Elderly Essays (Examples)

Elderly Care Case Study

Discharging a patient from hospital is usually a complex process that is surrounded by many challenges. Therefore an appropriate discharge plan should be put in place so that there can be avoidance of re-hospitalization. As the case manager for Mr. Trosak case there are several healthcare issues that should be addressed when working with an interdisciplinary plan to determine the most appropriate discharge plan for Mr. Trosak.

These healthcare issues include medication management, appointments, the nature of the patient's current home and suitability for the patient's condition and emotional care. It is important to address all this issues when determining the appropriate discharge plan for the elderly patient. This is because all these issues are important and if they are not addressed appropriately then the patient might eventually find their way back to the hospital. The discharged patient should have adequate help from family or other…

Many experience depressions and sudden mood swings. The abuse of drugs -- prescription or illegal -- can also lead to disorientation, memory loss and having new difficulties in making decisions (Blow 2003).

Given these effects, the recognition of drug abuse among the elderly population is quite an important task. The recognition of these symptoms, however, is made more complicated by the fact that many members of the elderly population already take a number of prescription drugs. The symptoms of drug abuse also mimic those of many illnesses that are often associated with aging.

This makes the proper recognition and treatment of drug abuse even more critical.

Treatment options: availability and barriers

Substance abuse problems among the elderly are often missed, due to lack of recognition from the caregiver and an unwillingness of the patient and/or family members to discuss the problem. However, when such symptoms are recognized, it is vital…

Elderly Care in America: A comparison with England's Healthcare System

Healthcare in America vs. Healthcare in England

Different countries have varying healthcare systems across the world and the systems are set to benefit the local population with the best possible care as would be dictated by the budgetary allocations and supported by the economy and the GDP of the particular nations. There are different sections of the healthcare system that try to cater for each section of the populations and this paper will specifically be concerned with the healthcare systems in the U.S.A. And in England, particularly directed at the elderly in the society. It will look at the healthcare system that prevails in the U.S.A. And the tenets that define it as well as the system that prevails in England, then the paper makes comparison of the two systems as well as highlight the differences that there are between…

Elderly Care

Adult Children and Elderly Care

Comment by Sabina:

Adult Children and Elderly Care

What are some of the major problems caregivers face?

With advances in modern medicine our elderly populations are living much longer. Family members who care for their elderly parents encounter many different problems. Some of the biggest problems that caregivers face are the financial strains and emotional strains involved with caring for an elderly parent. Medical care is extremely expensive, even with the use of Medicare there is still out of pocket cost associated with medical care and prescriptions. Adult children who care for parents, who are disabled or chronically ill, could experience many different levels of stress and emotions. There is a high level of stress associated with caring for a parent with a chronic disease. Career goals may also suffer for the caregiver. Many caregivers have to change their job or even leave…

Elderly Stereotypes in the Media

In Western society today, there has been an overwhelming tendency towards a concern with remaining as youthful as possible for as long as possible. Although this does extend towards the qualities of energy and vitality, the main focus of this drive is upon appearance. In American society particularly, the media has both encouraged and perpetuated this trend. Advertisements, greeting cards, and even cartoons often portray older people as feeble, foolish, and worthy of little more than providing some derisive entertainment for the younger generations. While the mass media has been improving its images of the elderly as citizens worthy of respect, there are still many images that cater to the general drive towards remaining young and physically attractive (Vickers, 2007).

Vickers (2007) notes that stereotypes occur in all sorts of media, including television, comics, and cartoons. One example of the cartoon genre is the online…

Elderly Population With Diabetes

AGE MATTERS

Elderly Diabetes

Epidemiology: Definition and Description

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and factors to health conditions in particular populations and its application to the control of these health conditions (NCCDPHP, 2004). The shortest description of the work of epidemiologists is that they count and compare data of cases of disease or injuries in a given population. Then they compare these data with those of another or other populations. From the comparison, they form inferences on patterns in determining if a certain problem exists. If and when they infer that there is a problem, they use the gathered data to determine the cause, the modes of transmission, probable factors of susceptibility, exposure or risk and other potential environmental factors. What a health care practitioner does to an individual patient, an epidemiologist does to an entire population. oth of them test their respective hypotheses…

