Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care

UNIT 28: CARING FOR OLDER PEOPLEUnit content1 Understand the ageing processAttitudes: positive and negative attitudes to ageing, stereotypical images of olderpeople, cultural differences to ageing/attitudes to older people, ageismTheories of ageing: sociological/psychological, eg disengagement theory, activitytheory, social creation of dependency; biological, eg disposable soma theory,genetically programmed theory; gender differencesChanges in demography: increase in average life expectancy; smaller families,differences in life expectancy between males and females; changing familypatterns and social isolation of the older person; poverty and old age; the olderworkerIncrease in average life expectancy: potential explanations for, eg improvementsin living conditions, improvements in health care, reduction in harmful workingpractices, improvement in lifestyleAge-related degenerative diseases: eg Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, maculardegeneration, hearing loss, prostate cancer2 Understand the role of the care worker in supporting older peopleRole of the carer in supporting quality of life: eg choice, respect, motivation,self-esteem, independence, planning for changeRole of the carer in supporting older people’s choice and independence: egpromoting a diet to incorporate trace elements and vitamins, develop an exerciseprogramme to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, develop an activity programmedesigned to promote and maintain mental abilities and a positive mental attitude,promote social activities; balance between loss of confidence/self-esteem andsafetyQuality and choice at the end of life: medicalisation of death, informed choice,living wills, legality and ethics of assisted suicide and euthanasia, Erikson’s lifestages — the final stageLegislation and regulations: relevant sections from: eg Human Rights Act 1998,Data Protection Act 1998, Nursing and Residential Care Homes Regulations 1984(amended 2002), Care Standards Act 2000, Age Discrimination Act 2006Conventions: relevant sections from: eg European Convention on Human Rightsand Fundamental Freedoms 1950360BN018467 – Specification – Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care– Issue 1 – February 2007 © Edexcel Limited 2007