Social and Health care for the Elderly
Introduction
This essay revolves around the case review associated with elderly abuse in health and social care. Elderly abuse has been on the high increase in the recent past largely because the government has failed to perform its obligations. This paper sets out to put certain issues into perspective so as to enable a friendly environment to the elderly to the elderly persons in the community.
Task 1.1 Description of how information could reach the public
The content based on the case study analysed in this paper ought to reach the public sphere at all costs. To begin with, there is a need for a well-structured response mechanism to facilitate the disclosure of all manner of abuses to the concerned authorities (Seale, 2003). Again, the abused persons should not be afraid of the outcomes of disclosing the wrongs meted against them.
There has been a culture where wrongs meted out by one party are perpetuated because the injured party is ignorant of the right channels that would help them seek help or talk about them to get the required public attention. In our contemporary world, for instance, help relating to electronic shopping, fast foods among other associated aspects is widely available.
Nonetheless, no one pays much attention to the elderly. Moreover, available channels of communication have been outrun with time, an aspect that makes it intricate to communicate. This backdrop calls for an appropriate review of the situation by the regulators. However, because the government may not be able to do everything for everyone, people ought to take initiatives when it comes to reporting the issues to the relevant authorities. In the UK, for instance, the modifications to the components of Southern Cross have culminated to several mistakes (Hara, 2011).
The Southern Cross has been relentless to providing new information concerning the projected new operators for a momentous proportion of its residential and nursing homes in England. Nonetheless, owing to poor management and communication methods, there is a scenario of chaos right now (Johnston & Andy, 2013). The authorities and the law enforcers should work closely with those respective houses. On the other hand, the locals should help the authorities as much as they can to ensure these cases are reported promptly.
Task 1.2 Analysis of different media techniques such as media, leaflets, newspapers used for communicating information associated with elderly care.
Media plays an integral role when it comes to disseminating societal issues. However, information linked to elderly care never reaches the public because of the failure of the media to report about it. Nevertheless, the media house should not be subjected to blames or held responsible for not covering some issues, or for simply reporting issues that the public is interested to hear. Contemporary media for instance, reports more about the popular trends regardless of whether or not they have any relevance to the public (Hickey, 2014).
During prime time, media goes out to report sensational news too. In this respect, the perception of the media attitude should be altered (Davies, 2005). Moreover, information associated with elderly issues should be disseminated without any repression or omission. With the advents of social media, it becomes easier to disclose social ills rather fast. There is a need to put into use social media.
Task 1.3 influence of divergent ways on people’s attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors
Much as people’s attitudes and behaviors are diverse, it is easier to influence them through different channels. For instance, type of media, presentation layout, content, logical visual basics, and sound influence people’s attitudes and behaviors. And because the people’s attitudes can be altered through visualization and sounds, it becomes effective per se. In due course, enhancing people’s understanding about particular issues through graphical representations will certainly enhance their attitudes and behavior.
Task 2.1 Influence of media on the attitudes and behaviour of people
The media has many functions and the key one is informing the public about current events. In the healthcare sector, the media informs the public about current issues related to health and social care including an outbreak of illnesses, new medicines, treatment techniques and so forth. The increased demand for data has contributed to advancement in periodicals, newspapers, television programs that address health, and social care. Discussions on current events associated with health and social care is done to inform public.
Such debates involve professionals from different fields of health and social care to influence perception of the public (Willby, 2008). For instance, in the US there was a discussion on a department in Novartis that paid a large sum of money to physicians following a prescription manufactured by the company. This scenario will affect public behaviors and attitude towards the products of these firms.
The media can be used as a watchdog of political structure to influence people’s attitude and behaviour. This way the media creates awareness about political structures, by releasing important political opinions, and conditions associated with health and social care. Therefore, a person is empowered to access information about the government, rights and assists them in formulating decisions in health and social care (Davies, 2005).
Moreover, the media is in charge of educating people on health and social care, as it is able to reach many. For instance, the media can educate the public about risks associated with smoking. This can be carried out through health education programs through social media platforms. Again, the media can be used as a platform for announcing events related to health and social care including risks of certain drugs, and epidemics.
Health and social care institutions can also utilize the media to market services to the larger public. However, they should ensure that the ads are convincing and also attractive to help people make informed decisions (Kelly et al. 2005). The objective of any ad is to attract the attention of people; the more attractive the ad is the higher the ability to influence their attitudes and behaviors.
