Major Factors of Gerontology - Term Paper Example

? Gerontology Task Introduction Gerontology is regarded as the scientific aging studies that investigate various aspects connected to old age and the aging process. The most common investigated factors or elements are the biological, sociological and mental elements that substantially get altered in the events of old age and the aging process (Hogstel, 2001). These factors encompass other components thus indicating that they are broad and diverse in coverage. Biological factors encompass features such as genetic background and other factors such as bodily wellbeing while psychological factors encompass cognition levels, mental fitness of these individuals as well as the overall healthiness. The sociological elements encompass issues such as individual relations with certain cultures, guidelines as well as aspects that bring or make the civilization appear in order. According to scholars in biological and related fields, aging process begins, immediately; an individual starts to live with the development of certain structures that do not appear before a person is born. During the aging progression, the bodies and mind commences developments until they reach a period that they are being considered mature (Hogstel, 2001). In the early years of growth and development of human beings, various factors affect the levels of development with regards to the bodily and mental developments. The factors that influence the way people develop both mentally and psychically include genetics, and other individual attributes, family backgrounds and other related factors. Correspondingly, the progression through the other levels of development such as adulthood gain much influences from individual health, mindsets and behaviors concerning various aspects of existence. Therefore, aging cannot be taken as a straightforward process restricted to bodily wellness and loss of healthiness. Aging can be considered an intricate procedure that is attributed to many factors including the individual and social elements. Over the years, the matter of aging has received much attention as evident with the augmenting edification of health and social workers concerning matters of aging. Similarly, research has been performed concerning the aging group thus presenting basis for understanding and dealing with matters associated with aging (Hogstel, 2001). The research conducted concerning aging assists health workers, and related professionals to manage or take care of individuals at the old age, and offering solutions to various problems that arise with old age. Recently, gerontological nursing has markedly acquired the needed thrust in the nursing discipline with the numerous cases of aging groups coupled with extensive research. In doing this, numerous challenges exhibited within the gerontology field can be effectively managed through acquisition of necessary information concerning this population (Hogstel, 2001). Nevertheless, the nursing sector had experienced problems in handling this component of the populace since little information and facilities to offer the services and trainings are available. In relation to nursing coupled with gerontology, various terms are exploited interchangeably in order to bring out the relations between the two concepts. According to nursing geriatric nursing is considered, a concept that concerns treatment old persons experiencing health problems. Geriatric nursing can also be attributed to the investigation of illnesses and other health problems that affect the old age, as well as, their subsequent analysis and treatment. In geriatric nursing, considerable emphasis is applied in the significance of social and psychological factors during the treatment of people experiencing various problems in their old age. According to geriatrics, the lifestyles exhibited by individuals at their old ages profoundly affects their health status implying that enhanced and monitored lifestyles can serve, as tools, to alleviate certain health problems (Hogstel, 2001). In contrast, gerontological nursing is considered to encompass more elements in regard to the gerontological populace. In this nursing field, the elements that are included are enhancement of health of the old individuals with the society, edification concerning nutrition and related factors as well as sickness avoidance (Hogstel, 2001). Finally, the concept of gerontic nursing serves as the compilation of both the gerontological nursing and geriatric nursing. Therefore, gerontic nursing involves both the health problems and other inclusive aspects regarding the older populace and the nursing care that they obtain throughout the period after they are considered old (Hogstel, 2001). In the years since the introduction and recognition of gerontological nursing as a specialty within the society, numerous roles have emerged for these professionals. Gerontologist nurses serve as health care givers to the older populace. However, these professionals offer services to home-based individuals through programs developed to take care of the old. Similarly, they offer services in community-based health centers and other healthcare institutions. Gerontological Nursing Practitioners (GNPs) assume various roles within the society and health institutions (Hogstel, 2001). The roles that these practitioners play include edification to the general populace concerning various imperative concepts of aging and health problems. They also take part in carrying out clinical-based research concerning the gerontological population, constant health care problems and ways to prevent the occurrence of these health problems. They also perform private or personalized practices as well as physician factions in order to effect service conveyance. These professionals purpose as the administrators of nursing within facilities that offer gerontological care to the old populace. Other functions of these professionals include obtaining histories from persons residing in continuing care amenities, within a given location, and offering them recommendations in relation to their diagnosis and treatment. Earlier on, gerontological experts never had the chance to be employed in primary healthcare fields although this has changed and these individuals are being incorporated, in the healthcare systems, to offer their services to the old people visiting these health centers. These professionals assist in arranging numerous meetings with clients, and other associates of the client in order, to offer the old individuals a chance, to acquire the best treatment environments, and excellent care from the nurses within their payment reach. These nurses function cohesively with other related health care givers in order to offer certain services that the client and the family relations necessitate. Conversely, utilization of such services within the facilities for the old people arises into social problems. The problem that arises is the probability that rationing may take place in relation to services and amenities being offered within these institutions. According to reports from gerontological nurses, mental disorders offer exceptional confrontations towards their services conveyance. In accordance to the commonest contributor of mental disorder, depression is cited as the major cause although no diagnosis is carried out. Old age is significantly associated with chronic illnesses, development of disability with respect to old age and other long-term diseases. For sometime gerontological nurses have involved themselves in outcome researches that carry out investigations concerning