be related to functional ability related to work force as
well as political and economic situations. (WHO Survey-2013) In a
nutshell, basics for defining who is an elderly or old age in
developing countries falls under three main categories, that is
chronology, change in capability and change in social role. In
defining who is an elderly in Africa, it seems more appropriate to
use the combination of chronological, functional and social
definitions to coin the said concept of who is an elderly. (WHO
Survey – 2013) Ageing and elderly care from a global perspective
Around the world, the elderly and elderly care varies from culture
to culture. In the western world and Australia, the elderly are
independent and are expected to manage their own care
meanwhile in a majority of Asian and African cultures, the care of
the elderly lies on the families of those elderly individuals. Care
for the elderly in the western world by the family members is often
voluntary and not seen as an obligation as the case maybe in
most African, Mediterranean and Asian cultures. Ancestral
reverence is very important and respected in these cultures,
thereby making it a high privilege to be in the company of the
elderly. It is often considered shameful to not take care of ones
parents at their old age or ageing stage of their lives in African,
Asian and Mediterranean cultures. (AMA-Openstax college
sociology cap, 2012)

Background of client in relation to that of the caregiver impacts on

elderly care delivery
and reception. Loopholes that might surface as a result of the
cultural incompetency of
the caregiver will equally be focused on. Identifying those popped
up challenges as a
result of different cultural background of client and caregiver will
help reduce cultural
misunderstandings. Prior knowledge on culture and its impact in
providing and meeting
the cultural needs of elderly will help minimize conflicts that might
arise as a result of
culture clash or misunderstanding to both the caregivers and
clients

Language and communication Verbal and non-verbal

communication differs from one culture to another. Apart from the
fact that there exist a multitude of foreign languages on a global
scale, some nations have major spoken languages with dialect,
idioms, accents and jargons within the same language group.
Gestures and body languages might be universal in expression
but then, their manifestations and meanings might be different.

Sense of self and self

Expression of self-comfort is expressed differently by cultures.
While self-identity and
appreciation can be expressed by one culture in a macho
manner, another culture use express theirs in a humble bearing
in one place. Some cultures might be specific and
closed as to determining ones space, might put distance between
individuals during
conversations, while others could be more open, changing and
stand more closely. In

all, cultures have different ways of validating self.

Food and feeding habits
The selection, preparation, displays and consumption of food
differs among cultures. One man’s pet might be another’s
delicacy, this falling within a cultural context. An elderly from a
Buddhist background will be very comfortable when it comes to
consuming pork for example, meanwhile, the same rule will not
apply to Jewish and Muslim seniors. Feeding habits and eating
frequencies also differs among cultures. While some use
chopsticks or fingers, others might use cutleries from knives,
spoons and forks, and yet, which hand handling what cutleries
could also facilitate the distinction of one people from one
another. In all, health care professionals need to link the dietary
patterns of senior clients to their cultural backgrounds, for issues
such as religious and health beliefs held by senior clients have
great significance to them.
Relationships Human relationships organizations such as
gender, age, status, kinship, power, wealth and wisdom are fixed
by culture. In all, the family is the most predominant in these. In
one culture, a family might be huge while in another, it might be
small. Elderly or senior people might be highly valued, honored
and respected in one culture but then in another, they are
ignored. Women wearing veils to appear different in one culture
might be a norm but then in another culture, they could be seen
as equal and sometimes superior to men.
Value and Norms Need varies among culture and so is behavior
and how it is prioritized. A culture sets norms of behavior for its
value system and this differs from culture to culture. One culture
might be completely honest within people of own society but then,
are relaxed when it comes to the application of that same rule to
foreigners or persons from other cultural background

