Abstract
Two separate reports from the Dutch Health Council of Netherlands and Social and Cultural Planning Bureau draw our attention to the tension between certain factors specifically related to healthy aging, namely, vulnerability and independency/functioning independently. Though appearing contradictory, both concepts are very relevant in the elderly health care. Hence, the objective was to develop a conceptual and ethical analysis of vulnerability and independency. To achieve that, we conducted a conceptual analysis of more than 80 scientific and philosophical data collected from Pubmed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Both concepts are mostly defined as separate compartments, thereby missing their intrinsic relationship. For an ethically well-argued analysis of care for the elderly, we present two new definitions in which the concept of dignity provides a fundamental basis of understanding both concepts, which are indeed two human conditions. Furthermore, we underline the implications of the new conceptualization for autonomy, and give some examples of humanly respectful empowerment strategies in the elderly care.
Highlights
Vulnerability, healthy aging, care ethics, dignity. In line with their efforts aimed at offering advices for Dutch government health care policy improvement, the Social Cultural Planning Office (SCP) and Health Council of the Netherlands (HCN; 2009) have published reports of their studies related to healthy aging
If possible, could alternatively be done to improve such situation? These are the issues dealt where we show that the Respect for human dignity (RHD), in our conceptualization, has strong links with the empowerment of the elderly
We have presented a conceptual and ethical analysis of vulnerability and independency as constituents of the elderly care policy aimed at healthy aging
Summary
In line with their efforts aimed at offering advices for Dutch government health care policy improvement, the Social Cultural Planning Office (SCP) and Health Council of the Netherlands (HCN; 2009) have published reports of their studies related to healthy aging. We argue that the international grounding of the RHD forms the basis for understanding the overlapping process of both concepts This means that in healthy aging theories as well as elderly health care, the respect for human vulnerability should in principle and practice be acknowledged. Even though the elderly who were interviewed by SCP have expressed a desire to continue living independently for as long as possible, the concern remains that the increasing number of many other elderly patients may be accompanied by increased expenditure, and disturbed autonomy In their own reports, HCN’s emphasis is that self-management and empowerment are compatible with healthy aging. Skills are required to realize empowerment’s full meaning, or the good type of care that Vernooij-Dassen et al (2011) and Koelen and Lindstrom (2005) have pointed out
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