Elderly Diabetics

Elderly Hispanic Diabetics

Diabetes is a real problem that affects a significant amount of our population. The death rate associated with diabetes continues to climb yearly, while the death rate of other diseases continues to decrease (ADA, 2010). Diabetes is impairment in the human body that prevents the body from converting glucose to energy. According to the CDC nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes and 79 million adults have prediabetes (CDC, 2010). This is a serious problem and needs further research.

In the Hispanic community Diabetes is a major health disparity. "there is a prevalence and health burden of diabetes, which is greater in older Mexican-Americans than in older non-Hispanic Whites and African-Americans, particularly among elderly men" (Black, ay, & Markides, 1999). This problem must be analyzed and addressed. There is a definite need for educating this population about the effects of diabetes. Educating this population about the…

The authors of this research studied 690 individuals between the ages 65 and 89 over a five-year period. They called the survey the "Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly" study (ACTIVE) -- and the results indicate that "cognitive reserve reflects the persistence of earlier differences in cognitive functioning" as opposed to the differential rates of "age-associated cognitive declines" (Tucker-Drob, p. 431). Moreover, the authors offer a pair of conclusions highly germane to elderly issues. One, formal education achieved during the formative years is not directly related to "rates of decline in cognitive functioning during later life" (p. 441). And two, getting a good education "casually influences cognitive abilities" during youthful years and "these benefits seem to persist…until late adulthood." Indeed the authors hypothesize that these benefits "may also serve to protect against functional impairment" and hence have "substantial implications for everyday functioning in later life" (p. 441).

An…

Elderly Drivers: Benefit of Experience or Danger to Others?

One of the most pertinent facts of society today is that, in general, populations are aging. This is particularly true of developed nations, where medical science has created a platform to allow the average person to live far longer than the case has been just 50 years ago. The result is a gradually aging population, where the number of elderly is increasing. In addition to concerns like funding for medical care, this phenomenon as also created concerns for road safety. Indeed, according to some statistics, the number of elderly drivers (drivers aged 70 and over) is likely to rise to triple its current level within 20 years (Smartmotorist.com, 2011). This rapid rise in elderly drivers has raised concerns about the safety of roads not only for other drivers, but for the elderly drivers themselves. Statistics appear to be as divided on…

Elderly Women

And the Poor (Women) Shall (Not) Inherit the Earth

In America we are often told that anyone can succeed. All you need to do is to work hard. Of course, it helps to be smart. And, of course, it helps to be white. And, of course, it helps to have a well-connected family. And just generally to have the kind of luck that means that you don't get hit by a car or a meteor or by a particularly virulent form of cancer. And, of course, more than almost anything else, it helps to be a man. One of the most accurate predictors of who will spend their old age in poverty is gender. Women end up poor, which affects every aspect of their lives. This paper examines one aspect of the intersection of poverty and gender: The relationship among female status, poverty, age, and housing.

Before beginning…

For example, Edna's color palate changes and the media she uses changes regularly, often revealing her state of mind before she is aware of it herself. Art has been one of Edna's main sources of stability. Edna appreciates her solitude. Even though she and her husband have always had a lot of friends, Edna prefers to be alone and frequently spends all day in her art studio, which is a large shed on their property.

In her 50s Edna started to become more active in her community. Her daughter's experience with spousal abuse inspired Edna to volunteer at a local women's shelter, where she continues to volunteer today. Passionate about the environment, Edna has served on more than one public council on community beautification and petitioned the city to expand its recycling program. In addition to her campaign for improved sanitation services with the city, Diamond has also served on…

The problem that exists in attempting to better understand elder care abuse from a clinical and social perspective, is that there are not enough studies relative to these contemporary times from which to gain insight in order to benefit a clinical approach to protecting elderly from the abuse, and to identity and intervene with a clinical approach at risk elderly people. Johnson, et al., describe elder abuse as interpersonal violence, that has beginning in the latter part of the twentieth century come to be identified as a violence against an age specific segment of the population (325). It is, Johnson, et al. say, a problem that has drawn focus on the same plane as human rights, gender, equality and population ageing (325). This is a timely focus and concern, because in the next decade there will be an unprecedented number of elderly world-wide, and especially in America, who are the…

In addition, it could actually lower insurance premiums, especially on the elderly, because insurance companies could be assured that the elderly drivers they are insuring are indeed still capable of driving safely.

