The Spanish society of Geriatrics and Gerontology (SEGG) presents the guide of good treatment to older people.

-the majority of cases of ill-treatment for the elderly that go unnoticed, which makes this difficult problem an invisible phenomenon that endangers the integrity physical or mental of the person by Act or omission, whether at family, community or institutional level

Madrid, November 2011- each and every one of us want to have a right to be treated well, and in general, usually the case. However, in certain moments and situations we are treated inadequately.

This same situation can experience the elderly, both in the family as in the institutional field and even through the own media of communication. This possibility leads to the need to detect the different warning signs whose presence jeopardizes good treatment of the elderly, that is why the geriatrics and Gerontology Spanish society has created the guide of good treatment to older people.

This guide will help institutions, family members, caregivers and even the greater person, signs that demonstrated a possible situation of inappropriate treatment or the possibility of that happening.

Signals to begin to act

The SEGG recognizes different warning signs, but to confirm a situation of bad treatment is necessary an assessment detailed and in depth not only the elderly, but also responsible for the possible ill-treatment and the context of the situation.

The SEGG thus classifies these warning signs that everyone must bear in mind when it comes to detect and/or prevent a possible abuse:

-physical signs

are the result of an act or omission which result is physical injury or damage. Most detectable signals are: lack of necessary health care resulting in the presence of ulcers, loss of unusual weight, dehydration, malnutrition, etc. Fail to comply with the prescribed treatment, lack of physical support (glasses, hearing aids, dentures, etc.). Suffering health problems and earnings repeated in hospitals or not attend planned appointments.

-psychological or emotional signals

arise as a result of actions or omissions which cause distress or discomfort in the older person. That person appear powerless or helpless, or you feel anger, anxiety, low esteem, depression and lack of communication. That it is treated as a child, ignored, isolated or do not respect their privacy.

-Sexual signals

are the result of a contact of a nonconsensual sexual nature (injuries and damage in the genital area, venereal diseases, etc.)

-economic signals

misappropriation and/or exploitation of the economic and material resources of the elderly, such as theft, using funds or properties of the person without their consent, withdrawal of money from bank accounts, etc.

-social signals

are the result of negative stereotypes associated with aging, relating to the elderly to derogatory qualifiers: dependent, passive, unproductive, intolerant, conservatives, etc. In addition, the lack of policies and social resources to be able to stay at home, the presence of architectural barriers, the lack of geriatricians in health care or denial of treatment on grounds of age are examples of lack of good treatment.

how they want to be treated older people?

According to the guide of the good treatment to older people, to give good treatment to our elders, we must take into account how they want to be treated:

– elders want to be treated with respect, just like any person, without taking into account their age.

-older people want to be heard, be allowed to express themselves and take into consideration their views and preferences.

– want to be informed in a clear and detailed about their illnesses and on the potential diagnostic, therapeutic or care that exist.

-enable their choice and to not be pressed when they make decisions about their health, the place where they want to live or social aid who want to receive.

-do not blame all their ills at the age or are worrywarts.

-do you feel like a burden because they have health problems or take many medicines.

-patience if they move more slowly or take longer to understand explanations.

– in short, older people want to be treated with kindness, affection and love.

Good treatment should be given in all vital aspects of the older person:

-good treatment in the family: do not leave the family to decide for you, you take charge of your life and therefore have to make the decisions that you consider appropriate in all aspects: personal, social, family and economic. Respects, values and accept tips but keep in mind that you decide.

-good treatment in the Health Center: good treatment has to do with the implementation in the health center of actions to promote, not only the physical and social autonomy of the elderly, but also its moral autonomy and prevent the functional unit, helping them to achieve to reach the highest quality of life possible.

-good treatment at the hospital: the majority of hospital resources are not adapted to the characteristics of elderly patients. For the management of these patients must exceed the concept used often and rarely put into the practice of the identification ”. Pretend that an elderly patient, pluripatológico and often with one or more geriatric syndromes adapts to the health system rather than adapt us to them is definable as absence of good treatment.

-good try neighbors: the community must know and recognize the value of persons of advanced age and his starring role in the life of the community. Likewise elders will know that they have the same rights and obligations as the rest of the neighbors and integrate it into your life everyday.

-good treatment in the city: the problems of mobility are Visual, auditory, limitations, and many other common, especially in older people. We have designed and design cities behind older persons. The accessibility or inaccessibility from any point of view (movement, pedestrian areas, signs, sound and many others) may condition and, in fact, conditions which the elderly can carry out a life standard.

-good treatment in the media: show aging as one stage of life rescuing the values that embody the elderly. Include older persons in all kinds of information, on equal footing with others, avoiding derogatory and discriminatory language that helps reinforce social stereotypes. Avoid paternalism and flee the drama and sensationalism.