Elderly Persons’ Quality of Care Can Be Improved by Nursing Care
In Dr. Calvin Hirsch’s opinion, the number of people 65 and older in the United States is steadily rising, now numbering at 46 million. A near-tripling of the population is predicted by the year 2060. As they make the move from independent to dependent, many suffer from a variety of chronic diseases and are on a wide range of drugs. John A. Hartford Foundation’s Age-Friendly Health Systems effort is a collaboration with Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the American Hospital Association to enhance health systems that are more welcoming to older individuals.
Reimbursement of medical expenses is an issue that continues to be debated. There are several obstacles to providing adequate care for the elderly, according to a number of studies. There are a number of obstacles that stem from payment structures and the absence of reimbursements. Some studies have shown that payment policies may impact treatment quality by lowering the number of operations done on elderly patients. According to other research, improving the quality of treatment for older persons by focusing on low-income patients may enhance the overall health of the health care system.
Providing high-quality care to the elderly requires educating them about their own needs. The aging process affects older persons’ capacity to live independently and manage their health issues because of changes in sensory and musculoskeletal function. An elderly person’s capacity to acquire self-care techniques may be hampered if he or she has deteriorated eyesight or hearing. Physical impediments to learning may be seen by nurses, who should be on the lookout for these signs.
In order to promote healthy living and safeguard persons from dangerous occurrences, the health system infrastructure must be appropriate A catastrophic mistake happens when the whole system fails to fulfill this fundamental architecture. When a system’s defenses are breached because of a flaw in one layer, it is considered a catastrophic mistake. Even in the face of systemic flaws, a health care system may be robust if it can be improved at every level. With the correct incentives, of course.
Dr. Calvin Hirsch pointed out that nurses may assist the elderly in making better lifestyle choices by educating them on the basics of health care and nutrition. Teach an unfamiliar topic to an elderly audience by using examples that they are already acquainted with. When teaching a new skill, one of the best ways to develop the cognitive foundation for the patient’s problem-solving is to ask them about their own experiences with it. As a substitute reader for their loved ones, nurses may reinforce information delivered in the hospital setting and explain issues after patients return home.
Age discrimination has various origins and consequences, including age prejudice in the health care industry. “ When it comes to senior patients, physicians have been reported to be more impatient, disrespectful, and condescending compared to their younger colleagues. As a result, patients and doctors are having less interactions as it pertains to making medical choices together. Research and therapeutic efforts may focus on social networks in the future.
Older persons’ contacts with the medical system and their ability to get appropriate health care are significantly impacted by unfavorable age views, according to research. Because we live in an ageist culture, it’s not surprising that many seniors have a pessimistic view of becoming older. Furthermore, ageism has a detrimental effect on one’s health, increasing one’s chance of heart disease, for example. But before we can effectively increase the quality of care for older individuals, we need to address these prejudices.
Age-related sickness accounts for a considerable portion of the world’s health care expenses. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) have grown among the elderly, and many older persons rely largely on health care systems to preserve their functional status and extend their lives. However, despite their enormous numbers, older people are not the major consumers of health care, and as a result, they do not have the same access to services as younger people.
According to Dr. Calvin Hirsch, elderly health and safety are intertwined and must be balanced against the general good. Restricting their activities and relocating to a more secure location may be important for elderly people. There are many who choose to keep their degree of freedom and engage in healthy pursuits in order to avoid disease or harm. In any case, joint decision-making between service providers and customers is essential for health-related safety. Similar to this, health services should teach senior citizens how to prevent health risks at home. Older individuals also need to have the mental fortitude to deal with the consequences of their actions, including any negative effects on their physical health.
