Development in Care for Older People - Essay Example

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN CARE FOR OLDER PEOPLE By of the of the school Older people are among the age groups that are fast growing, and the earliest ‘baby boomers’ (people who were born between 1946 and 1964) will turn 17 in 2016. More than 37 million individuals in this group (60%) will manage more than one chronic condition by 2030. Older people are always at a high risk of having chronic illnesses and related disabilities (Hindle, et al. 2011 pg 34). Many of the older people experience hospitalization, admissions in the nursing home. Among the older adults, chronic conditions are the main cause of death. Preventive health services are important for maintaining the wellness and quality of older adults. However, these services are not fully utilized, especially among given ethnic and racial groups. It is not easy to ensure quality health care for older people, but the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has programs that have been designed so as to make better the physical, hospital and nursing home care. Older people use a lot of health care services, have conditions that are complex, and need professional expertise that that meets their requirements (Nay, et al. 2013 pg 45). A lot of the providers get some type of training on aging; however, the percentage of those who actually specialize in the area is very small. More specialists who are certified are required to meet the needs of this group. It is obvious that the number of the older people is in the increase and they require quality health services and qualified health providers. The key message that comes out clearly is that; the demand for services is increasing for users utilizing the emergency department more so in elderly people and the return visits rate is very high because of the of the aging population which is fast increasing. Therefore, it is critical to change the way that we care for older people who have care needs that are urgent, to improve quality (including safety, outcome and experience) and efficiency. This should be done urgently (Royal College of Nursing, et al. 2000 pg 27). My chosen audience are the service providers, relatives, and the patient themselves and the Federal Government agencies. The service providers should train and develop their staff in extended skills so as to make better the understanding and delivery for people who are old within a model that is psychosocial. They should also think clearly regarding special needs of older people in a clinical environment that is busy. The patient and the relatives will be involved in the decision making. Self education is very important. The federal Government agencies try to improve the older people’s quality of life through programs that are meant to chronic illness. A lot of these programs target underserved and minorities’ populations so as to combat health disparities that exist (Calkins, et al. 2004 pg 77). Older people always complain of playing a passive role which in contrast with the dominant role of the urgent care staff. Patient participation is also referred, is whereby both the physician and the patient contribute to the process of medical decision making (Larkin, M. 2011 pg 81). Under this operating system, providers of health care explain treatments and alternatives to patients so as to provide the required resources for patient to select the option of treatment that most closely are in line with their unique personal and cultural believes. In contrast, the present dominant medicine form, the biomedical care system, puts the physicians in an authoritative position with the elder person who is the patient playing a passive role in the care. The physicians instruct the patient what to do, and the elder people normally follow the advice of the physician. Older people always feel vulnerable whenever they are not involved in issues that concern them and this in a way affects the care that they get (Sommerville, et al. 2009 pg 56). A lot of elderly people buy the notion that they themselves ceased to be important and consequently, they make very small attempt to remain healthy and active. After all, the end of their lives is getting closer and has no desire to attempt new things or exercise or eat properly or challenge themselves. Older people also have a diminished sense of significance; the received urgent care services and the contentment of the older people in particular to play a passive role concerning their clinical care, judging that urgent care staff knows best. This eliminate the person-centered practice; a treatment and care that health services provide that places the individual at the center of their care and looks attentively the requirements of the older person’s carers (Miller, et al. 2009 pg 70). Person-centered practice is important since when you get to know and understand the patient well, one can offer care that is more specific to their requirements hence better care is provided. By facilitating and promoting greater patient responsibility, older people are more likely to be involved in decisions that concern the treatment, feel supported to make behavioral changes and have a feeling of empowered to self manage (Royal Surgical Aid Society--Agecare. 