Task 2.2 Evaluating the Reliability and Validity Of Media Content
It’s vital for people to assess validity as well as the reliability of information prior to considering it factual. The public can ascertain this by evaluating the source of information, the issuance of the data and the manner in which it is released and presented. There are different sources of data, for example, government websites, and advocacy groups, political, and religious institutions. The public must understand the agenda behind any information or basically to create awareness. For instance, information released by the Ministry of Health (MoH) on a given policy issue is reliable in comparison to that provided by lobby groups (Hopson, 2013).
Presently, UK is campaigning for quality health and social care by incorporating the elderly people. This campaign is organized by the government, making it valid and reliable as it values the interests of its population. Conversely, in the United States, there is Obama care, which purposes to modify insurance sector to cater for the healthcare needs of low-income earners. The bill was widely debated; some opposed it while other supported it. However, the media plays an important role of presenting facts and views about the bill (Hopson, 2013). By and large, the public must get information from reliable sources like government sites and publications.
Task 3.1 Contemporary Issue
Compared to previous years, Britain population is healthier than ever. Nonetheless, regardless of the improving health of the population, minorities’ health is increasing at a remarkable low rate in comparison to the general population. In the attempt to address the issues, it has been challenging, particularly, for healthcare providers as well as policy makers. It is evident that causes of inequalities are determined based on social factors (Hara, 2011).
Employment industry and education structures plan access to job opportunities based on the society. Moreover, inequalities are influenced by sexuality, gender, and racial background. Experts have demonstrated that addressing unequal allocation of the variable of health is vital in terms of improving Britain’s health sector. Facts on the mortality rates of immigrants demonstrate the presence of heterogeneity across minorities.
Task 3.2 Monitoring different perspectives
In the UK, ethnic groups comprise of about eight percent or 4.6 million individuals of the entire population. Previous studies have shown that racial communities have a low quality of health in comparison to white Caucasians in conditions like heart diseases, mental health, and stroke among others (Hickey, 2014). In the past years, healthcare inequalities of various ethnicities are common in various healthcare institutions across the UK. The UK government in the past decade provided data on the healthcare gaps across the nation and also certain areas that the gap was increasing (Davies, 2005).
The inequalities start at birth, for example, children born in poor households are in danger of being born premature and developing chronic illness in adulthood. This leads to the cycle of inequalities. As such, the government has initiated a number of measures with the objective of investigating aspects of healthcare inequalities while reducing it among racial communities. Some of the initiatives are; Health Challenge England; Spearhead Primary Care Trusts; Race for Care and so forth. Much as initiatives were introduced to not only improve, but also minimise healthcare gaps. Some have been successful, while others were have failed in addressing inequalities in healthcare.
Task3.3 Significance of results to health and social care
Previous studies on health and social care documented in a number of journals have been the basis upon which health experts use to practice while improving service delivery. These studies are crucial when it comes to creating awareness about challenges in health and social care and presents a general understanding of handling such challenges. For example, many intellectuals have investigated about the significance of training of healthcare experts on ethnicity and cultural diversity of UK’s populace (Davies, 2005). This a suitable step because it helps health care experts to be conscious of the expectations of racial communities, including beliefs, practices, and social conditions.
Furthermore, findings are used publicly as the foundation for informing them about new events in health and social care industry such that the they are aware of the healthcare gaps across health care institutions across the UK. Data from government published on their sites about health care gaps is helpful since it informs the public on current issues on health and social care. In addition, advocacy groups publish information about social and health care on their sites and other channels to create public awareness.
Task 3.4 Factors influencing development of various perspectives
A number of factors are attributed to the development of various perspectives over a given time frame, for instance, ignorance about the health care requirements racial minorities. Regardless, of the enhanced outcomes conducted through ethnic diversity initiatives, three is a lack of provisions for health care experts across the UK apart from in psychiatry.
Therefore, it is important for health education to integrate principle that purpose to achieve the objectives of improving health for the entire population, and identification of special health requirements, belief and communication challenges of racial groups (Anon, 2013). Many health professionals state that changing lifestyles in inner cities have contributed to increasing the number of ethnic minorities. In fact,
Asians people in the UK has increased considerably, hence, it is crucial to find a remedy to these issues. Other elements that influence the growth of various perspectives include economic constraints, availability of adequate information, and changing roles of corporates in managing hospitals. These factors were evident in the past and they have greatly influenced the perception of people. As such, this is a field that planners and policy makers should take into account when making decisions (Anon. 2013).