Belief and Attitudes

It could be quite hard to ascertain people’s beliefs and attitudes in
regards to how it affects their relationship with self, others and the
world. Various cultures might have different or identical beliefs.
People turn to have a general concern for a supernatural which is
evident in religious practices. Religious traditions turns to affect
the way people see life and death, be it directly or indirectly. While
people could have different religious practices such as Buddhism,
Christianity, Islam etc. all turn to shape how people in those
societies view things and how they might act to a certain degree.
Sub cultures might exist within for example the Christian faith
where a catholic Christian for example might adhere to blood
transfusion but in the same Christians faith, a Jehovah’s Witness
will not adhere or give consent for any blood transfusion, due to
religious reasons.
It is a taboo serving Jewish elderly client pork, but then, the same
elderly will very well enjoy consuming beef. The same rule applies
to a Muslim. In all, belief and attitudes furnish actions and
behaviors. In a nut shell, the above characteristics do not make
up an overall of what it takes to fully understand people from
diversified cultural backgrounds but then, fall in the scope, along
others to help identify or know the cultural background of an
individual.
“It is more important to know what kind of person has a disease
than what kind of a disease a person has” a say by Sir William
Oslar, quoted by Yehieli et al, (2004) in their hand book of caring
for diverse seniors.
In order to have a cultural understanding and be sensitive to other
cultures, one must seek to make room for other cultures
especially when dealing with elderly people from cultures other
than ones’ or the culture one is usually familiar with. By so doing,
cultural differences will be respected and one would not be
labeled as an ethnocentric individual, in other words, an individual
who looks down on other cultures and sees them as inferior to
ones’ own. Cross cultural experiences helps people to be more
broad minded and culturally prone. It improves on one’s human
interactions and will help care givers to become more aware of
impact of own culture upon them
Appreciating the impact of one’s culture on one’s mindset and
behavior is important, as well as those of colleagues one works
with and clients’ one provides care for.
In as much as culture plays an integral role in elderly care,
caregivers need to understand that there are other aspects such
as literacy level, educational background, income, gender, which
might affect or influence the health status of the elderly client. In
striving to become more culturally competent in caring for the
elderly, care givers should strive to do the following among others.

Lack of trust
The literature reviewed shows that, lack of trust creeps in the
care giving setup as a result of language barrier in
communication. As a result, client might feel they have insufficient
information about their care and in effect, might spring up issues
of trust and non-compliance. Some clients even prefer speaking
their native language when discoursing personal health matters.
Language and communication barrier affects common
understanding as far as the elderly care process is concerned. It
hampers care deliver in situations where caregiver and elderly
client don’t share same linguistic background. Care giver might
not be too sure of the informed consent of the client as a result of
information non clarity

Difficulty meeting needs of clients

The findings show that, communication breakdown may affect
care delivery and reception when care giver and receiver don’t
share same linguistic background. Meetings the needs of the
client might be hard as a result of language failure or barrier since
client might not be able to express self properly,
caregiver not being able to understand client or the other way
round. This in effect might cause dissatisfactory feelings and also
limit interaction between client and caregiver

Cultural issues confused to attitude

From the literature reviewed, findings show that caregivers
having expert knowledge about other cultures could lead to
stereotyped attitudes about other cultures, in effect, affecting care
delivery. Culturally competent in elderly care does not necessarily
mean having expert knowledge about other cultures, but rather
being able to distinguish cultural issues from attitudes among
clients, assessing clients as individuals and not making
conclusions about clients based on knowledge one has on their
cultural background.

Health and religious beliefs

Health and religious beliefs impact on care as stated my many
studies. Conflicting belief
Findings show that, how the elderly people perceive diseases and
how treatment is carried out might determine how they respond to
care. Dietary patterns impact on the care of the client and need to
be put into perspective by the caregiver as far as the clients daily
feeding is concerned, which could be linked to religious beliefs

Gender Sensitive issues

Various studies mention gender issues and how it impacts care
outcome. As perceived from the studies, elderly clients from
different cultural backgrounds are likely to refuse care assistance
coming from caregivers of the opposite sex as a result of their
religious and cultural belief. Gender sensitive issues were noticed
as a predominant issue in home care settings which made care
deliverance quite stressful especially to male caregivers. Females
in particular were not that comfortable with issues regarding
personal care such as shower or other intimate stuff being
handled by male caregivers. Elderly clients didn’t feel safe or
secured with the presence of male caregivers in their homes. In
effect, they could choose to not allow them into their homes to
deliver care services. In all, findings show that gender issues are
eminent in elderly care delivery and therefore impacts on care

