Between two worlds.
editorial · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 24316054.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1016/j.pec.2013.10.011.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To reflect on the challenges of caring for an elderly ill parent who lives afar and to pronounce the importance of system-wide standards in nursing homes and elderly care. METHOD: Personal memoire in which the author conjures up powerful images of contrasting healthcare systems and the tension of living in two countries. RESULTS: The author discusses many aspects of healthcare for the elderly. Some of the pictures depicted include the picture of a gradually declining memory of an Alzheimer's disease patient and the challenges of elderly care. CONCLUSION: There is a value of medical knowledge, an importance of nursing homes designs and regulation, and a significance of simple concepts such as a "do-not-resuscitate" order. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Care for the elderly can be exhausting physically and emotionally; system-wide changes and standards are important in minimizing its impact.