Health Promotion Program for the Elderly - Research Paper Example

Health Promotion Program and the Promotion of Superior Wellbeing for the Older Age Bracket Topic: Submission: Abstract As an individual gets older, chronic conditions and diseases affect the health of the individual in a negative manner due to physiological changes. Approximately 25% of people over 65 years have diabetes mellitus. More than half of individuals do not know that they have the condition. Diabetes in older adults is linked to advanced mortality, reduced efficient condition and amplified jeopardy of institutionalization. Older adults are at high risk for the progression of type 2 diabetes. This is due to the collective effects of escalating insulin resistance and impaired pancreatic islet role with aging. Diabetes can be avoided and managed by the elderly; this is mainly by optimizing blood glucose control. This can be achieved by a change of lifestyle, diet, nutrition education, exercise and pharmacological therapy. The absence of disease does not necessarily mean an individual is healthy. This paper is a health promotion program focused on the fitness of the older generation. It discusses the cause of the condition, who is mostly affected, how it can be controlled and managed. Keywords: Chronic conditions, physiological changes, diabetes mellitus, pharmacological therapy. Importance of the Health Promotion Program and who it focuses on Health refers to the physical, emotional and mental well-being of an individual. This health promotion program keenly focuses on the elderly. A common health condition affecting the aged is diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic condition. A chronic condition is an illness or disability that is severe, and it lasts for a long time. These conditions lead to physical restrictions that have a key impact on an individual’s capability to survive independently. Chronic health conditions affect the quality of life in a negative manner; the physical, emotional and mental health of the older adults is greatly affected. Type 2 Diabetes is a condition characterized by the body’s incapability to apply insulin efficiently. Insulin is a hormone created by the pancreas; it is responsible for the maintenance of blood glucose levels and transporting glucose into body cells. Exclusive of the use of insulin, the body’s chief foundation of energy which is glucose becomes unavailable to the cells. The health promotion program is important because there is a rise of cases concerning diabetes among the elderly. This program aims to bring awareness on matters concerning diabetes, as well as, promotes health education for the elderly people in the community. It focuses on the elderly population, their well- being and maintenance of this condition which is a very fatal condition. Program Goals The core anticipation of the health awareness program among the elderly population is the prevention of illness, restoration and maintenance of health. Program Objectives What the program endeavors to achieve is: a. To offer health education focusing on diabetes and other related conditions to the elderly. b. To promote health awareness to the community. c. To calculate mortality and hospitalization rates of diabetes. d. Promoting the importance of lifestyle changes. e. Diabetes education. f. To organize diabetic support groups. g. To decrease untimely demise from avoidable chronic conditions. h. To advise the elderly to go for diabetes screening tests so as to know their diagnosis, and if they have the condition management should begin immediately. i. To advance the worth of life among the elderly living with diabetes. Prospective Results The predictable domino effect of the plan includes: a. Management of diabetes. b. Diabetes awareness. c. Health lifestyle change. d. Health and nutrition education awareness. e. Maintenance of health. f. Acceptance of the condition and the complete lifestyle change. g. Increase in the number of clients. h. Decrease in diabetic cases. i. Better reception among the community members. j. To reduce the rates of mortality brought about by diabetes. k. To reduce the devastating conditions victims of diabetes endure; for example blindness, amputation, kidney loss, loss of the nervous system and heart damage. The expected results from the program offer a positive outcome. The program is expected to be a success and also it is expected to increase steadily. Expected Challenges In every plan implemented, there must be challenges discussed as ways to fight these challenges are addressed so as to ensure the goal of the program is met. The expected challenges as per the health promotion program for the elderly include: a. Cooperation of the elderly in doing what they are advised. b. Management of type 2 Diabetes; which is very difficult to deal with in the elderly population for the reason of complex therapeutic issues and the inferior body function state of the elderly. c. Communication barriers. d. Funds to support the program. e. Financial challenges from some of the individuals living with diabetes as they may not to able to purchase their medication. f. Mobilizing the people living with diabetes. g. Stigma surrounding diabetes. h. Convincing on the change of lifestyle, diet and the taking of the required medication. How to deal with the predictable challenges The following are ways to deal with any of the above mentioned challenges: a. Allocation of sponsors, well wishers and volunteers. b. Diabetes awareness campaigns. c. Interpreters to deal with the communication barriers. d. Qualified, dedicated counselors and medical experts. Facts concerning diabetes The early detection of diabetes is very essential as it will aid in the supervision of the disease. Older individuals must be encouraged to go for