DESIGN FOR CHANGE PROPOSAL Re-hospitalization of older adults has become prevalent in most of the health facilities in Canada, posing financial challenges for the health system as well as the older adults. Besides the rise in healthcare expenses that emanate from this problem, readmissions lead to other health-related challenges. The health issues that are related to readmissions include functional disintegration and increased mortality cases. Concerning the cost of readmission, the Canadian

Usually, both physical and psychological components need to be addressed. Byrd (2001) explains, the function of brain cells (neurons) is affected when a drug is used repeatedly over a long period of time. Each neuron produces and releases chemicals called neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters can impact the function of the nerve cell, making it produce and release hormones. "The neurotransmitters that have been associated with addiction include serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine,

Planning and Implementing Change Pressure ulcers are one of the most serious concerns facing hospitals and nursing homes today. This is particularly the case with older people and those with serious disabilities that keep them bed-bound for an extended period of time. Remaining in one position for too long can cause painful and severe pressure ulcers, which often require hospitalization and invasive intervention. Indeed, according to Perry et al. (2012), nearly

Diversity of Aging Population -- Innovative Healthcare Over the past several decades there has been an avalanche of research and scholarly narratives focusing on the aging of millions of Americans -- among them the "baby boomers" that were born between 1946 and 1964 -- including their numbers and their health vis-a-vis the impact on the sometimes struggling healthcare system. But there has been a dearth of research on how American healthcare

Falls THE ISSUE OF ACCIDENTAL FALLS At some point, anyone who had learned how to walk has had the experience of falling down -- it is a universal experience for infants as they gain ambulatory ability. In hospitals, however, the accidental fall is the most reported type of patient safety incident, with elderly patient populations displaying a particular vulnerability (Oliver 2007, p.173). Approximately one-third of adults over the age of sixty-five will

Advanced Practice Nursing Advanced Practice RN's in the Home Health Care Arena Identification of the phenomenon. There is an urgent need for APRN services in the home health care environment. That is the pivotal position this paper proposes to pursue. In a general sense, it is clearly evident that there is an urgent need for quality home care that exceeds the minimum expectations of patients and their families; this need exists because