Protective Services for the Elderly

Protective Services for the Elderly

Aging and the elderly have become an increasing concern, especially in the Western world today. The fact is that the population is aging and will most likely continue to do so as a result of better medical care, more individual concern with aging in a healthy way, and avoiding unhealthy lifestyles and choices. The EPA (2012), for example, cites the U.S. Census of 2011 in its estimate that there were 41.4 million persons aged 65 or older in the country. This constitutes 13% of the population. By 2030, this number is likely to increase to more 72 million, which will constitute 20% of the total population. According to the EPA, the number of people aged 85 and over is the fastest growing age group in the United States. The fact is also that, despite the better and longer lives we enjoy today, aging tends to generally end in frailty and vulnerability as we come closer to the end of our lives. For this reason, and because the number of people that become older is increasing so rapidly, professionals should concern themselves specifically with services that target older people, particularly when it comes to providing protective and assisting services. By means of actions and policies that do not only target older people, but also use them as a resource, services and policies for older people can be enhanced and made more effective.

The National Council on Aging (2012) notes that many vulnerable older people often feel that they have not voice in terms of policy or the services delivered to them. By creating a political platform on the basis of which the concerns of these people can be made heard is one of the main objectives of the Council. Indeed, public policy for seniors is being improved by the work of this Council and others like it. Vulnerable older people are especially in need of such services, since they are often unable to voice their own concerns, speak for themselves, or are even aware that they can improve their own lives by doing so. In this way, the Council's work has a dual function, where the voices of older people are given extra power, and where they are made aware that such an option is available to them. Important issues such as elder abuse, food benefits, and political representation are examples of concerns brought to the attention of policymakers in Washington. Providing this type of political to the elderly population is vital in order to ensure that the democracy and caring that the United States prides itself on can continue for all age groups.

Vulnerability does not only, however, extend only to physical or mental frailty. Many retired older people also face economic hardship. This was particularly the case early in the 20th century, when few services existed to ensure income security for retired and aging people. Many Americans today rely on welfare and pension programs that were instated either by their employers or by the state. One such program is the Old-Age Benefit Program established by the SSA. According to Niles-Yokum and Wagner (2011, p. 52), the Supplementary Security Income (SSI) program was the descendant of the SSA program to remove the stigma from relying on welfare programs for one's livelihood. The program meant that older and retired people could make use of Social Security as a pension for which they paid, it was assumed that there would be much less stigma attached to this than a full welfare program. In other words, it brought with it the concept of entitlement, or indeed a right.

The important point here is that the rights and well-being of older Americans should be protected, since they are entitled to these as part their rights as human beings. This is the cornerstone of American society. One way to ensure this is via legislation. The Older American Act, for example, is created to ensure that the rights and well-being of older Americans are both part of political awareness and its attention (Niles-Yokum and Wagner, 2011, p. 165). The authors also note that the 1992 modification was targeted to m ore specifically focus on programs and services to prevent elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. This, however, is not the only aim of this particular piece of legislation.

According to Eustis (2010), older people are not only a liability, and the Older American Act provides for this recognition. Because so many older people have aged in a healthy way, they remain able bodied and are more than willing to lend their energy and experience to providing better and more effective services. This will create not only a vital resource for older people who are in need of protective services. It will also create an opportunity for aging people to become involved in the health and well-being of their community. This is a vital aspect of aging effectively, since feeling useful is one of the ways in which older people can continue to live happy and healthy lives. Concomitantly, feeling positive and happy about life and providing services has the mutual effect of creating more effective services for older people. Eustis uses the term "civic engagement" to promote this idea. Specifically, she mentions the example of the ALVA Leadership Development program that is actively involved in helping older and experienced people to use their skills for the continued well-being of their community. Some of the results have been significant. Mary Ellen Kennedy, for example, is a 71-year-old retired teacher who is able to use her experience to help children of incarcerated parents to overcome the unique challenges and emotions they face as a result of their parents' situation. In this way, people over 55 years who are retired but still able bodied, with vast experience to contribute, are able to continue helping their communities. While many of them are indeed involved in providing protective services to older people, others are involved in assisting people of all ages. Helping older people to remain part of their communities is a vital part of the Older American Act.

This is not to say, however, that older people are not often in fact vulnerable and subject to mistreatment. While many are still able bodied and involve themselves in programs to help others, a great many are also in need of supportive services to help them live up to the end of their lives with dignity, self-respect, and happiness. Niles-Yokum and Wagner (2011, p. 166), for example, cite an example of a community-based survey performed to determine the severity of elder abuse. It was found that almost half of women over 55 have experienced abuse, with many experiencing repeated abuse. Furthermore, health problems were correlated with this experience. It is therefore not only a social concern, but also a health and mental concern. It is therefore vital that this, along with other frailty and vulnerability issues that affect older people, be studied carefully to determine ways in which the effects of these can be mitigated.