In addition, creating federal legislation for the states can only save lives - not only of elderly drivers, but of others who come in contact with them. Studies show that, "For every mile they drive, people age 75 or older are more likely to be seriously injured or killed in an automobile accident than are drivers in any other age group except for teenagers. (McKnight 63). Another study notes, "Of traffic fatalities involving older drivers, 82% happened in the daytime, 71% occurred on weekdays, and 75% involved a second vehicle" ("Older Drivers"). Thus, elderly drivers are a danger to themselves, and are more likely to be injured because of their increasingly frail health, but they are also a…

Elderly and their Risk of Depression

Until just recently geriatric depression was not regarded as a medical diagnosis, however, with the elderly suicide rate being the highest in the country it has now come to the forefront of medical research. There are numerous reasons for depression in anyone, at any age, but it seems to plague the elderly at a much higher rate. This is due to a variety of reasons. One factor is the health condition of elderly people who ultimately become victims of a medical ailment by sixty-five years of age. This enhances the chances of depression substantially. Another major reason for geriatric depression is the loss a spouse, in which the passing of our significant other becomes such a traumatic experience that reclusiveness, denial, and ultimately depression are resorted to.

It has been recently acknowledged that insomnia is another cause of geriatric depression, often diagnosed as a…

However, research has shown this to be a more serious issue than previously thought. New research using reconstructed exposure histories suggested a clear association between heavy metal exposure, including lead, and Parkinson's disease. For a period of time, lead was a common ingredient in paints and other building materials. Studies also suggest that it does not take a great deal of toxic metal to store in the bone and cause health issues later in life.

Yach, D., et.al. (2006). "Epidemiologic and Economic consequences of the Global

Epidemics Of Obesity and Diabetes." Nature. 12 (1): 62-66.

One of the most visible issues facing older adults is obesity. Medical doctors, scholars, researchers are all in agreement that there is a complete link between what we eat and drink, and the consequences to our overall health. One need only look in the newspaper, magazines, grocery store aisles, or pop-up ads to see thousands…

elderly person's hands tell the story of a lifetime. Each spot, each crack, each wrinkle is a memory. That memory is permanently etched in these hands, which reach out and touch the world. Those hands scare me at first. They remind me that I will be old one day, too. Then I realize that those hands are trying to tell me something. I look at my own hands and try to listen. When I look again at the elderly person's hands, I see past, present, and future woven together in the story of time.

She is an infant, crawling on the floor. Her hands reach out to touch an object daddy dangles in front of her eyes. It makes a funny noise. She keeps one hand on the floor and reaches toward the object, opening and closing her fist. Daddy lets her touch it. The object is round and smooth.…

Elderly Women Diagnosed with Nonspecific Chest Pain May be at Increased Cardiovascular isk" is succinct, but it does convey the scope of the research in a very few words. It gives the three main variables around which the article is based.

The abstract contains all of the major sections of the paper, and it leads the audience properly into the study. Each section gets about a two sentence treatment which explains the intent of the article, its method and findings.

