Happy Nurses' Day 2012!

Dapithapon

“A test of a people is how it behaves toward the old. It is easy to love children. Even tyrants and 

dictators make a point of being fond of children. But the affection and care for the old, the incurable, the helpless are the true gold mines of a culture.”

--Abraham J. Heschel

Most of us have this feeling of not wanting to grow old. Personally, growing old is one of my many fears. Hair loss, wrinkles, poor vision, lessened hearing ability and decreased functioning are just some of those many changes that comes with old age but it is not the reason why I am scared of becoming old. These physical changes are inevitable part of the aging process and everyone will experience it someday. 

What is it that I fear about growing old?

After watching the documentary film "Dapithapon", I was finally able to answer myself. Growing old alone is what truly frightens me! Having no one to share your sentiments in life can be very depressing and lonely. 

Looking at the life of Lola Anching and Lola Lydia on how in a very old age they still manage to earn a living is deeply hurting. With their condition, they should be just relaxing and enjoying the rest of their days but because of poverty they couldn't just sit around. Just like in the case of Lola Anching who is hoping to somehow help her family by selling goods in the street. I was greatly moved how she is sacrificing to sleep in the doorstep of their house because there was no more room 

for her to stay in.

The film does not only portray the issue of poverty but as well as the lack of care and concern of the

family for the elderly. It was also shown in the documentary the life of many abandoned elderly inside the home for the aged center wherein they are being taken care of strangers instead of their own relatives. Being part of the family, our grandmothers and grandfathers have the right to be loved and cared of.

Lessons Learned:

• Patience and respect is what they really needed. Taking care of the elderly will really test our patience so by putting ourselves in their position can somehow help us to understand them better. Let us make them feel that they are appreciated and well respected by listening in whatever they have to say.

• Be thankful for everything. In spite their unfortunate living condition, Lola Anching and Lola Lydia has still something to be thankful of: they are still surviving!

Care for the elderly: family or government's responsibility?

Both the family and the government have the responsibility of giving care and assistance to the older population. According to the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines Article XV The family Section IV, "The family has the duty to care for its elderly members but the state may also do so through just programs of social security. The government has vital role in encouraging the families to care for the elderly by formulating and implementing policies.

Should they be discouraged from earning their living?

The government has the duty to assist those senior citizens who still wishes to work and is capable to do so by providing them of information and services which will help them to be productive. Training programs to develop or enhance their skills will be implemented by some of the government agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

If they still have the capability to work and if that is really what they want then let us give them the opportunity to be fruitful but not to the point that the burden of supporting the family for a living will still be on their shoulder.

other videos: 
Dapithapon (2 of 5)
Dapithapon (3 of 5)
Dapithapon (5 of 5)

References:

• Natividad, et al (2005). Caring for the Older Person. UP Open University.
• Philippine Constitutional Law. Retrieved from http://www.chanrobles.com/article15family.htm
• Republic Act no. 9257. retrieved from http://www.chanrobles.com/republicactno9257.htm

Let's talk about the Ageing Population

Population ageing is considered to be a global trend which can affect the social and economic aspect of the country.  It has also a great impact on the health of the people. As mentioned in the modules, population ageing is addressed by countries in a different way as influenced by their own culture.

UAE at a glance

I am working here in United Arab Emirates for almost 4 years now and I can say that the local people here are very fortunate because they are well taken cared of by the government. When it comes to Education, housing and health care, UAE Nationals are almost free. Almost every services are funded by the government. Cost of Health care for all ages is never an issue for them.

Just like in a typical Filipino culture, the family has full participation in taking care of their elderly members. For them, senior citizens can be a great source of guidance and wisdom. One can learn from their experiences that is why most often the advices from the elderly matters a lot to them. There are also available government programs for them which give a comprehensive health care services including social security. 

Home care services are also offered to elderly people. This is catered by a team which includes nurses, medical technologists, physical therapist and doctors. They visit elderly at home to follow-up their health care. Wound care for pressure sore and diabetic foot ulcer, checking of vital signs and blood sugar, physical therapy and laboratory exams are just some of the services provided.

Philippine scenario

Elderly are faced with numerous health problems so they require assistance and special kind of care and unfortunately not all of them are lucky to receive it. That is very true in the Philippines, wherein not everyone can afford the health care services and the country’s resources is not enough to support the needs of these people.

Somehow, efforts had been made by the government to ensure adequate health care for the elderly. According to the Expanded Senior Citizen’s Act of 2010, senior citizens are entitled to a 20% discounts with VAT exemption. But let’s face it; this medical discount for senior citizens is not enough guarantee that the elderly are getting appropriate and quality health care. I pity those elderly who has no resources and no family at all. Who will ensure that they will get the appropriate care they need?

In addressing the challenges of the aging population, the government and the people should work hand in hand with each other. Here are some of the possible solutions:

• The government should continue to provide programs which will protect the well being of the older population. Collaboration with the private sectors in providing a more accessible health care for the elderly population in an affordable cost.
• We should continue to uphold our culture which values strong family ties. Love, understanding and care must be extended to the elderly member of our family. 
• While we are still active and able to work, take the opportunity to save for the future.

