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    Health Issues in Aging

    As people age, their bodies subsequently change and their need for medical attention generally becomes more frequent. Through aging, an individual's body becomes less resilient to fighting illnesses. The health care team for elderly people can consist of social workers, nurses, doctors, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists and many more.

    Geriatrics or geriatric medicine is a specialty of internal medicine and family medicine that focuses on health care of elderly people. It promotes health by preventing and treating diseases and disabilities in older adults. Geriatricians distinguish between diseases and the effects of normal aging. Geriatricians treat any diseases that are present and decrease the effects of aging on the body. Functional abilities, independence and quality of life issues are of great concern to geriatricians and their patients. Elderly people particularly may be subjected to polypharmacy (taking multiple medications), which may increase the risk of adverse drug reactions or drug interactions.

    The decline in physiological reserve in organs also makes the elderly develop some kinds of diseases and have more complications. Some conditions that the aging population should watch out for include:

    Osteoporosis: As people age, their bones tend to become thinner and weaker. This can lead to a condition known as osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become very fragile and can easily break during a fall.

    Hearing loss: The most common type of age-related hearing loss is presbycusis, which decreases the ability to hear high-pitched sounds. Hearing loss can also occur from being exposed to loud sounds over time. The aging population should have regular hearing tests and may need to use a hearing aid.  

    Arthritis: Arthritis occurs when the fluid and cartilage in a joint wears out, causing bones to scrape against each other and create pain. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis affecting senior health, which results from a lifetime of wear and tear on the joints.  

    Regular check-ups with a doctor, a healthy diet and regular exercise can help prevent these health issues, or result in early diagnosis for more effective treatment. 

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    BrainMass Categories within Health Issues in Aging

    Long-Term Care Facilities

    Solutions: 68

    Long-term care facilities provide nursing and personal care to individuals who are no longer able to live independently in the community.

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    Fundraising for a Geriatric Program

    A local company has secured funding (2 years) for an older adult program in your community. 1.They want YOU, the Gerontologist, to provide information on what type of program they should provide funding for? (what is needed, how will you know which new program to offer, and who is your target audience)? 2.Once you have selec

    Long Term Care: Health Care Delivery

    Regarding long term care, what contributions can one make as a health care professional to ensure that care is individualized, integrated, coordinated, and meets quality standards. As health care professionals we are in a position to educate families, fellow nurses, academic curriculum, legislators and other significant interest

    Procedure for accidents and supervision regulation

    Explain the procedure used for the following: 
The resident is an alert, 65 year-old male. A fractured hip occurred when he fell at home. He lived alone up until this time. He was hospitalized following surgery and received physical therapy while in the hospital. He has Medicare and an adequate medi-gap insurance plan. He is a

    Accessibility of Resources for Elderly

    Take a close look at community resources in your area. What resources stood out as particularly accessible and valuable to elders? What programs were particularly difficult to access? Select one resource and provide a detailed analysis of the visibility and accessibility of this program. Are people who need these services

    Mental Health and the Elderly

    Imagine you are mentoring Sara and Dave, new hires at your community center for aging services. At a recent meeting, Sara mentioned that it is difficult to know when to make a referral for someone to seek mental health services. Dave concurred, saying he was concerned that he might damage the relationship he has with a person if

    End-of-life for elderly clients is discussed.

    End-of-life care becomes an issue at some point for elderly clients. Even with the emergence of palliative care programs and hospice programs, the majority of elderly people do not die in their own home as is their preference. â?¢What are the reasons for this trend? â?¢Please discuss what you can be done by a nurse t

    Age-Related Sleeping Problems

    Inability to sleep well is one of the most frequent complaints of the elderly. Discuss the rationale for this phenomenon in the elderly client. Present an example of a time you cared for an elderly client who had problems sleeping. Rather than giving sleeping pills what can nurses in acute care facilities do to help

    Growing and Aging Community

    Scenario: To accommodate the rapidly growing and aging community, it is necessary to expand capacity for long-term care by constructing a new hospital wing. Need help answering the following questions based on the above scenario: What are the primary health concerns for this patient population? How would the expansion

    Women's health, the aging population, and healthcare

    Please help me understand how the different demographic population affect women and the aging population in healthcare, especially in our current economic downfall and with the current healthcare reform. Thank You ! - Describe the general effect that changing demographics may have on the health care market. - Why and how

    HEALTH CARE ARTICLE

    With the emphasis on health care today, What are some of the ways in how the potential changes in our health care delivery could affect the elderly in general. The assignment is to find any magazine article or newspaper article, or perhaps some scholarly article, that addresses the current health care debate and how the elder

    How telemedicine can improve care to ill elderly

    Describe how telemedicine might be used to improve clinical care provided to an elderly patient with a chronic illness. To do this, first describe the patient and their illness(es) and then how telemedicine could be used to improve outcomes.

    Vulnerability issue in the elderly

    What would be considered a top vulnerability issue in the elderly? Relate to the vulnerability of elderly specifically. Ideas: loneliness, depression, chronic health concerns.

    Why Were Changes to Medicare Deemed Necessary

    In November 2003 the U.S. Congress passed a controversial health policy bill that President George W. Bush signed into law. The new legislation makes the most far-reaching changes to Medicare since the program was created in 1965. Please address the following questions: - Why were changes to Medicare deemed necessary? - Wha

    Human resource in Healthcare

    1. What do you see as issues surrounding the fact that many organizations have incorporated restructuring, reengineering, downsizing, and continuous improvement as a part of their ongoing strategic plan? 2. What is the impact of the aging workforce in human resource management?