Basically the article states that since women are more prone to nonspecific chest pain there needs to be some research conducted which investigates whether women, who are also at a greater risk of heart disease, who have the chest pain are more prone to cardiovascular problems. The problem does have significance for nursing because nurses will be the first to hear about this type of chest pain, and with the…

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the average American lifespan was 46 years; now it is 77 years. A 1928 government study forecast that the "natural" lifespan would ultimately rise to the unbelievable level of 65 years. When Social Security was enacted, this estimate was used as the basis for setting the federal retirement age at 65. Lawmakers assumed Social Security would be economical because most people would die without ever receiving a benefit check. Instead, today Americans average an extra decade of life beyond what experts thought would be the biological maximum. ("Environmental eality: A Tidbit," 2003, p. 46)

There is a clear sense that the demographic of representation is also aging, as there are significantly older members of congress and court in seat today than has been the case in the past and this may also shift the trend toward bolstering some of the social services that…

In this regard, Sheve adds that, "For these people, assisted living may be the answer. Assisted living facilities fill a gap between complete independence and around-the-clock care. It's an option for those who are 'mostly abled' and who still want (and can safely live with) a high degree of freedom and independence" (para. 4). Not surprisingly, the continuum of care required for the elderly is closely associated with the age, with older individuals requiring higher levels of care as shown in Figure 2 below.

Figure 2. Percentage of elderly in the U.S. requiring assistance with everyday activities by age group

Source: Based on data from U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division at http://www.med carelifts.com/65plus.htm

In response to the growing elderly population, there are currently more than 23,000 long-term care facilities of some type in the United States that deliver care for more than a million-and-a-half elderly residents, and the number of…

elderly in American Society. Using a book by Tracy Kidder called Old Friends the reader of this paper is given a detailed outline of what various elderly concerns are. Social relationships, doctors and patient needs as well as nursing home discussions are all included.

THE NEED FOR COMPASSION

Medical science has grown in leaps and bounds over the last century. Today, we are living longer than ever before and we are having a premium quality of life while doing so. Doctors are able to mend and cure problems that would have killed us even 50 years ago. With the increased longevity, comes a new set of problems for society as the geriatric population finds growing in numbers each year. While it is encouraging that we can now incorporate long-range plans for our lives well into our golden years, the ability to do so comes with its own set of trouble.…

elderly treated in foraging societies? Is there any variation, or are the old considered to be useless

The way that the elderly are treated in a particular society varies in accordance to the mores and realities that each individual society faces. This notion applies to foraging societies, in which people hunt and gather food, as well. In most societies the elderly are treated with respect for the simple fact that they have lived a long time, have learned and can teach a lot, and have taken care of others most of their lives. There is a degree of variation in the way that the elderly are treated in foraging societies, which is dependent on the most relative factors for that society.

There are some societies in which the elderly are considered useless entities that cannot hunt or gather. This statement is true for certain indigenous people in areas of Alaska,…

By allowing health care professionals to educate patients about issues of specific concern to their health, the program helps prevent or at least reduce the likelihood of certain kinds of health and safety threats. Similarly, by providing a medication review system and ongoing monitoring of chronic diseases and symptoms, the program allows residents to receive appropriate intervention at the earliest possible stage of disease rather than after acute symptoms manifest themselves and complications develop that require more serious forms of intervention.

Obviously, the picture presented by the program described in the article is a positive situation that demonstrates some of the most meaningful ways that health care providers can promote and help maintain human health in vulnerable populations whose members might typically receive fewer than all of the health and health-related service that they actually require for optimal health, safety, and wellness. However, another small part of the article illustrates…

Learner-Centered Instruction: Teaching Patients How to Care for Themselves When They Have a Diagnosis of Congestive Heart Failure
Part I
Introduction
Teaching patients how to care for themselves when they have a diagnosis of congestive heart failure has been shown to be “effective in improving self?care and reducing readmissions” (Stromberg, 2005). This project will provide a lesson plan that nurses can implement using a learner-centered instruction approach in order to help patients with congestive heart failure properly and effectively apply self-care.
Rationale
Currently there is a need for better self-care among patients with congestive heart failure, as shown by Dickson and Riegel (2009) and Harkness, Spaling, Currie, Strachan and Clark (2015), as self-care can help to empower patients to provide more effective relief and management of their own health. Moreover, Tsai, Wang, Lee, Tsai & Chen (2015) show that self-care can help reduce re-admission rates and prevent patients from misapplying…