1998 pg 144). It has been discovered that person centered practices contribute to a positive difference to outcomes of health and the satisfaction of the patient and is able to improve the sense of professional worth of the health care workers. The older people are significant and should never play a passive role as by becoming active, they receive a care that is; Responding readily and positively to individual differences, diversity of the culture, and their own preference. Easily navigated. Ensures an environment that is favorable. Urgent care staff and the older people are both human beings, and it is shared humanity that is supposed to be the basis of the relationship that they have. Another issue that the older people complain about is about a scheduled event (like physiotherapy assessment) that eventually failed to take place or repeated. This really disappoints the older people and this can work against the efforts of increasing the quality of health of the elder people since the quality and reliability of the social and services of health that are available to the people who are old and their caregivers influences the ability that they have to manage chronic conditions and care needs that are long-term effectively (Basford, et al. 2003 pg 95). Accessing reluctance of elder people to accessing health care prior to deciding and their fear for hospitals can really negative affect their health conditions more so when they require care needs that very urgent. This can really affect their health as the process that they can take to consult and make a decision may so long that by the time they reach a decision, they may have lost valuable time in serving the life of the patient. Older people also have fear and anxiety about treatment. Everyone experience anxiety. After all, worrying is part of being human and assists us plan ahead and make good decisions. Anxiety is normal and even productive, but whenever the anxiety disrupts and disables the life of an individual, it becomes unhealthy psychiatric disorder. Up to one quarter of all human beings experience anxiety to extent that is unhealthy, and the older people are particularly affected by this. Seniors experience more anxiety that is troublesome than other age groups for many reasons; they suffer more losses, suffer from chronic conditions and more pain, are in most cases in many occasions in many medications that may cause anxiety, and have ailments that are confounding like Alzheimer’s disease or depression. This anxiety may hinder the care that the elder people are supposed to get as they may become very stubborn in such cases. A lot of the people feel uneasy meeting strangers or publicly speaking. But individuals who have social anxiety disorders are usually terrified of social situations that they refuse and withdraw from a lot of social occasions. This problem is mostly dominant in older people because of impaired hearing, embarrassments, or issues with incontinence over utilizing a walker or wheelchair (Scrivener, R. 2002 pg.123). The research was originally disseminated using a bigger adoption of evidence based, practices of health promotion that depended on developing and testing approaches of dissemination that were effective. The establishment of these approaches was assisted by creating a framework that was practical that was draw from the literature about dissemination and the experience that was available in disseminating practices that were evidence based. The core elements of the frameworks were; 1) utilization of close partnership between researchers and organization of dissemination that took ownership of the process of dissemination and 2) use of principles of social marketing so as to work closely with potential user institutions. They presented two example that illustrated the framework; Enhance fitness, for physical activity among older people, and America Cancer society Workplace Solutions, for the prevention of chronic diseases among workers. They also discussed seven practical roles that are played by the researchers in dissemination and related research: evidence sorting, carrying out formative research, assessing readiness of user institutions, fidelity and reinvention balancing, monitoring and evaluating, outer context influence, and testing approaches of dissemination (Brownson, et al. 2002 pg 87). I have learnt that the difficulties that are related with the management of chronic diseases and sensory and cognitive changes that are associated with aging include the challenges of teaching this group that is highly vulnerable. So as to enhance understanding and bring about health behavior changes that are positive, the nurse have to utilize more than words while teaching older person. Many teaching strategies are designed to accommodate the physical, psychological, and cognitive changes that are associated with aging, like clear communication that is individualized and purposeful and a patient centered approach that shows acceptance and respect, are exercise that must be undertaken by the nurse to promote literacy that is healthy in the older person. Teaching strategies that are age appropriate for the older people have to be planned, purposeful, and accommodative to the special needs of the elderly patient. Due to the high prevalence of insufficient (Nay, et al. 2010 pg 41). Literacy that is healthy in this population, every teaching is supposed to be, at a minimum, involve practices that have been illustrated as effective with low literacy learners. In addition, specific strategies that are in compliant with principles of ‘gerogogy’ have to be an important of the every teaching of the nurse repertoire to facilitate literacy that is healthy in elder people population. Gerogogy is a teaching model for teaching adults that is based on Adult Learning Theory of Knowles. Teaching interventions with this framework are tailored to compensate for sensory, cognitive and physical effects of aging, and to facilitate achievement and independence of the full potential of the elder learners (Finch, J. 