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Impact of the aging population on healthcare
Fall prevention in the hospitalized elderly patients
Fall prevention in the hospitalized elderly patients
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The population of the United States has a rapid growing populace of older adults. It is said that by the year 2050, there will be 80 million people that are older than the age of 65. While many may just consider this to be a factoid it is an important glimpse into what the healthcare field will require. Although there are many healthy older adults, the longer a person lives the more likely there are to have ailment. These ailments can be small or they can painstakingly chronic. These health disparities will increase the expenses of this nation. Elderly Americans simply require more healthcare; therefore, it makes sense that their care costs three to five times of that than a younger person. As a person ages, the healing process slows, so they take longer to rehabilitate and have more chronic conditions. People are living longer because there are better treatment regimens and a higher selection of medications, but the economic standing of many elderly people does not meet the needs of their daily living and their medical costs (Allender, Rector and Warner, 2014). The elderly are a vulnerable population due to a lack of resources and an increased rate of health problems. There must be no discrimination of care; no matter the age, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic standing every person deserves to be treated justly when it comes to their health. The term ageism is often thrown around due to the increasing population of elderly people that have a need for employment or life-saving care. Ageism is discrimination of a person based on their age. This is not appropriate in any setting, but in healthcare it needs to be removed for the psyche of all health professionals. Although some elderly may be ailing to complex conditions, other m... ... middle of paper ... ...te. Kristi is an avid coffee drinker, which is a habit she has no intention of shaking. Kristi does not usually partake in the consumption of dairy because she has been intolerant of lactose since she was in her late forties. Kristi maintains a healthy diet that helps to control her weight and hypertension. She is a food conscious person. Evidence of Falls: There is no evidence of falls that could not happen to a person of any age. Kristi has fallen while attempting to teach herself to rollerblade, which she recognizes now as a poor decision. A second fall was in association with yard work. There was a deep, but narrow hole that her ankle slipped into. This resulted on a fall. She is aware that this may become a more prominent problem as her and her husband age, so they plan to have assist devices installed when they more to a new home. Family Assessment Tool:
African American senior citizens face a health care crisis too. They have worked all of their lives to secure retirement, but their retirement has been threatened because of the rising cost of long-term medical care. Insurance companies have failed to provide affordable long-term care, protection that most senior citizens need. This lack of long term care and affordability has been a serious problem for the health care system. In some cities, the shortage of hospital beds is so serious that it is common for patients to stay in emergency rooms before they can be admitted to an inpatient room (Drake 109). More than one thousand hospital beds are occupied by people who could be better care for in nursing homes or through home health care (Drake 110). Of the disabled elderly 1.3 million reside in nursing homes (Drake 10). These patients are unable to perform two or more of the basic activities of daily living without assistance.
Age and Ageism discrimination in the National Health Service is mirrors ageism and age discrimination in society at large. It is a major fact to appraise issues of ageism and age discrimination in the United Kingdom society as a whole. “Whenever a clinical stone is turned over, ageism is revealed.” (Young, 2006, Opinion) I have come to realise that ageism is broader than the unfairness among the elderly age, it refers to deeply rooted negative beliefs about older people and the way they age, which may influence age discrimination. (McGlone and Fitzgerald, 2005, Study)
In order to make ones’ health care coverage more affordable, the nation needs to address the continually increasing medical care costs. Approximately more than one-sixth of the United States economy is devoted to health care spending, such as: soaring prices for medical services, costly prescription drugs, newly advanced medical technology, and even unhealthy lifestyles. Our system is spending approximately $2.7 trillion annually on health care. According to experts, it is estimated that approximately 20%-30% of that spending (approx. $800 billion a year) appears to go towards wasteful, redundant, or even inefficient care.
There are profound effects of ageism that can be harmful to a patient’s overall health. Ageism can cause physicians to consistently treat older patients unequally compared to younger adults. Unequal treatment can be divided into the under-treatment of symptoms and the over-treatment of symptoms. The imbalance in how a physician would treat a geriatric patient is ageist because the older adult is not getting fair treatment in every case. Under-treatment and over-treatment are different; however, they are both equally as harmful to a patients health.
The goal for most people as they grow older and into senior years, is to remain independent and in their own home. However with more senior citizens remaining in their home and some living alone, safety becomes a big issue. Many items that we may find harmless, such as an unsecured rug, can be a hazard for an elderly person. In this paper I will introduce you to my senior mentor and explain the findings of the home assessment I conducted for him.
The goal of the Healthy People 2020 initiative is to “improve the health, function, and quality of life of older adults.” (Healthy People, 2015) Regardless of age, everyone is a unique individual, with the same range of values, gifts and flaws as any other person. Young nurses need to help aging people keep their autonomy as long as possible by not doing things for them that they can do for themselves. As nurses, our ultimate goal should be to expand training and research opportunities in this area and eliminate ageism in all facets.