the diabetes screening tests regularly so that they can know their status. If the condition is detected at an early stage, management will be much easier and manageable. As it is said, “Prevention is better than cure”. From recent statistics, more than half of people aged 65 years onwards do not know if they have diabetes. Only a percentage of 25% is aware of their diabetic condition. Most of the people who do not know their diabetic condition are ignorant of their health. And this health promotion program focuses on educating the community and the elderly on the benefits of constant diabetes screening tests. (Bartholomew, (2011) Prevalence rate of Diabetes From the above data, the total prevalence rate of pre-diabetics is much higher as compared to the diagnosed and undiagnosed rates. This means that most individuals worldwide are ignorant of their diabetic status yet they are bound to get the deadly condition. Causes of Diabetes Diabetes is brought about by the following: heredity gene, age, obesity, physical activity, diet, glucose intolerance, pregnancy, cholesterol abnormalities and high blood pressure. In the aspect of heredity gene, a family which contains individuals with type 2 Diabetes is prone to diabetes due to the heredity gene factor. Such individuals are advised to go for screening constantly. Obesity triggers diabetes. According to statistics, obesity is found in about 80% of people with this disease. Studies have also shown that there is a connection between certain genes liked to obesity and type 2 Diabetes. As a human being increases in body fat, insulin becomes not as much of use in modifying the levels of blood glucose, insulin resistance develops as the body tries to reimburse by producing additional insulin amounts and thus people who can not produce additional insulin develop type 2 Diabetes. Cases of type 2 Diabetes come about above the age of 55. Type 2 Diabetes is more probable to advance amongst individuals who have inactive physical undertakings. Individuals who consume a diet high in saturated fat and low in fibre, are more probable to get type 2 Diabetes. Glucose intolerance leads to type 2 Diabetes. Studies show that, for every ten people with glucose intolerance, one person has type 2 Diabetes. During pregnancy, an expectant woman can build up temporary insulin resistance which results to gestational diabetes; this is an increased risk factor of type 2 Diabetes. People with high blood pressure have an augmented occurrence of type 2 Diabetes. Chart describing causes of diabetes according to gender Fatal effects of Diabetes An individual with diabetes develops hyperglycemia. This is a condition associated with high blood glucose. Unrelenting hyperglycemia leads to damage of the heart, kidneys, nervous system, gastrointestinal system and eyes. This means that the individual who has diabetes which leads to uncontrolled and persistent hyperglycemia may experience kidney or heart failure, blindness, loss of feeling due to the destruction of the nervous system, and uncontrolled bowel contraction due to the damage of the gastrointestinal system. Four out of every ten people develop the fatal effects of diabetes. Potential for social Stigma Concerning Diabetes Due to misconceptions about diabetes, inhabitants think it is something to be ashamed of. They therefore, shy away from screening tests and avoid it as a topic of discussion. The sigma concerning diabetes is brought about by extensive misconceptions among both healthcare providers and the public. This acts as a chief barrier to the most favorable management of diabetes in older adults. The misconceptions include: a. The preponderance of the aged with type 2 Diabetes is overweight and need to lose weight. b. The high pervasiveness of diabetes in older adults is inevitable. c. Hyperglycemia in the older adults is typically a benign condition. d. Reduced living expectancy makes the consequences of chronic hyperglycemia irrelevant. e. Older patients are less capable of self monitoring of blood glucose levels. Diabetes in the elderly is usually preventable. Thus, the misconception on the high pervasiveness of diabetes in older adults is inevitable is false. The risk factors which influence diabetes in the elderly include poor eating habits, inactive lifestyle, changes in body composition. These risk factors can be changed by the elderly if they want to stay away from diabetes. Although the aged have carbon dioxide intolerance, diabetes in the elderly is preventable (Thomas, 2013). Another misconception concerning diabetes is reduced living expectancy makes the consequences of chronic hyperglycemia irrelevant. This view fails to recognize that diabetes is a key source of death among the elderly. When an individual has diabetes in the age bracket of 60-70, survival is reduced. This is because mortality associated with severe diabetic impediments increases with age. The effects of stroke and heart damage are worse in patients who are hyperglycemic. In accumulation to the enlarged mortality risk associated with diabetes, there is considerable morbidity linked to the condition. Hyperglycemia decreases pain tolerance, infections, and increases risk of stroke, leads to impotence and urinary incontinent. The aged are more vulnerable to diabetes related complications as the complications develop at an accelerated rate due to age- related homeostasis. (Spencer et al, 2005) Adaptive Strategies to manage and prevent the Condition of Diabetes Depression, social isolation, limited financial resources and coexisting diseases make it difficult for the management of diabetes. The fist thing that should be done when initializing management of this condition is an inclusive assessment of the patient. People with probable risk factor of diabetes or those with possible