Racist tendencies
Studies identify the fact that, discrimination and inadequate
elderly care are eminent in settings where clients and care givers
don’t share same cultural background. As a result, racist
tendencies might emerge leading to social intolerance, no-
integration into main- stream care society, which could lead to
more isolation, vulnerability to poor social and health outcomes
Cultural differences in elderly care, as could be observed from the
researched articles, come with challenges. It is those challenges
that were looked into by the author. Challenges involved in the
care delivery as a result of cultural diversity of client and caregiver
included language and linguistic barrier which as per the studies
enumerated in this thesis, affected almost all areas of care where
a laps existed. Other issues included values, norms, religious and
health beliefs, gender issues in care, misjudgments, prejudice,
and misunderstandings as a result of linguistic difficulties, racist
tendencies and static cultural beliefs. In working with a culturally
diversified clientele, caregivers could increase cultural awareness
and strive not to do things which might undermine the cultural
right of the elderly, in effect respecting the human rights law of
freedom to enjoy own culture. In as much as challenges are
eminent as a result of different cultures involvement in the care
sector, caregivers needs to be able to identify those challenges,
strike a balance and come to reasonable consensus to be able to
manage those differences. They need to understand that ageing
happens differently in various cultures, acknowledge that
healthcare concepts are viewed, translated differently and mean
different things in different cultures. In effect, elderly people might
have different views as to how they view health, causes of illness
and even who and how they prefer to be cared for or treated as
mentioned by various writers in this study such as Galanti (1999),
Lehman (2012), Orlovsky (2004)

CONCLUSION
The daily care of the elderly both in an institutional and home
setting are affected by diverse issues, in this study, specifically
when caregiver and elderly client are not from same cultural
background
Those issues that impacted elderly care were on the downside,
meaning, they affect care delivery negatively. With the challenges
being recognized, measures are needed to tackle, handle and
manage those difficulties impacting on the care outcome
negatively. There are possibilities for these issues or differences
to be used as strengths and not necessarily seen as weakness or
on a downside
Outline the requirements for effective communication
with older person

In order to dialogue or communicate properly with an

elderly patient, we must know how to adapt to their
particularities, but also how to approach them without
annoying them.
It is therefore very important to know how to adapt the
way we communicate to be able to establish the most
beautiful relationships, but also to help older patients
enjoy a state of well-being and maintain their health.
Communication can actually boost their cognitive
functions and improve their quality of life.

Their pathologies must be taken into account. In order

to communicate effectively with an elderly patient, you
will need to take into account the various pathologies
caused by aging that may affect their abilities to
understand or be understood.

Degradation of health, loss of hearing, sight or memory

are the main obstacles. If there are also some disorders
of cognitive functions, such as Alzheimer's disease or
other types of dementia, communication becomes even
more difficult. Pathologies can affect speech or
memory.
It is very important to adapt the message and the way
you address the interlocutor, who is an elderly person
in this case. The tone of communication must also be
adjusted. But, you should not condescend to him, nor
should you infantilize him as this may irritate him.

Respecting elderly patients, treating them as equals

will lead to healthy and affectionate communication.
The tone of voice must also be adapted to articulate the
words well and be understood. One must speak as
clearly as possible, without obstacles or intermediaries
in order to maintain eye contact.

The volume of your voice is important, but you need to

know how to dose it according to the elderly patient
you are talking to. However, talking to such a patient
does not mean yelling.

Poor communication with this vulnerable and growing

population can undermine your efforts to provide good
patient care.

Because “unclear communication can cause the whole

medical encounter to fall apart,” HCAs should pay careful
attention to this aspect of their practice.