Task4.1: The extent of local attitudes reflect those found at a national level
Recently, NHS has been under pressure to review measures aimed at reducing health inequalities. On one hand, reports indicate that NHS is not effective in terms of minimizing health inequalities, on the other, the gap is increasing considerably. The reports call upon the government to concentrate on issues at different health institutions while highlighting the main cause of such inequalities.
Social and economic issues are main causes of changes in behaviour and attitude in local and national levels are not adequately emphasized (Morris, Carrell & McDonald, 2016). There is the need for education and training programs on social causes of illnesses while encouraging health specialists to advocate for patients. The media has played its role of reporting health gaps as well as changing racial minorities face in the UK.
While the released data can be deceptive, its necessary for the government to provide information so as to ascertain accurate facts on health inequalities reach the public. Furthermore, the government must use various modes of media to release the information including television, radios, websites among others (Hara, 2011). Again, the government must inform the public on necessary measures to address health inequalities, for instance, integrating progress records on initiatives they have implemented.
With respect to local level, there is a wide range of beliefs and practices that greatly influence health status. The majority of people in local areas do not want to change the manner in which they take medication, they still believe in their practices. This is an aspect that contributes to spreading of diseases. At the local level, social care facilities are regarded as ineffective and simply a place for caring for elderly individuals.
Subsequently, local attitudes lead to many national issues. If individuals are not able to reduce the spread of endemic, it is reflected at the national level, which leads to remarkable risks to economic, health and physical issues. Therefore, to reduce while ensuring the country’s population is health, everyone should be involved.
Task 4.2 Evaluation of validity of public attitudes and behaviors
Healthcare is a field that entails creating awareness about health related issues (Willby, 2008). This also entails wide areas associated with social, spiritual, intellectual, physical, and environmental health. This is the basis upon which people learn to conduct themselves in a way that is appropriate to the promotion of health. In many instances, media post news without taking into account the element of empathy.
The variation in public attitude and behaviour can be as a result of the gap in income. The public’s response to social platforms in the promotion of health is positive. As a matter of fact, social platforms are commonly employed to influence individuals’ behaviour towards health. Social promoters use several marketing strategies including placing information in clinics, community outreach, and promotion. Therefore, based on the case study the information will significantly influence public attitude as well as behaviors. In addition, releasing information on elderly abuse in the public will demonstrate the increased health gaps of this group.
In turn, this will contribute to the formation of groups that aims to create awareness about elderly abuse. The groups can also organize peaceful protests to get the government to enact laws that prohibit abuse of elderly. The groups can also educate elderly people about their rights and how to increase their wellbeing. Releasing such data contributes to contemporary thinking in terms of health and social care, which makes the government be effective in the provision of services to all.
Task 4.3 Effects of contemporary thinking
Contemporary thinking in the delivery of health and social care can result in many consequences. For instance, it helps in educating the public about what the government is doing and ways of addressing a given social and health event. Nonetheless, the public should be cautious regarding the sources of the information. Moreover, the public must ensure the information is not only valid, but also reliable (Willby, 2008).
This is because the released data impacts on the public’s attitude, behaviour, and thoughts. Caution should then be considered prior to release. Contemporary thinking involves the utilization of informatics in health and social care, which is imperative in obtaining good outcomes including; management of care setting; team collaboration; and negotiation.
Conclusion
In the end, this paper determined to highlight not just an overview and insight on global health issues, but also the role played by the media to inform the wider society. Accordingly, the public has a pertinent role to play as well. While almost everyone has an obligation towards reporting, individual attitudes and the motive behind reporting is of a great importance .
The national health issues tend to play out in the global sphere. Hence globally major issues tend to happen to owe to the attitudes of local peoples. Again the relevant authorities should take a lead to create public awareness, in healthcare related issues and determine the veracity of publications. While it is vital to champion the notion that the young should always be educated through media, they should always take limited interest in media publications. It is imperative for the public to assess the consistency and legitimacy of media content before they can think of consuming it.
This starts with evaluating not just the information source, but also who is dispensing the information and how the content is disseminated. Some of these sources may include the political class, religious agenda, government sources and lobby groups among others. The public ought to analyse whether or not the information presented is aimed at playing with the public emotions or simply reporting plain facts.
References
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