symptoms are encouraged to attend screening programs. All individuals above the age of 45 are potential screening candidates. These people are elderly, and they may have diabetes due to changes in physiological state as diabetes is extremely widespread for people above the age of 45. If left untreated, diabetes is associated with significant mortality and morbidity rates. (Corcoran, 2013) A geriatric assessment must be conducted. This is a complete assessment of the patient. It includes clinical assessment (history and physical examination), nutritional assessment, diagnostic testing, gait and balance evaluation, psychosocial assessment and functional assessment. The management strategy for every patient must be on an individual basis this is because of the difference in opinions, medical history and the aspect of individuality. (Jones, et al, 2012) The management of the patients’ condition must fall in line with the health promotion program objectives. The goals of the program must also be met in order to come up with viable results for the approach of this program. For the management process to proceed, the patient must be willing to undergo the treatments. All cardiovascular risk factors must be reduced so that the treatment process may be successful. This includes; improvement in exercise, weight loss and control of hypertension. Changing the environmental risk factors and conditions by promoting a healthy diet routine, exercising, emotional well-being, rehabilitation measures for the victims of diabetic conditions, early identification and management of the disease, raising awareness of diabetes, identifying people at risk of the disease; the development and complications of type 2 Diabetes can be prevented. This program tends to take an approach in changing the social and health behavior of the public and the elderly; for the prevention and management of diabetes. Promoting changes for the common population, by the creation and implementation of policies that support a strong, aware, and disease free environment. This program emphasizes on the adaptation of fit active lifestyles so as to reduce the incidence of type 2 Diabetes and chronic conditions. This program aims to advise the elderly to visit the respective health care providers every two to four months so that the health practitioner can be able to determine the progress and treatment plan of the patient. Key Recommendations for Effective Results of the Program to the Patients a. Preventing or reducing obesity. b. Increasing physical activities. c. Eating a balanced nutritious diet. d. Develop diabetes awareness. e. Stress reduction. Conclusion Successful management of diabetes requires a multidisciplinary approach. Successful care of diabetes for the elderly requires a comprehensive understanding of the physiology of aging, recognition of issues faced by the elderly, interaction with the medical practitioners involved with the patients’ medical chart in order to guarantee the most effective treatment procedure. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. This condition is the solitary reason of kidney disease, infections, high blood pressure, stroke, nerve damage, amputations and blindness. It is responsible for more than 250,000 deaths annually. As the populace ages, their body calls become progressively more indifferent to insulin. This effect leads to type 2 Diabetes. The elderly have a propensity to have physical restrictions on their capability to exercise and have a tendency to increase on their weight as they age; this therefore, increases their threat for diabetes. Decreased sensitivity to insulin and glucose intolerance is associated to a diet with low fibre content and high in saturated fat; this bad diet leads to diabetes. People with glucose intolerance are not capable of using glucose efficiently subsequent to consuming large amounts of carbohydrates. This condition becomes worse with the increase of years lived and leads to insulin resistance. Precautionary strategies for glucose intolerant people include lifestyle modifications and regular screening for diabetes. Researchers reveal that nearly 40% of women who have experienced gestational diabetes will develop type 2 Diabetes within 5-10 years after giving birth. Health promotion program for the elderly aims to control type 2 Diabetes by emphasizing on exercise, appropriate nutrition, maintenance of the ideal body weight and careful oversight by a physician. These are the key steps in the management of this condition which affects the elderly and which is a key public health concern. Diabetes brings about a physical, economic, social and emotional load which is extensive. Care giving implications to the individual who in this case is the elderly and to the program implementers is the careful monitoring of insulin, nourishment and working out, habitual physical attention, attention to probable outcomes of the diabetic condition such as stroke, high blood pressure, and blindness, and heart complications, knowledge of resources and lifelong coping of the disease. References Corcoran, N. (2013). Communicating health: Strategies for health promotion. Los Angeles: SAGE. Bartholomew, L. K. (2011). Planning health promotion programs: An intervention mapping approach. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Jones, R. M., & Royal Society of Chemistry (Great Britain). (2012). New therapeutic strategies for type 2 diabetes: Small molecule approaches. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry. Spencer, R. F., Hughes, E., & Patients Association. (2005). A simple guide to type 2 diabetes. Long Hanborough, Oxon: CSF Medical Communications Ltd. Thomas, M. (2013). Understanding type 2 diabetes: Fewer highs fewer lows better health. Wollombi, N.S.W: Exisle Publishing. Read More