TY  - JOUR
AU  - Korkmaz-Yaylagul, Nilufer
AU  - Seedsman, Terence
PY  - 2018
DA  - 2018/11/28
TI  - A Call to Arms for the Aged Care Sector: A Spotlight on Systematic Abuse and Neglect of Older Disabled Persons
JO  - OBM Geriatrics
SP  - 022
VL  - 02
IS  - 04
AB  - With rapidly aging populations worldwide there will be an increasing need to focus attention on the expected increase in disability with advancing age. Drawing upon established literature this paper aims to highlight the contribution of anthropology including selected research findings and contemporary understandings surrounding ageism, abuse and exploitation of older disabled persons. Health care providers within the context of the aged care sector are challenged to unburden themselves with negative images and practices surrounding aging and disability. Quality of life is seen as a fundamental and indisputable goal of the aged care sector that incorporates a focus on wellness, active aging and respect for the diversity among disabled older persons including the importance of helping each individual to achieve a good old age. A life course approach is offered for understanding disability including social system failures known to arise from the influence of discrimination and ageism. Disability is portrayed as first residing in the individual with disability while also representing a major public health challenge. Evidence shows that effective programming for disability prevention can lower the incidence of disability in later life. At the same time, it is shown that there are people with lifelong disabilities that are non-modifiable in comparison to a host of modifiable lifestyle risk factors. It is also demonstrated that people who are aging with disabilities do not represent a uniform group. The contemporary concept of ‘successful aging’ is challenged on the basis that it can be seen as being discriminatory to older people with disabilities. Societies claiming to have humanitarian concerns for the aged are challenged to demonstrate that they have in place responsive policies and integrated health care service systems that can prevent, minimize and/or effectively respond to the diverse needs of older people with disabilities.
SN  - 2638-1311
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.geriatr.1804022
DO  - 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1804022
ID  - Korkmaz-Yaylagul2018
ER  -