Bernhard Mann
University of Koblence-Landau, Germany
Title: The supply of the disabled becoming elderly by the capability approach by Amartya Sen
Biography
Biography: Bernhard Mann
Abstract
The demographic chance of the human population is globally. The number of elderly is growing: Year 1988 – 416.000.000 are 60+. Year 2025 – 806.000.000 (72 % in developing countries). As well as the life expectation of adult handicaps is increasing too. In FRG, 60+ seriously handicapped with 100 % by nearly 800 000. Familiy care for the handicaps could not be guaranteed. Parents are stressed, getting ill or come to the end of life. A system of care for the adult handicaps will be very important. They have to cope with cumulative problems such as physical, psychological and social straints. This phenomenon is known as multiple jeopardy. The question will be how to create a valuable life for an indivdual in order to improve the capabilities. Systems for care of the elderly cannot be transfered easily among countries, as the WHO approach is told. A scientific way about prevention and health promotion gives Armatya Sen (novel prize 1998) with the capability approach. It is defined by it´s choice of focus upon the significance of individual´s capability of achieving the kind of live they have reason to value. To make sure that there is an individual orientated intervention - as already suggested in the UN Charta - the following capabilities of health and social integration should to be considered: (1) a stabilization of the success in socialization and resilience, (2) a greater cooperation between medical, social and caring powers as elementary instruments of the development of organziation in inpatient and outpatient institutions and (3) a sensivity of generation-bounded experiences of ageing disabled. Mico-sociological there is to regard their specific competences achieved by many years of coping with their personal disabilities on a field of psycho-social capabilities. Important are agencies for the development of functioning and capabilites: (1) by building up a staff with physio-therapists, occupational-therapists and supervisors of staff-planing, (2) by building up healthy organizations and self-help-organizations and 3) by creating strong welfare institutions. Public health and health care will be very important.