2004 pg. 120). In my future practice, I will practice patient (older people) empowerment; allowing the patients to take a role that is active in the decisions made regarding his/her own health care. Patient empowerments needs a patient to be responsible for aspects of health care like respectful communications with the doctor and other providers, safety of the patient, evidence gathering, smart consumerism, consultative decision making and more. I will provide assistance and information so as to frail older people and in some situation, younger people with disabilities. These will include helping the elder people in accessing the services that they require which also includes aged care, health of the community and other services that support the community. I will always take care of the elderly people in an emergency situation and they will always be my first priority. I will also ensure that all planned appointments with the elderly people take place as scheduled so as to avail the medications and services that they require to ensure that they have a better and healthier lives. I will also strike to make them overcome the fear and anxiety they have concerning the hospital by making them understand the importance of receiving the required treatments in time. In conclusion, it is evident the healthcare providers are supposed to consider and prioritize the elderly people in busy hospital/clinical environments. Advice and influence the provision, promotion, delivery, commissioning, delivery and regulation of health care for the elderly individuals who have emergency requirements. It is also important for the nurses to make the elderly people to feel secured, have a sense of belonging in the hospital environment. They should also be made to feel important and purposeful in life. The nurses should also stay longer in the profession so as to maintain continuity and experience in taking care of the elderly people. Bibliography. Hindle, A., & Coates, A. 2011. Nursing care of older people. Oxford, Oxford University Press. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=EV4HAWuVTfQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=older+people+health+care&hl=en&sa=X&ei=vA4kVb7oFdPWauyngJgN&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=older%20people%20health%20care&f=false Nay, R., Garratt, S., & Featherstonehaugh, D. 2013. Older People: Issues and Innovations in Care. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=1TtYAQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=older+people+health+care&hl=en&sa=X&ei=vA4kVb7oFdPWauyngJgN&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=older%20people%20health%20care&f=false Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of Physicians of London, & British Geriatrics Society. 2000. The health and care of older people in care homes: a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach : a report of a joint working party.a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach. 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Philadelphia, Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=yUx01gmNLboC&pg=PA87&dq=older+people+health+care&hl=en&sa=X&ei=zQ8kVdiDC8rgasypgLAB&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=older%20people%20health%20care&f=false Royal Surgical Aid Society--Agecare. 1998. Enhancing the health of older people in long-term care: clinical guidelines. London, Royal College of Physicians of London. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=yTtiavo8GbYC&pg=PT6&dq=older+people+health+care&hl=en&sa=X&ei=zQ8kVdiDC8rgasypgLAB&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=older%20people%20health%20care&f=false Basford, L., & Slevin, O. 2003. Theory and practice of nursing: an integrated approach to patient care. Cheltenham, U.K., Nelson Thornes. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=WCSunMx7EJ8C&pg=PA777&dq=older+people+health+care&hl=en&sa=X&ei=zQ8kVdiDC8rgasypgLAB&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=older%20people%20health%20care&f=false Brownson, R. C., Colditz, G. A., & Proctor, E. K. 2012. Dissemination and implementation research in health: translating science to practice. Oxford, Oxford University Press. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=pLf127FRhRUC&pg=PA189&dq=DISSEMINAtion+of+elderly+people+health&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DhIkVbvLJ8TmUqCugaAD&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=DISSEMINAtion%20of%20elderly%20people%20health&f=false Scrivener, R. 2002. Mapping health on the Internet: strategies for learning in an information age. Abingdon, Radcliffe Medical Press. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=K3W1piPqoGQC&pg=PA139&dq=DISSEMINAtion+of+elderly+people+health&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DhIkVbvLJ8TmUqCugaAD&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=DISSEMINAtion%20of%20elderly%20people%20health&f=false Nay, R., & Garratt, S. 2010. Older people issues and innovations in care. Chatswood, N.S.W., Elsevier. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10509791. Finch, J. 2004. Evaluating mental health services for older people. Abingdon, Radcliffe Medical. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=sqnZ3T6X90MC&pg=PR5&dq=older+people+health+care&hl=en&sa=X&ei=sxIkVZKtBczeUb6EhLAE&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=older%20people%20health%20care&f=false Keady, J., Clarkel, C. L., & Adams, T. 2003. Community mental health nursing and dementia care practice perspectives. Maidenhead, England, Open University. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=290359. Read More