World Watch

Sector at a tipping point

The first stage of a review of New Zealand’s aged care system and funding arrangements affirms what stakeholders have known for almost two decades – the sector has long been neglected, reports New Zealand Doctor. Among the review’s findings: there exists an average wait time of six months for people with dementia to receive the care they need, and the country will have a shortfall of 12,000 aged care beds within a decade. In response, advocacy organisation the Aged Care Association warns the sector is at a tipping point. “The second part of the review is critical,” says the ACA. “If we don’t get this right, the consequences will be dire.”

Residents unfairly convicted

Calls have been made for better protections for people living in residential care in Northern Ireland, reports the BBC. The appeals follow reports of a series of unfair evictions. In some cases, residents had lost their care home places because they had made complaints about the services they received or their families were deemed “difficult or undesirable” by staff. Northern Ireland’s commissioner for older people said: “These examples are of non-voluntary transfers for reasons other than a change of healthcare needs and at unreasonably short timescales. These feel like evictions to the residents involved.”

‘Would you like ice with that?’

Spanish researchers have developed a care robot to assist older people with basic daily physical tasks, reports IoT World Today. Dubbed the Autonomous Domestic Ambidextrous Manipulator – or ADAM for short – the robot can perform a number of “tedious or complicated” functions such as carrying objects, moving furniture, sweeping floors, pouring drinks and preparing food. The development team behind ADAM said it stands apart from other care robots due to its adaptability to indoor environments. The robot is also able to learn from its experiences on the job. In future, ADAM will be adapted to perform a wider array of tasks.

Too few services, too many patients

Norway is unprepared for its increasing ageing population and older residents living in rural regions are especially at risk, reports MedicalXpress. Research shows Norwegians over 70 who live in a municipality with fewer than 10,000 people are particularly vulnerable – especially when they are discharged from hospital during periods when the demand for nursing and care services is higher than the jurisdiction can supply. The findings prompted an expert to question whether municipal authorities in Norway are sufficiently prepared for an ageing population. “We need to take a closer look at the municipal services, and it needs to happen now,” she said.

Brazil’s unequal care structure

The social organisation of care in Brazil is unfair and unequal, and left largely to families to provide – especially women, reports gov.br. These findings were voiced at a recently held G20 working group. The group heard women’s unpaid domestic and care work is twice that of men and that 30 per cent of women do not seek employment due to unpaid domestic and care commitments. A proposal is currently being developed to address the structural inequalities of Brazilian society and to promote a culture of co-responsibility between men and women in the family and the wider community.

AI empowering China’s seniors

Artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly important role in elder care, reports People’s Daily Online. Big data, cloud computing, facial recognition, and other cutting-edge technologies have led to a myriad of smart products flooding the market, helping older people lead a better quality of life. AI-powered devices provide services such as monitoring an individual’s health in real time and giving automated alerts. Other tech in use incudes nursing and household robots, intelligent adjustable sofas, shoes with GPS trackers, and airbag fall-prevention clothing.

Ageing population a key priority

The construction of a new geriatric hospital in Barbados is being hailed as “the single most important piece of health infrastructure” in the country since 1964, reports Barbados Loop News. The new hospital complex will provide comprehensive health care services to older people with a focus on wellness, community-based health services, non-institutionalised health care, rehabilitation and long-term care for clients whose medical conditions require hospitalisation. The health minister said government identified elder care as a key priority. “In the coming years, caring for the elderly will be an increasing aspect of society. It is no secret that Barbados is an ageing society.”

Seniors hit the dancefloor

A Belgian initiative developed to combat feelings of loneliness among nursing home residents is getting feet moving in Brussels, reports The Guardian. As part of a series of unconventional activities designed to keep older people active and connected to community, a non-profit organisation – Papy Boom – arranged for 11 aged care residents to dance the night away at Brussel’s largest nightclub. Nine women and two men – the oldest of whom was 98 – stayed out on the town until 3.30am. “These sorts of activities allow us to live again,” said 81-year-old Simone Nestor. “We have the feeling of existing again.”

Plan to improve senior care

The Thai government has introduced a “host family” program, which offers financial support to people willing to take care of poor elderly friends and family, reports the Bangkok Post. The program aims to assist seniors who live alone but need someone to take care of them. Host families able to provide decent care will be paid 3,000 baht a month, which they will be eligible to receive for the remainder of their guest’s life. Applications opened in May.

New rights for senior citizens

A major new law will set a national strategy for the provision of senior care in Egypt, reports Ahram Online. Under the legislation, older people without someone responsible for their care will be exempt from the costs of aged care accommodation. Meanwhile, well-equipped accommodation that offers comprehensive social, health, recreational, and economic care at nursing homes will be deemed essential. Also, the law will help older people better interact with government and non-government services to simplify the country’s social care system. The legislation covers Egyptian citizens aged 65 and older, as well as foreign residents in Egypt who have reached the retirement age in their respective countries.

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