| Geriatric care or the care for the elderly and | | | | You can continue reminding the hospital staff |
| infirm in hospitals and other health care facilities | | | | about the patient's request or you can provide for |
| has certainly gone a long way. Equipped with the | | | | the request (if you can) yourself. |
| latest machineries that money could buy, these | | | | 2. An emergency trip to the hospital can be |
| establishments are sometimes housing more then | | | | frightening enough for just about anyone. And |
| 20 elderly patients at any given time. With the | | | | with the case of elderly people who may have |
| projection that the elderly population is growing by | | | | been alone too long, or may not exactly be in the |
| about 1% per year, more and more hospitals are | | | | right mental state, this can be terrifying ride. By |
| creating room just to accommodate potential | | | | simply being there and making sure that the |
| clients. However, for a good number of years, | | | | patient is not left waiting out in the cold while |
| there have been reports of elderly abuse and | | | | being processed will bring inexplicable comfort to |
| mistreatment in many health care facilities. Most | | | | the person. |
| of these lean towards indifference to the plight of | | | | 3. Ask the elderly patient what he or she wants. |
| the elderly patient to downright abandonment, | | | | This is something that many people overlook. |
| which may include: not being given adequate food, | | | | Incredibly, elderly patients ask for the simplest of |
| water, hygienic care, medications and procedures | | | | things: things that anyone would take for granted, |
| as needed or asked for by the patient. | | | | but may mean a lot to the person. A few very |
| Although there is a lot to be said to lobbying for | | | | good examples f which would be: a request to go |
| the rights of the elderly who are in the care of | | | | to the bathroom, some help turning over on one |
| health care facilities, there are other ways and | | | | side of the bed, or even switching off the lights |
| means that you can do when it comes to helping | | | | so they can sleep. |
| elderly people maintain their dignity in hospitals. | | | | 4. Volunteer your services. If you have some |
| And some of these measures can even have | | | | spare time on your hands, you might want to ask |
| immediate positive results to the people involved. | | | | the nearest hospital or health care facility about |
| 1. If you know any elderly person that is currently | | | | volunteering your services to their geriatric wards. |
| confined or staying at a hospital, you might want | | | | Depending upon the establishment's existing |
| to visit him or her as often as possible. You could | | | | policies, you might be assigned to a few simple |
| be their voice when it comes to asking for | | | | tasks like taking food to the patients, or changing |
| specific requests from the patients. There will be | | | | the sheets. However, every little help can ease |
| times when a request, say something as simple | | | | the burden of the overworked staff. And that |
| as asking for a cup of water, may take a long | | | | can increase their efficiency, which in turn is |
| while to get delivered. The hospital aides or the | | | | beneficial to their elderly wards. |
| nurses may be extremely busy at the moment. | | | | |