The ambience or place where the conversations take

place is equally important. The place must be calm,
without noise or distractions.

Formulas and sentence structures should be as simple

and precise as possible. You can rephrase or ask some
questions if you feel that the elderly patient has not
understood what you want to convey to him.

It is equally important to always be smiling and to have

a lot of patience. Communicating with an elderly
patient therefore requires patience and time. It is
important to remain calm to convey peace and serenity.
Don't forget the smile. Smiling shows understanding
and is also reassuring. Non-verbal language therefore
also has its importance when communicating with
elderly patients.
Speak infrequently and clearly, at a normal volume of
voices.
• Use short and simple wording.
• Repeat if you are not sure
the person heard or understood what you said.
• Change the way you communicate something,
if you are not sure that the person a
understood, even if you repeat yourself.
• Underline key words.
• Pause and give the person time
to process what you said.
• Use gestures and non-verbal communication to help
understand a
what you say
• When more than one is present
people, try to speak one at a time,
one at a time.
• Use pictures and written words for
to help understanding (if
the person's ability to read and to
recognizes images is intact).
• Avoid saying things like 'he's putting his feet up',
instead say 'he's going to
marry".
• Introduce the topic and 'set the stage' for the person,
for example: 'I would like to
we are talking about your sister Rozalia

Introduce yourself by
1.Sit face to face with the patient.
name and offer your help. (For example: "My name is
Anna, I work here as a volunteer, I can help you.”

1. Use touch to keep the patient relaxed and focuse

2. Use short, simple words and sentences
3. Give the patient a chance to ask questions.
4. Be prepared to escort elderly patients from room to room.
5. Check on them if they’ve been waiting in the exam room.
6. Use touch to keep the patient relaxed and focused.
7. Say goodbye, to end the visit on a positive note.
Communication is not an exact science; you will need to
experiment and find which strategies work best for you
You will also need to remember that different patients have
different communication needs, which may require different
techniques.

Non-verbal cues make up about 93% of how we

communicate with each other.
They can give us a more complex picture of what the
person living
with dementia tries to say, especially at times when
verbal communication is
difficult. Despite all the language difficulties that may
be felt,
non-verbal communication usually remains intact.
Therefore, give a bigger one
pay attention to all non-verbal cues, such as facial
expressions, gestures, pointing
direction, etc., as they can help us understand what the
person is communicating with
dementia.
Yes No
It is important to remember that a person suffering
from dementia can mix
yes/no answers. The person with dementia can say 'no'
when they want to say it
"yes" and vice versa. Therefore, according to the
advice, please pay close attention to things
transmitted by the person's non-verbal cues.

