Question

Explain different types of social differences that exist in one o the other form in every society

Answer 1

Cultural and social differences exist within communities, affecting the availability of support and expectations of care for the patient. The burden of home care falls mainly on female members of the family with more women in developed countries now at home providing care for elderly people, rather than for children.2,9 A minority of care of the elderly people is from paid caregivers. In addition to spouses providing care for their partners, in the absence of spouses or in the event of their ill health, children often provide care for their elderly parents. This role reversal impacts upon relationships, caregiver’s physical and psychological health, and has economic consequences.9,10 Care providers are at increased risk factor of death, major physical ill health, and depression.

Care providers of the elderly patient need increased support from the medical team during episodes of acute illness of the patient, and ongoing support during chronic stages, which may require them to provide care over many years. Caregivers need full explanations of the disease processes to help manage their expectations and help them cope with the uncertainty that disease brings.

The umbrella of palliative care may entitle patients and care provider’s access to financial and social resources, to help alleviate the economic and social burdens of care provision. Access to a day center or sitting services may provide some respite to the care provider and respite care should be considered both if the caregiver has acute health needs and also at planned regular intervals to provide a break from the work of caring. Unrelieved stress and the burden of care can otherwise result in a breakdown in the relationship between the care provider and the patient, potentially spiraling down into situations of neglect, abuse, and worsening health in both parties.

Care providers frequently have concerns and feeling of guilt when the patient is being cared for in a nursing or residential home environment, so they need to be listened to and when necessary reassured of the reasons for the appropriateness of place of care. Often those who have cared for a long time want to continue to provide some care when the patient is transferred to a nursing home or hospice facilities; helping them do so can relieve the burden of guilt and worry they feel from relinquishing care in the home environment.

Following the death of the patient, the care provider may experience severe grief both for the profound loss they have experienced and for their loss of role in addition to readjusting to life, and organizing funeral arrangements and financial affairs. Such individuals are at risk of prolonged or complicated bereavement and referral to bereavement support groups and counselors may be beneficial.