Mental Health/ Aged Care Elective

Mental Health/ Aged Care Elective

Introduction

The paper aims at addressing Australian perspective on aged care. It investigates literature on residential aged care in Australia to draw authentic and rigorous evaluation of ethical and legal implications within the domain of aged care. The paper undertakes evaluation of recommended literature and readings to outlines reasons and factors that have contributed to the fear of autonomy and dignity among aged residents.

In addition to this, paper scrutinizes various ways and measures that can be adopted by nursing practices to foster improved care of aged residents. In the light of evidence collected through literature, the paper draws conclusion on the overall understanding of subject matter.

Discussion

Recent developments in health care setting have made dignity an important component of ethics in the health care practices. However, ethical health issues have arisen from the difference between health services perception of elderly and carers' and health professionals. Recent ethical dilemmas are primarily concerned with the right of dementia patients to know truth about their health status and justice issues related to elder citizen's dignity (Krohn, n.d.). There are several factors that have contributed to diverse standards of care and poor aged care system, in Australia.

Moreover, patient safety is another ethical principle within the discipline of aged health cares. Avoiding harm to patient may become difficult in a situation where health care professionals face conflict between this ethical principle and their responsibility to tell the truth (Itulua-Abumere, 2012).

Literature on Aged Care in Australia

According to Radermacher et. al. (2008), aging population has been recognized as demographic phenomenon, which is creating substantial challenges for countries, such as Australia. On an international framework, policy makers, researchers and health professionals are destined to maintain the well being of aged people as their prime concern (Andrews, 2002; Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, 2005; Yang et. al., 2006). According to research, aging well may have significant influence on communities, individuals and families. Additionally, it may impact the economic cost of health services, which are offered to aged people (Radermacher et. al., 2008).

According to recent statistics, proportion of aged Australian citizens is expected to grow from 12%-18% by 2021, which has posed serious concerns for health care professionals. Family break up and mobility have been linked with the underlying factors of improper elderly care. Additionally, changing attitude of carers and society towards elderly people has raise questions about moral and ethical guidelines that set boundaries for human behaviour.

In the Australian context, recent literature studies have spot-lighted the growing challenge of multi-cultural society. According to statistics, a quarter of Australian population represents overseas-born citizens reflecting a slightly greater proportion of people with age 65 and above. In comparison to 10.9% Australian born people, there are 17.7% aged individuals among the overseas Australian population (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008).

Literature studies claim that the most fundamental short fall of Australian aged care system is the weak perception of society and health industry about aged care. Typically, aged care is viewed as a system of ...