5

Defining Ageism
Ageism is a term or concept that has become popular in the modern society though its definition remains problematic. Most of the existing definitions of ageism are based on parallels of sexism and racism (Iversen, Larsen & Solem, 2009). However, ageism can basically be defined as stereotyping or discriminating against others based on their age. In most cases, ageism refers to poor treatment of older people or the elderly though it can also refer to prejudice against young people in certain cases. Some of the most common prejudices associated with ageism including the belief that older people are unable to contribute to the society, consideration of the elderly as slow and inactive, and viewing them as people with poor memory. While some of these issues reflect the experiences of older people, they can be used for positive or negative stereotyping of the elderly population.
An example of…

Brain training with non-action video games and its effects on brain health among the elderly showing early signs of dementia

Specific Aims

Past researches have revealed the potential contribution of video game-playing to the improvement of certain cognitive functions among healthy aged individuals (Lampit, Hallock & Valenzuela, 2014; Jak, Seelye & Jurick, 2013). Drawn by the above results reached by scholars in the field, game-making firms have developed and released several kinds of games aimed at brain training (for instance, Brain Age, Brain Challenge and Big Brain Academy). Ever since their earliest releases into the gaming market, games of this sort have enjoyed immense popularity worldwide (Toril, Reales & Ballesteros, 2014; Nouchi et al., 2013). Among the anticipated advantages of such games is improved cognitive functions (for instance, recall, processing pace, executive function, and concentration), indicated often using the term 'transfer effect'.

This research project specifically aims at examining the…

Most of the drug commercials also show the elderly with health concerns and needing help from others. In addition, it is rare to see an elderly contestant on a game show or interviewed on the nightly news, and most commercials star young, healthy, and very vital and attractive young people. When the elderly are featured, it is mostly with health concerns and problems.

Some situation comedies depict the elderly in a better light. For example, in "Everybody Loves Raymond," the two elderly cast members, Peter Boyle and Doris Roberts, are depicted as cranky and eccentric, like many elderly are depicted on TV, but they are also loving, if annoying, parents. They are also funny and warm, and have a mature relationship on the screen. They are funny, but they also add warmth to the show, and great character. It would not seem they were entirely positive, but they certainly are…

Preventing Falls: A Program to Address Elderly Falls Using the Strategy of Education

The goal of this program is to prevent elderly persons from experiencing falls, which can have severe impacts on their health. Falls are one of the most dangerous experiences an elderly person can suffer (Owen, 1985) and so it is important not only for them to be aware of the dangers around them but also for others who care for them or who know them to be aware of how we could help to prevent falls (American Institute of Architects Foundation, 1986). The main goal of this program, therefore, is to spread knowledge and education about elderly fall risks and to adopt preventative measures that can be adopted both by the elderly and by their caretakers, children, neighbors, friends, loved ones -- in short, anyone who comes into contact with them and cares to help them avoid…

Elderly Falls

With the help of a thorough clinical evaluation, the risk factors, risks associated with falling and working out adequate intervention methods to curb the rate of elderly falls can be achieved. As per the 2011 AGS / BGS guidelines, (Panel on Fall, 2011) certain particulars need to be incorporated in a particular clinical evaluation: 1: Patient history, physical examination, mental and physical functionality; 2: Number of falls occurring, number of medications taken; issues regarding mobility, balance and gait; blurred eyesight; various mental disabilities; weak muscular strength; uneven heartbeat and rhythm; postural hypotension; problems in feet and risks related to environment (Shubert, 2014).

Strategies to Prevent Elderly Falls and Health elated Consequences

Assistive Devices and Other Protective Equipment: Appropriate footwear is required for particular conditions, for instance, wintery weather necessitates anti-slip shoes whilst warmer weather requires cleated footwear, facilitating decreased falls (Panel on Fall, 2011).

Clinical Disease Management (Acute…

For instance, a decline in peripheral vision may impact the ability to pass approaching vehicles safely, and the decreased range of motion in an older person's neck may impair the ability to look behind when backing up. Also, reaction time decreases by almost 40% on average from age 35 to 65 (Jackson, 1999).

