Health Promotion and Prevention Project for Elderly - Essay Example

Various studies have been conducted to formulate that about 45% of the US population is known to have one or more chronic illness and this illness account for 78% of all health care spending. It is estimated that longevity in women is more as compared to men, women of the age group 65- 85 relate to 80% of the chronic condition whereas only 33% of men of that age are known to have a chronic illness (http://www.ahrq.gov/news/ulp/chronic/ulpchron1.htm). The elderly are known to suffer from illnesses like Hypertension, Arthritis, Hearing impairment, Sinusitis, Orthopaedic impairments like replacement of knee joint, hip joint, or accidents especially elderly population has more fall rate, Vision impairment, Heart disease, Hay fever, Cataracts.

georgetown.edu/agingsociety/pdfs/chronic.pdf). A visit to an elderly house reported that most of the elders are affected by chronic illness Arthritis (46%), Heart Disease (37%), hypertension (38%), Cancers (20%), Hearing Loss (28%), Cerebrovascular (10%), Heart conditions (28%), Pulmonary (5%), Chronic sinus (18%), Pneumonia and flu (5%), Visual loss (14%), Diabetes (3%), Bone problems (13%) and Accidents (2%). It is imperative to take utmost care regarding these chronic conditions. Therefore primary and secondary preventive measures must be implemented that encompass the biological origin of disease which is not clear for chronic diseases.

As various questions stem out regarding these ailments. There is no reason why myocardial infarction begins with fist pain or with the first arterial wall lesions, developed in youth There is no reason for the occurrence of cancer. (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/pagerender.fcgiartid=1424415&pageindex=1). Some of the chronic conditions can be overruled by taking appropriate dietary intake to manage hypercholesterolemia, this is often called the "primary prevention of heart disease" but prescription of diet especially for diabetes or prescription of the drug for hypertension is a sight to the treatment and hence the secondary prevention.

As malnutrition further causes various orthopedic trauma injuries so it is the responsibility of the caretaker or nurse to take good care of the elders in the home and see that they should not suffer malnutrition and take good secondary medications for their illness. It is also known that malnutrition in the elderly population is responsible for extended hospital stay so it is a matter of great concern. (http://www.nursingcenter.com/library/JournalArticle.aspArticle_ID=101854)References:http://www.cdc.gov/Women/lcod.