References:

1.      Natividad, et al (2005). Caring for Older Person. UP Open University.

2.      Enriquez, K. G. (2010, February 26). RA No. 9994: The Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010. Retrieved from http://www.pwc.com/ph/en/taxwise-or-otherwise/2010/RA-9994-expanded-senior-citizens-act-2010.jhtml

3.      Seniors in Abu Dhabi. Retrieved from http://www.abudhabi.ae/egovPoolPortal_WAR/appmanager/ADeGP/Citizen?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=p_citizen_en_homepage_hidenav&did=279778&lang=en#279780

4.      Gaston, G. World Population Collapse: Lessons for the Philippines. Retrieved from http://lifeissues.net/writers/gas/gas_01populationcollapse.html

Nursing Theories

In our profession, caring for our patient is always our top priority. It should be the central focus of nursing. But CARE alone is not enough; UNDERSTANDING should always come along with it. I believe that CARING plus UNDERSTANDING equals QUALITY Nursing Care.

Caring + Understanding (Knowledge) = Quality Nursing Care.

But how do we better understand our patient? How do we know what they need and how do we give it to them? This is where the importance of nursing theory comes in. It helps to guide Assessment of patient’s needs, its appropriate intervention to satisfy the identified needs and evaluation on how effective the interventions are. Nurses use nursing theory to a certain point of view about patient care. A more accurate understanding will lead to better diagnosis, interventions and treatments. 

Theories undoubtedly created a major impact not only in Nursing Practice but as well as in my personal life.

Thanks God, Theories exist! Here are some of the Theories and how they influenced my life.

1.      Theory of Bandura about Self-efficacy.

            When I was in college, we conducted the thesis about the relationship of confidence level of nursing students and effective performance of nursing Procedures. We sought to find out if confidence affects the performance of nursing students in the clinical area. We are guided by the theory of Bandura. His theory is all about Self-efficacy. A strong sense of efficacy enhances human accomplishment and personal well-being in many ways. People with high assurance in their capabilities approach difficult tasks as challenges to be mastered rather than as threats to be avoided. Such an efficacious outlook fosters intrinsic interest and deep engrossment in activities. They set themselves challenging goals and maintain strong commitment to them. They heighten and sustain their efforts in the face of failure. They quickly recover their sense of efficacy after failures or setbacks. They attribute failure to insufficient effort or deficient knowledge and skills which are acquirable. They approach threatening situations with assurance that they can exercise control over them. Such an efficacious outlook produces personal accomplishments, reduces stress and lowers vulnerability to depression.—(Albert Bandura, 1994). With the help of this theory we are able to prove that there exist a relationship between confidence and effective performance of nursing procedure.

            Thanks to Bandura, I finished my thesis.

2.      Theory of Madeleine Leininger: Transcultural Nursing.

Working here in UAE for almost 3 ½ years allow me to meet people from different walks of life. It is very important for me to learn the culture of my patient in order for me to give appropriate nursing care. Only by being familiar with a patient’s individuality and subsequently incorporating their cultural requirements into the nursing process will be able to provide holistic nursing care.

Thanks to Leininger Im surviving here in UAE.

deadly nightmares

Scared of deadly nightmare.

“One night, I was asleep and I suddenly woke up. I thought I was awake but I am not.

I was still lying on my bed, it was dark but I can still somehow see my surroundings.

I wanted to get up but I can’t. I am unable to move my body.

I screamed but it seems like no voice is coming out of my mouth. My brother was deeply asleep beside me so he doesn’t know that I’m struggling to move and fighting to breathe. If only he knew for sure he will try to wake me up.  I struggled. I struggled hard for my life.”

            This was my first experience of “bangungot”. I don’t know exactly the English word for it so I personally termed it as a “deadly nightmare” because every time I have this kind of dream, it feels like someone is trying to kill me. I cannot move and I can’t breathe. Moving my big toe while praying at the same time helps me wake up every time I experienced this horrible nightmare. 

I was in high school when I first had this kind of scary dream. My dad used to experience the same thing so he knew what I’m going through most of the night. He told me that it’s related to high salt intake especially before going to bed. I researched about it in the internet. It says there that most of the people who died because of it have hemorrhagic pancreatitis based on autopsy findings.

            How Kurt Lewin’s Change Theory helped me modify my lifestyle:

1.      Stage 1: Unfreezing         
“understanding that change was necessary”

I was scared. Nights with this deadly nightmares became more frequent, I told myself that its time for me to change. What motivate me to modify my lifestyle in terms of dietary habit of high salt intake, is the fear of death. I know that I need to do something or I will just end up dead one night.

2.      Stage 2: Moving (Change or Transition)            
“moving towards a new way”

My dad really helped me a lot by being so strict in my diet. He was also advised to have a low salt diet because of his hypertension so we went through with it together. Ketchup, fish sauce and “toyo-mansi” (Soy Sauce with Kalamansi) are not allowed. I also avoid eating pancit canton and chips including Pringles (sour cream flavor was my favorite).

3.      Stage 3: Refreezing                      
“establishing stability and internalizing the change”

After a month of modifying my diet, scary nights became less. It was not much of a problem to me anymore. I can now sleep peacefully and deeply. When my dad died a year ago, I totally get rid of it. Until now I never experience the same scary night.

… Maybe my dad took it away from me? Or is it the effect of change? ...

REFERENCE:

Kurt Lewin Change Management Model. Retrieved from http://www.change-management-coach.com/kurt_lewin.html

summer is all about adventure.

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she stalks in the night like a disastrous beast...