Outline the role of HCA in the day to day

provision of care or the older person
The duties and responsibilities of a healthcare
assistant can vary day to day, mainly it is
about providing support to our residents, this
can be anything from serving meals or helping to
feed residents to playing Scrabble /BINGO or
assisting them to somewhere they would like to
go. The aim is to give the resident as much
independence and quality of life as possible
while supporting them where necessary.
It is also important to understand the skills and
knowledge required a Health Care assistant and
their role in general practice, in nursing home, in
multidisciplinary team, in palliative care and in
emergency department. By having an understanding
of the role of a Healthcare assistant in all these
areas, it can be possible to evaluate their
responsibility in the context of providing care to older
person in Ireland./
Their duties and responsibilities include making
beds for the patient, helping patients to perform their
regular activities such as assisting them while going
to bathroom, serving meals and helping them in their
feeding, providing complete support and assistance
when they want to move around, and performing a
regular monitoring of their condition by way of taking
pulse and temperature. It therefore requires them to
completely observe, monitor and record patients’
condition which includes taking their temperatures,
pulse, respirations and weight, assisting them with
the clinical duties
As the role and responsibility of healthcare assistant
is crucial in providing complete support to patients, it
is important that a healthcare assistant should be
competent enough to address all the requirements
of their patients. They require certain skills and
qualities in order to be competent enough in
delivering quality health care support.
A Healthcare Assistant (HCA) does not have the
most glamourous role in the healthare sector, but it
is vital. It can be draining for individuals that pursue
it as a career. What matters is having the passion
to work with people of different races and caring for
people from different backgrounds.
Irrespective of where you are assisting, whether a
hospital or a care home, you must follow the rules
and regulation of the company you are working in.
At the end of a work day, some people will say; “it
was a beautiful day at work today”, “it was lovely”
A typical day always consists of unsupervised
moments, keeping track of time, being able to
perform well in a team, having resilience and
accuracy especially when medication is prescribed
and most importantly having a good sense of
humour.
HCA must be self-disciplined; must show
accountability and responsibility and be ready to
face any challenge that comes your way daily
because every day is usually different.
Whether we are talking about a simple medical
consultation, a surgical intervention or a prolonged
hospitalization, the patient is cared for and monitored
by a medical team, consisting, in most cases, of doctors
and healthcare. Healthcare is present throughout the
entire course of medical care and the activity to
complement that carried out by the doctor/nurse Here
are some reasons why it can be said, without a doubt,
that healthcare plays an essential role in the healing
process of patients.
An empathetic HCA maintains a close bond with
patients Permanent contact with people is a key
aspect of the HCA job, as this activity involves
interaction and communication with patients, but
also with the entire medical team. Every day in
the work of an HCA is marked by good moments
and more tense moments alike, so we can say
that the professional life of an HCA can be likened
to a carousel.
The HCA gets to know details about the physical,
mental and emotional state of the patient in his care,
becoming his confidant.
HCA vigilance can save lives
The HCA is the one who most frequently visits
hospitalized patients, so it has an important set of
information regarding the evolution of their health
status. Apart from the medical visits performed with
the team of doctors, the HCA periodically checks the
patient's condition, administers the prescribed
treatment and collects samples for the necessary
medical analyses. Thus, the HCA is the first to notice if
there are changes in the patient's condition, if he shows
side reactions to the administered treatment or if the
said treatment has the expected effect.
A well-trained HCA will know how to intervene in
time in borderline situations
Since, most of the time, the HCA is the first to notice
changes in the general condition of the patients, he will
have to alert the medical team when the situation is
serious. However, some patients require immediate
intervention when their life is at risk. Until the doctor
arrives, the HCA will have to apply resuscitation
maneuvers or administer emergency treatment when
the situation calls for it.

It is important for their dignity that we help them with

their appearance - just because they cannot do
some certain things themselves they must not be
deprived of this.
We must make them look nice and feel fine.
Another role I assist with is feeding and I make sure
their environment is tidy and looks nice.
Night shift staff will carry out final continence care
and toileting before everyone eventually sleeps - at
around 10pm to 11pm.
Always reported every problem to the nurse in
charge . Patients with mental illness can often have
a dispute with Healthcare Assistants.
Teamwork is very essential in the healthcare sector.
The duties and responsibilities of a carer can vary
from day-to-day.
HCA play a key role in Irish society and it is
incredibly important that they are provided with
support options. Without them, many vulnerable
people would not be able to live independent lives.
They would potentially have to enter a hospital or
other facilities where they are unable to continue
their regular lives at home.

To conclude, the role of carers in Ireland is

paramount as you can see. Therefore, homecare is
a vital part of Irish life and is an area that deserves
support and effective resources. The role of carers
and their importance cannot be understated. carers
can help a vulnerable person and their loved ones
get the care and help that they need to live their best
lives.
A healthcare assistant, also known as an HCA,
plays a vital role in caring for people. They can
make a real difference to someone’s quality of
life.
Healthcare assistant duties can vary depending where you are
working. For example, if you are based in a hospital you may be:

 Serving meals and helping to feed patients.

 Helping people to move around.
 Toileting.
 Making beds.
 Talking to patients and making them comfortable.
 Monitoring patients’ conditions by taking temperatures, pulse,
respirations and weight.

