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Treatment and care of elderly persons who are in need of care
Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences
Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences
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e_RL_AeMiA.pdf
Adobe PDF, 192.53 KB
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Abstract
"The demographic development in Switzerland means that over the next few years the number of elderly, mainly very old persons will rise, so that there will also be a marked increase in the number of persons in need of care. This is happening at a time of change in traditional family structures, at a time when values and attitudes are undergoing great changes and more and more importance is being attached to the autonomy of the individual, and at a time of rising health-care costs. All these factors mean that the treatment and care of elderly persons who are in need of care is associated with various different areas of conflict. There may be a conflict between the necessary care and attention on the one hand and respect for the autonomy of an elderly person on the other. A dilemma often exists between the necessary encouragement and activation of an elderly person and his wish to be left in peace. When should a disease be treated and when should there be no therapeutic intervention? Especially in institutions providing longterm care, conflict also exists between privacy and the public nature of a person’s existence, because while an institution represents the private living environment of the elderly person, the care that it provides is at the same time of a collective nature. The discussion regarding costs in the health-care sector has further accentuated the challenges in the treatment and care of elderly persons who are in need of care. In the light of these considerations the following text pursues three objectives: Firstly, it makes it clear that age and the need for care must not lead to the withholding of measures that are deemed necessary; secondly, thanks to the Guidelines1 it offers medical doctors, nursing staff and therapists2 help in making decisions in difficult situations; thirdly, in the Recommendations3 it points out the important requirements and conditions for the effective treatment and care of elderly persons who are in need of care. Also addressed here, however, are institutions that are involved in pregraduate and postgraduate education and further training, as well as political authorities, who are invited to take these present Guidelines and Recommendations into account when making their decisions in the area of the treatment and care of elderly persons who are in need of care, they are called upon to."
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2004
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With permission of the license/copyright holder