ANALYSIS OF HEALTH NEEDS - Essay Example

The Aging Network is an informal term used to describe the array of federal, state, and local government agencies established by the Older American’s Act (OAA) and the community based agencies that affiliate with them in serving older adults. The OAA contains titles of relevance to long term care. “Aging Network Services can provide direction and hope, even in the most difficult of circumstances” (Aging Network Services). “The Older Americans Act focuses on improving the lives of older people in areas of income, housing, health, employment, retirement and community services” (Older Americans Act).

Due to the ever increasing number of elderly people, the focus has elaborated from community-based to long term treatment methodologies. Through the Older Americans Act, the Administration on Aging (AoA) was created. AoA is a sublet of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, which is governed by the Assistant Secretary for Aging. This can only be done if correct assessment of health care needs is there. The Administration on Aging (AoA) is connected with its nationwide network on aging composed of regional offices, to help coordinate and develop community-level systems of services that meet the unique needs of older persons and their caregivers.

“[There is a] need for rethinking criteria for hospital discharge planning, more effective communication between service providers and patients, and community focus of attention on elders coming home from the hospital” (Jones, et al, 1989). Most supportive services fall under three broad categories: Access Services, which deals with transportation and outreach, In-home Services, that concerns homemaker services, and Community Services, which is connected to dealing with adult day care and legal assistance.

“A disease-specific approach to geriatric preventive health care will not suffice; measures to enhance or maintain