In a health centre and GP surgery, you may do the following:

 Sterilise equipment.
 Do health checks.
 Re-stock consulting rooms.
 Process lab samples.
 Take blood samples.
 Do health promotion or health education work.

HCAs also work with doctors, midwives and other healthcare

professionals with a lot of patient contact.

As an HCA you might be involved with looking after patients with

mental health issues, who are terminally ill or suffer from dementia
depending on your role and your setting.

So, be prepared and be strong, as you might be caring for patients who
make demands on your time or require ‘end of life’ care (better known
as ‘palliative care’).
This type of care involves the HCA bringing a great deal of
compassion, patience and dedication to the role and the patient.
Explore the range of the older persons needs to Maslows
hierarchy of needs

Abraham Maslow calls the hierarchy of needs or, as it

is better known, Maslow's pyramid. Maslow's pyramid
is a concept that the American psychologist launched
in the work "A Theory of Human Motivation" 1, trying
to decipher the motivations at the origin of human
actions. He concludes that self-interest is the driving
force and, moreover, that self-interest can be ranked.

Maslow identifies five types of specific needs, each

type being associated with a floor of the pyramid
1. Physiological needs are placed on the lowest level.
The need for food, water, shelter, even the need for
transportation, that is, those needs that forced people to
put aside their predatory, animal instincts in order to
associate in order to survive. Without the satisfaction
of basic needs, the human being ceases to exist.

2. The next level, the second, is dedicated to so-called

personal safety needs. It's not related to physiological
needs No, it's more. Because personal safety transcends
physical safety, the fear of being assaulted, and calls
for financial safety (a guaranteed minimum income, a
decent pension plan), job safety, safety that allows you
that mental comfort necessary for effective
functioning, freed from the anxieties of everyday life.

3. The third level is dedicated to social, belonging

needs. Man feels this urge to enter into relationships
with others, to fit into extended social groups. And we
are talking here about religious groups, professional
organizations, sports teams, groups of sympathizers of
a person or cause, or even groups on the edge of the
law. In their narrow form, the social groups that satisfy
the need for appearance are family, life partner, close
colleagues or confidants.
4. On the fourth level, Maslow places the need for
social recognition, self-confidence, self-respect. Lack
of respect can give rise over time to feelings of
inferiority, transformed into inferiority complex and
social alienation.

5. Finally, the last level, the fifth, is reserved by

Maslow for personal development, self-realization.
Fulfilling potential, we would say today. Hobbies,
especially expensive ones (the pleasure of traveling,
painting, learning a foreign language just reading an
author in the original) are at the top of the pyramid of
needs. And it's quite hard to achieve.

Hence the famous "pyramid of needs" or "hierarchy of

needs", a pyramid as well known as its older sister at
Giza or the glass pyramid in front of the entrance to the
Louvre museum.
But man is not stuck on one level of the pyramid, as in
a computer game, and access to a higher step is
possible even if the previous level leaves room for
improvement. But it is no less true that these needs are
interdependent. They condition each other.
They say old people are like children. From a certain
perspective it is. Because their needs change as time
goes by.
A person who has gone through life, has gone through
a lot of changes and he no longer has the same qualities
as a young adult, so some things he can no longer
achieve by himself or even no longer wants. Whether
we are talking about parents, grandparents or any other
family member who is of a certain age, they need to be
given more special attention.
In addition to food and shelter, an elderly person also
needs attention, affection and socialization, if you don't
want your parents or grandparents to go through
sadness, anxiety, depression or even other more serious
illnesses that can affect them emotional.

It would be ideal that during this period you give the

time to a child, after working hours, and if you are
unable to give this time, choose to take him to a
nursing home where he will receive all the care he
needs, specialized doctors but also of socialization.

According to the psychologist Abraham Maslow, the

basic needs of a man can be classified into 5 large
categories, and if they are not satisfied, different
imbalances will appear, not only emotional or mental,
but also physical.