Attitudes are the foundation of quality of care for older adults. Among health care professionals, discrimination and stereotypical behaviors are very prevalent, even though more often than not these individuals do not realize their actions are ageist. “Ageism hinders people from seeing the potential of aging, anticipation their own aging, and being responsive to the needs of older people” (McGuire, Klein & Shu-Li, 2008, p. 12). Attitudes are directly correlated with how individuals age and whether individuals stay health and live longer (McGuire, Klein & Shu-Li, 2008, p. 12). The care that older adults receive from healthcare professionals is directly influenced by that provider’s attitude about growing older. All too often, health care providers rely on a patient’s chronological age rather than their functional age when determining their needs and what interventions are prescribed. Another issue lies in providers viewing the complaints of older patients as a part of “normal aging”, therefore potentially missing life-threatening problems that may have been easily resolved. “Age is only appropriate in health treatment as a secondary factor in making medical decisions, and it should not be used as a stand-alone factor” (Nolan, 2011, p. 334).
Shaw, A. B. “In Defence of Ageism.” Journal of medical ethics 20.3 (1994): 188–194. Print.
Healthcare is one of the major issues that America faces today. The health insurance companies are destroying America’s health care system by raising their premiums and deductibles. One great concern, access to health care is definitely on the decline. As of 2007, more than 75 million adults-42 percent of all adults ages 19 to 64- were either uninsured or underinsured (Commonwealth Fund Commission 9). The health care system in America needs a complete overhaul, reform.
As the population of the United States ages and lifespan increases, the U.S. is being faced with challenges that could either hurt the country or benefit it if plans are executed correctly. By the year 2050, more than thirty-two million Americans will be over the age eighty and the share of the 80-plus generation will have doubled to 7.4 percent. Health care and aging population has become a great deal considering the impact it is having on the U.S. The United States is heading into another century with an outstanding percentage of people within the aging population. Today’s challenges involving health care and the aging populations are the employees of health professions being a major percentage of the aging population, the drive into debt, and prevention and postponement of disease and disability.
According to DeBrew, author of “Can being ageist harm your older adult patients?” stereotypes and discrimination are evident in various aspects of patient care. “Ageism [is] defined as stereotyping or discrimination aimed at older adults and a lack of knowledge about normal changes of aging and presentation of illness in older adults (. . .)” (DeBrew, 2015). DeBrew (2015) states, “research findings suggest that ageism is common in healthcare” (DeBrew, 2015). Ageism is not only an issue in the healthcare setting, but also among older adults as well as their families. When ageism is present in the healthcare setting it poses
Today, world’s population is aging at a very fast pace and United States is no exception to this demographic change. According to the U.S Census Bureau, senior citizens will be accounted for 21% of the American population in 2050 (Older Americans, 2012). Although living longer lives may not seem like a negative sign, living longer does not necessarily mean living healthier. Older adults of today are in need of long-term and health care services more than any generation before them (Older Americans, 2012). Because of the growing need for senior care, millions of families are facing critical decisions on how to provide care for their parents. In addition, declining birthrates may cause people to have less familial care and support as they age. To be able to provide the necessary care for senior citizens government funded long term care insurance program is needed.
The Elderly individuals face problems like Ageism. The older society is not given the same options in treatment as the younger society. The Elderly who battle cancer do not receive chemotherapy like the younger generation. Some people believe that doctors are genuinely worried about their patients and others believe that age discrimination is the reason of treatment discrepancy (Dockter & Keene, 2009).
According to estimates, approximately 141 million people in the United States suffer from one or more chronic illness.1 This estimate is projected to significantly increase over the next decade; almost every other American may be living with one or more chronic condition.2 The trend in per capita spending portrays a very similar pattern. Chronic illnesses constitute 75% of total health care expenditures annually; spending is projected to triple from $ 273 to $818 billion by 2030 for cardiovascular diseases, for example.3 High expenditures associated with chronic illnesses are driven primarily by high hospital admission rates (including readmissions) and emergency care use.4 It is not surprising to learn that chronic illnesses contribute significantly to the leading causes of premature death in the United States with cardiovascular diseases leading the list (Figure 1).
In recent decades, Americans are living longer than they once did, and are required to work past what is considered average retirement age. The updated life expectancy for men is predicted to be at 77.1, and women will be at 81.9 years by 2020 (University of Southern California , 2017). Considering the changes in life expectancy, the economy and individuals working past middle age, maintaining health and wellness while maturing has become quite challenging. Between 2010 and 2020 those who are over the age of 65 and still working are projected to have an 80% increase, and only anticipated to advance more within the coming years (University of Southern California , 2017). The changes in the society, and economy that are effecting the ageing