The elderly ones are most vulnerable. They need a more conducive environment to have a sustained good living. As people grow older, they become more prone to sicknesses diseases and disabilities. In Haiti, many of the aged care living in pitiful conditions being faced with many risk factors. The aged in Haiti today are not expected to live longer due to the present situation of the country.
Over 200 000 people above age 60 have been displaced since the earthquake in January 2010. With the lack of food, water and other necessities, older adults in Haiti are more susceptible to health issues because their bodies are less resilient against dehydration.
Some critical problems battling the aged in Haiti
Poverty
Although the prevailing poverty in Haiti is not exclusive to the older adults, it’s more rampant among them. Based on the national median income statistics, the prevalence of poverty among the older adults in Haiti sums up to 60 percent. In the category of people older than 65 years, only a few aged men and women live comfortably in the current unhealthy economy.
Many older adults cannot afford to pay for medical care or drugs. They lie inside their homes with whatever diseases in the body until the situation gets worse and result in disability or even death. Many that can afford dugs are not educated enough to use the medication according to doctor’s prescription.
In addition, many aged eat unhealthy foods that endanger their health. They lack money to buy and even people to help. An average aged man or woman in Haiti does not complete the daily three square meal. Poverty is increasingly killing older adults in Haiti.
Injury
Injuries from falls are the lead causes of diseases and disabilities on older adults. It causes fracture and thereby leads to serious medical interventions or hospitalization. Sometimes the injuries may result in many functional limitations that stir up the need for long term care while long term care means long term expenses. As mentioned earlier, many aged are not rich enough to afford admission into nursing homes not to talk of paying hospital bills for a long time.
As people continue to grow older, they become more fragile. Meanwhile, frailty increases the risk of falls. About 30 to 50 percent of people above age 65 fall each year. The good news is that falls are preventable if the necessary injury-prevention measures are observed. Unhealthy ageing is harmful and can result in premature death. Poor nutrition, physical inability and harmful use of alcohol are also factors that contribute to the development of the chronic conditions.
Loneliness, social isolation and exclusion
Loneliness, social exclusion and social isolation are determinants and risk factors of unhealthy living among older adults. Loneliness and social restrictions seriously affect every aspect of the health and well-being of older adults. More than often, the aged are constantly battling with mental health, the risk of maltreatment, the risk of emergency admissions to medical centers and hospitals for severe ailments.
Most of the older adults are left to themselves. Nobody to cater to their needs, help them with foods, medications, run errands and more. The lonely state does nothing less than worsening their health conditions. Loneliness and social isolation mostly result in depression.
Depression is another major health problem that threatens the lives of older adults. More than half of the aged in Haiti h are frequently diagnosed as victims of depression. The terrible situation of the country that aids poverty, lack of food, and shelter can be a major reason for the high level of depression among the aged.
Old age maltreatment
In Haiti, some older adults are being maltreated. Maltreatment, in this case, means physical, mental and financial abuse as well as neglect. The present economy is not favorable to the aged. While younger people are struggling to survive, nobody cares about older adults. The public does not mostly consider them. They are not active in the labor force, qualified to play certain roles in the society, and are not partaking in the affairs of the economy.
Maltreatment affects both physical and mental well-being of the older adults and if not quickly attended to, can reduce the quality of life and survival. It may also result in physical malfunctioning of the body if it tampers with mental well-being.
The appropriate care
With the establishment aged support programs, we have helped several lonely and socially isolated older people in different communities. We are committing our time and efforts to ensure the older adults are well served.
Our caretakers offer practical help to foster healthy and comfortable living. Ageing is an important factor that limits the effectiveness and productivity of older adults. The elderly, especially the underprivileged ones, are in a condition that requires more care and attention to sustain a sound physical, mental and social health.
The Illuminating Lives Foundation love older adults, and we always ensure that they enjoy the necessities of life while staying active and healthy. Over the past years, the foundation has been catering for the aged through consistent visitation with food supplies, medical treatments, beautiful clothes that fits for different weathers and seasons.
We focus on providing special personal adult care which includes:
- Helping the aged to prepare delicious, healthy meals at the appropriate time, ensuring that they feed well.
- Assisting the older adults do the daily home sanitation activities by helping them to clean all the items in the home, take care of their laundries and help them rearrange the home.
- Provision of financial support to the aged to help them live beyond the poverty line.
- Provision of domestic assistant to for the aged to help with domestic chores and assist them in running errands.
- Helping older adults to communicate with their distanced family members or relatives through mobile phones and helping them answer their calls appropriately.
Guiding the older adults against unhealthy activities and helping them take their medications in compliant with doctor’s prescription.
