Social Services Relative to Mental Health and Elderly Populations
Mental illness has a significant impact on people’s lives as it affects someone’s ability to relate to others and function usually. The goal for most people diagnosed with mental conditions is to manage the condition in society. The population needs a lot of care from family and friends as they struggle to maintain their collapsing identities. The patients may not feel confident performing tasks such as their hobbies and occupations, thus leading to withdrawal from social activities, impacting the person’s self-esteem (Diller, 2013). Stigmatization of the population breeds the need for specialized in-house care to cater to the population’s safety and mobility, which is costly to maintain straining close relatives economically. The population also requires special treatment through a combination of medication and healthcare professionals; thus, a specialized health practitioner’s services are paramount.
Elderly Population
The client population’s primary needs encompass financial security, unstable housing, social isolation, accessibility to healthcare, and mental health problems. Economic vulnerability is a concern as 25 % of older adults in the U.S. report concerns about having enough money to buy nutritious food, pay rent, utility bills, or have serious problems paying medical bills. Filial piety is still the preferred method of long-term care for both younger and older generations. However, it has enormously increased the younger caregivers’ strain as they struggle to balance their careers’ requirements and provide adequate long-term care for their elders, ultimately leading to abandonment (Bryan, 2015). Older adults in the U.S are eligible for government funding regarding health costs through Medicare. However, the structure requires more out-of-pocket expenditures such as copays, co-insurance, and prescription drugs, which are costly, leading to deteriorated healthcare. The U.S. aging population also faces several mental health issues common in abandoned or forgotten older adults, such as dementia. It increases dramatically with age due to social isolation from family and friends.
Mental Health Population Hypothetical Case Scenario
Karen, a three-year-old girl, has recently been diagnosed with autistic disorder. Karen has difficulty maintaining social interactions and engaging in age-appropriate play with her peers and siblings. Most of the students regularly make fun of Karen as they call her names and talk behind her back; thus, she feels worthless and is depressed quite often. She is often distracted and does not adjust well to change in her routine. Karen cries and falls on the ground to gain access to food or toys. She often gets into fights with her siblings and is involved in rocking, flapping arms, and maneuvering objects when upset. She has been put on Zoloft medication, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs), which serves as an antidepressant, but the parents have been referred to a specialist.
Elderly Population Hypothetical Case Scenario
Mr. King is an 80-year-old man living independently since his wife died two years ago. His adult children, three sons, have been increasingly overwhelmed by the level of care he needs. None can efficiently cater to his services since they are all juggling demanding work schedules and family responsibilities. Mr. King has a chronic history of depression, which has intensified after his partner’s demise, leading to social isolation. The family visits a social worker and health professional for an expert opinion of eldercare and requests a comprehensive assessment of Mr. King for the family to discuss how best to meet Mr. King’s growing needs. The health professional informed the siblings of the increased signs and symptoms of dementia and memory loss that Mr. King is exhibiting and informs them of the necessity of improved healthcare to increase his quality of life.
Community-Based Recommendations
Family members of persons diagnosed with mental illness are vital in terms of support. They help them continue their social interactions, often focusing on the patient’s strengths to boost their morale and self-confidence (Diller, 2013). Familiarity is also important to the person who has autism as it helps to maintain a simple routine which the person can follow. Caretakers keep track and record specific behaviors relating to communications to construct a consistent routine. People with mental illness sometimes suffer from harmful personal behaviors ranging from medium to severe; thus, caretakers should always control their mobility and safety by being in the vicinity most of the time. Community treatment centers such as Central Florida Cares Health System organization provides adult and children emergency mental health services relative to bodily harm. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) offers toll-free lines to call in case of an emergency involving a mentally diagnosed person. It also offers suggestions regarding primary care relative to people with a mental health condition and federal resources.
Florida Department of Elder Affairs functions as oversight to help older adults be incorporated into informal long-term care options while avoiding institutional care. Informal care drastically reduces the probability and severity of hospital care. Formal long-term care options include nursing homes and community-sponsored programs and support, while informal care is based on family support. This support can range from occasional help with tasks like shopping to continual support with eating, bathing, and general mobility (Bryan, 2015). AARP Medicare supplement plans allow older adults to broaden their financial ability in health coverage. There is an increase in geriatric and gerontology training for healthcare professionals, which significantly aids informal care provision. AARP Medicare also increases financial support for informal caregivers to help alleviate the financial burden placed upon them. The government also incorporates job security and support for caregivers to help protect adult caregivers through non-profit organizations.
References
Bryan, W. V. (2015). The professional helper: The fundamentals of being a helping professional. Charles C Thomas Publisher.
Diller, J. V. (2013). Cultural diversity: A primer for human services. Nelson Education.
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