These needs must be met throughout life and

predominantly, in the first and last period of life, for a
balanced life.
Old age is not one to stagnate or wait to degrade, but to
continue doing what brings you happiness and
fulfillment. Reading, painting, planting flowers or
physical exercises such as yoga or walking are
activities that bring a lot of happiness to the body and
beyond.
In addition to the sense that an elderly person may feel
that they are no longer useful, these also bring with
them feelings of self-couplablization and loss of self-
esteem.

Offer him some activities to involve him in, or help

him participate in some social activities with other
people if you don't have enough time to do this.
Moving an elderly relative into a nursing home is
sometimes an emotionally charged process. It can be
difficult to explain to your loved one that they need
extra care, especially if they are not in the right frame
of mind. This experience is often best approached with
honesty and gentle compassion. It is also important to
be as well informed as possible about what life will be
like for your loved one at the nursing home of your
choice.

When you have this information and have prepared for

the emotional challenges of this transition, you can
make it easier for your loved one to understand why
they are moving and how the new arrangement will
work.

For many people, the thought of sending their loved

one to a nursing home is heartbreaking. For others, it
can be a relief: Nursing homes provide specialized care
and supervision that you may not be able to provide
your loved one in your own home.
Elderly care covers a variety of activities that will
depend on the elderly person's disability, living
conditions and general situation.

It really takes someone with selfless commitment and

dedication to continue to care for an elderly person day
in and day out.

The person who has this responsibility is known as the

healtcare assitent.

This person may be part of the family or may be paid

to do it as a job.
The elderly consume a significantly lower amount of
calcium than adults. However, the body's need for
calcium is so great that, if there is not a sufficient
amount, the absorption of calcium from the bones
starts again. This causes brittle bones and leads to
osteoporosis. Calcium helps maintain bone health
and helps lower blood pressure,we include in the
diet of seniors (who have tolerance) yogurt, milk,
cheese, but also green leafy vegetables (spinach,
lettuce) and cereals. If some people have intolerance to
such foods or dislike the taste, supplements can be
administered, of course only with the approval of the
doctor.

With age, digestion works more slowly, both in

digesting food and in expelling it. Contractions in the
gastrointestinal tract become slower and less frequent,
which can lead to constipation or difficulty passing
stools.

If the hospice patient suffers from constipation, the diet

should include more fiber-rich foods such as nuts,
whole grains, whole grain bread and pasta, brown rice,
fruits and vegetables. Foods rich in fiber help with
normal digestion, favoring the transfer through the
digestive tract. Another benefit of these products is
reducing the risk of heart disease. In addition, the
elderly should consume as much water as possible,
dehydration or insufficient fluid intake being another
possible cause of constipation. The more water the
colon absorbs, the easier stools will be to pass. In cases
where the elimination of stools becomes a problem and
creates discomfort or pain, the elderly admitted to the
private nursing home can be given laxatives or
supplements to improve digestion, of course only with
the approval of the doctor.
As age increases, appetite may decrease. So are some
senses, such as taste and smell, which can affect
appetite. If the senior does not eat properly for a long
time and loses weight, this can become dangerous for
health. The elderly have less energy, problems with
muscles and bones, which causes less mobility and
slower metabolism, reducing caloric needs and
appetite.
Even with a well-planned diet, parents or grandparents
may have difficulty enjoying food. Whether the
reasons are physical (dental pain, loss of taste/smell,
medication) or psychological (depression, loneliness),
the elderly can end up feeling disinterested in both
cooking and eating. At such a moment, they need to be
helped from the outside, so that they can continue to
lead a normal life

After admission to a nursing home, the family no

longer has to worry about the food the senior
consumes. The kitchen team cooks nutritious meals in
their own restaurant, adapted to the needs of the
beneficiaries. Using the best ingredients, always fresh
and cooked on the day of serving, to preserve its
vitamins, minerals and all the nutritional benefits, but
above all the taste.