the outcomes of arrangement, and procedures of healthcare on wellbeing of the individuals with old age within the populace. Health outcomes in gerontology comprise of certain measures that concentrate on the symptoms, mental capability or soundness, contentment with care and other factors that related to wellbeing of individuals. Development of these conditions prevents the old populace from living comfortable lives thus presenting challenges in the lives of these individuals. In order to alleviate these conditions, certain strategies ought to be implemented to deal with the problems. The most common ways to prevent this from occurring is through utilization of risk reduction, health promotion and ailment deterrence strategies. Recently, there have been labors by healthcare givers to include the older populace as persons under risk. This has significantly enabled the older people to get included in the budgetary allocations thus reducing risk that these individuals are exposed to in relation to diseases. Emergence of gerontological nursing has markedly reduced the cases of illnesses for the older populace through identification of risks. Identification of risk allows for better confrontation of health problems for the older population since the risk factors can be controlled through implementation of suitable measures. Health promotion, which is the practice of empowering persons to make the most excellent decisions concerning their lifestyles and stimulating these persons to manage themselves in relation to their healthiness. In order to realize this, procedures that concentrate on the edification of the patients, counseling and other support tools have to be implemented. These strategies have profound effects on the lives and health of the sick people thus assisting in management of certain illnesses. Similarly, health promotion assists patients and the general populaces to recognize ways of dealing with certain medical condition. It also allows for prevention of diseases in persons who have not contracted certain illnesses. This implies that health promotion plays a chief role in ensuring the risk is substantially reduced for the old populace as well as the rest of the populace. For instance, health promotion can be in the form of basic practices that incorporate various concepts in healthcare agendas. These basic practices include education and counseling plans in order to promote bodily activity and upgrade nutrition. Disease prevention plans concentrate on strategies that trim down the risk of obtaining certain illnesses, through the detection of risk factors or rather identify these diseases, at the preliminary levels in which they can be easily treated. Supplements are usually utilized in the prevention of diseases such as blood pressure and diabetes, which are considered the most prevalent diseases for the old population. These assist in reducing the risks associated with certain illnesses. Reducing health risk for older populace ensures better lives with little expenses concerning health care. Consequently, health givers offer better solutions to numerous illnesses that the older individuals experience through their aged lives. Therefore, the older people can live comfortable lives offering gerontological nurses little work in taking care of the old. Individuals with illnesses obtain knowledge concerning their illnesses thus assisting in curbing the problems experienced in their daily lives. The elderly like little children need extra care to handle them. They should be afforded service systems that promote their independence and health. A respectable elderly facility should have the capability to make available effective and inexpensive care to a reasonable number of the ever-increasing older population. The elderly health and support services must be well developed with an adequate, qualified staff and enough services. The health status of elderly people is always diverse and complicated. Their income levels living arrangements and necessity for physical and social support influences their status. Only a few elderly people are aware of life-saving clinical preventive services such as breast screening, cervical and colorectal cancers and vaccinations against influenza and pneumococcal disease. Health problems in older people are chronic exacerbated by common variations of elderly and the amplified risk of sickness associated with old age. The elderly have at least one chronic condition once they are over the age of 65. They visit their physicians twice as often as do people less than 65 years of age. Although efforts have been made in the part of academic and professional nursing organizations, only a few geriatric nurses exist. This is a smaller number compared to the elderly people existing in the US. While leaders in both nursing and the geriatrics identify the distinctive requirements of elderly people, enrollment of students is only five in each program. This limited number prevents geriatric nurse specialists from providing adequate care to the elderly who are at risk and whose needs are extremely complex. It is inevitable that the elderly receive optimum nursing care, but since they lack enough qualified workforce few nursing facilities have satisfactory elderly care means. Some of these facilities are of unacceptable conditions leading to the establishment of principles, core curriculum and objectives for entry level. Age associated changes influenced by lifestyle practices and health care. In this case, the nurse is required to identify normative changes in aging and differentiate them from pathological processes. The clinicians should develop broader systems perspective. This will help them understand both their colleagues and patients. This will not only help them become better health care providers but also improve the system at large. Even the elderly present in the facility gets satisfaction through services provided. Learning and working in a true interdisciplinary context is a requirement for improved patient safety. Working together with all members of staff in taking care of patients is advantageous to the facility because all of them get to coordinate in serving the customers. From the medical staff to the cleaning staff an amicable relationship is necessary to enable the facility offer the best services possible. Collaborative models bring about quality and safety in both sensitive and unending concern. Conclusion Most elderly facilities take care of the old people until they die or their families take them home. Since the elderly are meant to stay in the facility for a long time, the facility should make their stay worthwhile. They should not make the patients feel as if they are imprisoned, but make their stay peaceful and enjoyable. This can be achieved by scheduling entertainment events, exercises and a free social environment. This helps the patients to feel the sense of belonging and not isolated. Most elderly people go to these facilities because their families have deserted them and they were leading a solitary life. By letting the elderly associate with others through internal social events, they become happy and fulfilled. Moreover, the facility should be highly professional upholding ethics and responsible to society. The facility should not target to con the elderly out their money but ensure that the old people get value out of their money. This will preserve their image in society and distinguish them as trustworthy hence acquiring more customers. Reference Hogstel, M. O. (2001). Gerontology: Nursing care of the older adult. Albany, N.Y: Delmar Thomson Learning. Read More