Caring as we would like to be cared for
Proyectos
Caring for people is an issue that, despite being of great importance, is currently not given as much visibility as we would like. According to the latest data from the National Health Survey (2011- 2012), 45.5% of people over 65 years of age have some type of functional dependence, related to personal care, household chores and/or mobility. For people over 85 years of age, this figure rises to 85.0%.
The progressive aging of Spanish society makes it necessary to reflect on how to guarantee the care of the elderly in the near future, especially those who inevitably need to be cared for.
The recognition of the profound changes that are taking place in today's society are drawing a social scenario that makes it difficult for the care of the elderly to continue to be sustained entirely within the family environment and leads us to rethink how to facilitate a transfer of care that respects both the will of the caregiver and the person being cared for.
This project is the result of a broad participatory action-research process, promoted by Obra Social "la Caixa", and presents opinions, perceptions and social representations on care and dependence in the field of aging.
Methodology
The reflection process integrates different methodological techniques, qualitative and quantitative, for the collection and analysis of information:
- Qualitative study "Care in dependency relationships".
- Documentary review on aging and care.
- In-depth interviews with experts and professionals.
- Survey on preferences and expectations of priests.
- Workshops with professionals involved in the attention and care of the elderly.
Results
Among the results of this project, it is worth highlighting the elaboration of a charter on aging and care that promotes and reinforces the social value of care. This material is the result of a process of reflection and debate on the dimensions of care and its consequences according to the opinion of different social agents who are close to this reality from perspectives that include the following dimensions:
- Knowledge and information about perceptions, desires and fears regarding the need to give or receive care.
- Good treatment of the elderly in need of assistance, preserving as far as possible their capacity to decide and respecting their decisions.
- Harmonization of the caregiver-being cared for binomial, giving voice to the needs of caregivers and those who need help, in order to reach a consensus on expectations regarding care.
- Identification of innovative interventions in the field of prevention.
Year
Project status
Professionals
Other Professionals
- Daniel Prieto
- Javier Yanguas