For the balanced diet to be effective, residents also

need a fixed, regular mealtime schedule. That's why
residents have three meals a day and two snacks,
served at the same time every day, to ensure a good
metabolism and a sense of stability. In addition, they
eat in the company of the other residents, to have an
opportunity to socialize and to associate the meal time
with something pleasant, which they welcome every
time with joy.
Older people often have limited regenerative
capabilities and are more susceptible to diseases,
syndromes, injuries and other ailments than younger
adults. A number of other disciplines and fields relate
to aging and the elderly, such as organic aging
processes (senescence), medical studies of the aging
process (gerontology), diseases affecting older adults
(geriatrics), assistive technology aging society
(gerontechnology) or leisure and sports activities
adapted to older people, such as serious sports. Older
people face various social issues regarding retirement,
loneliness and ageism.

Old age is not a defined biological stage, as the

chronological age noted as "old age" varies culturally
and historically.

In 2011, the United Nations proposed a human rights

convention that would specifically protect older
people.
A person who has gone through life, has gone through
a lot of changes and he no longer has the same qualities
as a young adult, so some things he can no longer
achieve by himself or even no longer wants. Whether
we are talking about parents, grandparents or any other
family member who is of a certain age, they need to be
given more special attention.
In addition to food and shelter, an elderly person also
needs attention, affection and socialization, if you don't
want them to go through sadness, anxiety, depression
or even other more serious illnesses that can affect
them emotionally.

It would be ideal that during this period you give him

the time, like a child, to choose a nursing home where
he will have all the care he needs, from specialized
doctors and socialization.

According to the psychologist Abraham Maslow, the

basic needs of a man can be classified into 5 large
categories, and if they are not satisfied, different
imbalances will appear, not only emotional or mental,
but also physical.

These needs must be met throughout life and

predominantly, in the first and last period of life, for a
balanced life.
Primary psychological needs

The need to have food, water, shelter or even

transportation are among the needs that are at the base
of the hierarchy. These types of needs are not fads but
are considered basic, survival needs.

If during life, we have other needs in addition to these

needs or even want certain things that do not
necessarily belong to these needs, the primary needs
must be fulfilled, predominantly, when a person is in
the 3rd age.
Most of the elderly do not have decent conditions and
the fulfillment of these needs, which greatly affects
their quality of life.

Personal safety and security

Fear is part of our life, and we feel it many times

throughout our lives. But as we age, many of these
fears, or even new ones, intensify.

Some of the biggest fears encountered by the elderly

are the fear of being bullied or the fear of financial
insecurity.
From this point of view, it is important that every
elderly person has a guaranteed minimum income that
will ensure their primary physiological needs as well as
certain medicines, treatments and even a healthy
lifestyle.

Social needs of belonging

Although loneliness is one of the most common

situations in the elderly, he has this need more than
ever. The fact that old friends are gone, that the family
is busy or can no longer take care of the elderly person
is one of the causes that lead to depression and other
diseases.

It is indicated that at least one or two days a week, the

elderly person should socialize to play with
grandchildren or for stories, to recharge with positive
energy.

At the same time, encourage him to have as many

activities as possible to feel useful.
The need for social recognition

When you no longer go to work, you no longer have

certain tasks to perform, the feeling of uselessness
appears quickly and it also brings with it the feeling of
losing interest in engaging in any kind of activity, even
one that you used to like.

In addition to the sense that an elderly person may feel

that they are no longer useful, these also bring with
them feelings of self-couplablization and loss of self-
esteem.

Give him some activities to get him involved in, or

help him participate in some social activities with other
people.

Personal development

This need is about fulfillment and the feeling of

happiness. Here are those activities that help us feel
that we can still achieve things, grow, develop.

Old age is not one to stagnate or wait to degrade, but to

continue doing what brings you happiness and
fulfillment. Reading, painting, planting flowers or
physical exercises such as yoga or walking are
activities that bring a lot of happiness to the body and
beyond.