Лечение аллергии-Allergy treatment

Old age is, and must be seen to be by society, a success story. The fact that the elderly are more prone to lots of different illnesses should not detract from this. Most elderly people live completely fit and independent lives. For those that do fall ill much can be done, and for most the condition can be cured or substantially alleviated.

Chronic conditions by their very nature will always be with the elderly in one form or another. To accept this fact as inevitably leading to dependence is wrong. Active rehabilitation can postpone dependence indefinitely, remembering that dependence in old age is not due to old age but to ill health. The aim must be to envisage old age as a time of enjoyment, with health problems tackled as vigorously as in the young. There will always be some for whom early and accurate diagnosis, full treatment and rehabilitation will be insufficient and in whom the underlying disease process will continue. This is certainly true of Alzheimer’s dementia. However there is some evidence that a caring environment accompanied by techniques such as reality orientation can postpone further rapid deterioration so that the disease only progresses gradually, leaving most sufferers a good quality of life for many years.

It is to be hoped that, with continuing public and professional education, ‘ageism’ in all areas diminishes. It is morally wrong and financially absurd to spend vast sums of money on a large group of people at the end of their disease process, placing them in institutions instead of ensuring prevention and early detection of disease. The old have as valid and worthy a stake in preventive medicine as any other age group. The pendulum has a long way to swing before the elderly receive the same kind of publicity associated with, say, child immunization projects, child abuse, AIDS, smoking, etc. All are important. Why are the elderly less important than others?

Parts of this awareness and consciousness-raising of health issues in the elderly will inevitably lead to more preventive work and early recognition of diseases by the primary health care team – GPs, nurses, health visitors, etc. This means that all health care professionals will have to keep abreast of current developments in all fields of health care in the elderly. The GP is a vital and powerful gatekeeper when it comes to the early detection and treatment of ill health in old age; this is especially the case in confusional states, where delay in diagnosis can be disastrous.

Education concerning health matters is needed not only at all professional levels but also in the lay press. If glossy magazines were to publish as many articles on the early recognition of conditions that may cause confusional states or other medical conditions common in the elderly as they do articles on how to detect breast lumps, they may well increase their circulation. They would also provide insight and knowledge to at least three generations of women instead of the one or two generations they aim at now – the children and grandchildren of our current elderly.

For many the present and future dilemma is how to cope with a relative with dementia. To cope adequately a carer must understand the condition and how it may progress. It means knowing what to do in certain circumstances and where to go for practical help, advice and support. It means having a network of both professional and informal help, of not coping with the burden alone. Coping means knowing the law, getting the entitlements and most importantly it means understanding the system to get the information, the help and the support.

The caring continues as it always has done – there appears to be no decline in these acts of self-sacrifice. And it will continue as long as the carers are met at least halfway by the state. The provision of fundamental information and practical help with the caring role, and support during emotional strain, family upheavals, etc., can come from both statutory and voluntary concerns. The statutory sector, however, cannot shirk its responsibilities and expect the voluntary sector to pick up all the pieces. The role of the carer and all its implications have to be publicly recognized by the state and due credit given. Financial help must be widened and increased, because the caring performed by individuals is not only beyond price; it is beyond the capabilities of any health service to match, no matter how that service is funded.

For too long the care of the elderly in all aspects has been known as a Cinderella specialty. It is time for Cinders to go to the ball and for the clock to remain perpetually at one minute to midnight. Fairy godmothers may be a bit hard to come by, but dedication, commitment and a pride in the work is available in abundance.

The medical and social difficulties associated with old age will not go away; indeed they will increase. We know the problems and we have the solutions. All that is needed is the social and political commitment and then perhaps most of us will have a happier old age.

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