It also appears that the aging process may affect cognitive skills. Short-term memory loss, for instance, can decrease driving skills by interfering with an individual's ability to process information effectively when merging onto a highway into traffic or changing lanes. Such issues are magnified when driving under stressful situations. The higher incidence of cognitive impairment, particularly dementia, among older men and women leads to an increased risk of accident involvement (Jackson, 1999).

According to AAP, as a group, persons age 65 and older are relatively safe drivers. Although they represent 14% of all licensed drivers, they are…

" (Stone, 2006) Treatment is stated by Stone (2006) to be "diagnosis dependent and may be medical or surgical." Practical modifications include simple steps such as crushing of pills or opening of capsules to ease and facilitate swallowing.

The work of Leibovitz, et al. (2007) entitled: 'Dehydration Among Long-Term Care Elderly Patients with Oropharyngeal Dysphagia" states that long-term care (LTC) residents in the nursing home "especially the orally fed with dysphagia are prone to dehydration. The clinical consequences of dehydration are critical. The validity of the common laboratory parameters of hydration status is far from being absolute, especially so in the elderly." (Leibovitz, et al., 2007) it is related however that "combinations of these indices are more reliable." (Leibovitz, et al., 2007) the study reported by Leibovitz et al. is one that assessed hydration status among elderly LTC residents with oropharyngeal dysphagia and in which a total of 28 orally…

In addition, those who are emotionally troubled and who are overweight -- often a contributing factor to emotional difficulties -- do not receive extra counseling time." Seale, Seale & Zhang (2008, p.425) This is a serious concern and one that must be addressed immediately by physicians who are providing care for obese patients.

Future

A lot of revamping has to be done to meet this increased need of obese elderly and this has to be done fast. The numbers are increasing by the day and unless some initiatives are taken right away, it can blow up into a full-fledged catastrophe in the future. The first and foremost step that is required is to change the present healthcare system to make it more effective and efficient. Changes have to be made in the delivery of service as well as payments to make it more accessible to the elderly.

Another important step…

This difficulty does not just stop at causing dietary deficiencies but may also lead to acute dental and non-dental diseases. With early detection and intervention such diseases can be prevented thus the health professionals in senior centers can take a step of screening the seniors for oral problems and take the necessary steps. They can also train the seniors on practicing preventive health and also refer them to appropriate nutritional and dental professionals.

It is common for seniors to rate their health, the good news is that most of them rate their health status as good, very good, or excellent. There is a relation between self-rated health and mortality and expectations for dying, it is therefore necessary to encourage those having positive self-rating so that they can maintain and improve their health. Those with negative self-ratings should also not be ignored but should be assisted to develop a positive attitude…

Falls in the Elderly

It is no secret that elderly people fall more than people in younger age groups. Each year, approximately one-third of elderly people will experience a fall of some kind (Yoshida, n.d.; Centers, 2013). There are several reasons that this can be the case. The theory here is that balance simply becomes more tenuous as a person ages, and that not all falls in the elderly can be prevented. However, there are racial differences seen in falls, as well. White men experience the largest number of fatal falls, followed by white women, then black men, and black women (Yoshida, n.d.). People who have limited access to health care and other helpful options are also more likely to fall. They may have diseases or conditions that make falling more likely, putting them at risk (Yoshida, n.d.). Additionally, people who live alone and who do not have a lot…

The emphasis is on normal, everyday activities provided for residents. According to the authors, however, little research has been conducted to investigate the actual effect of such activities and settings upon residents. The assumption is that such settings have a better effect that traditional institutions, but there is little empirical research to support this.

Hence, Verbeek et al. (2010) conducted a study to compare small-scale living with regular care in nursing homes in the Netherlands. Interestingly, they found no significant difference between the quality of life experienced by residents in traditional institutional settings and those in small-scale living facilities. Furthermore, there was also no significant difference in the job satisfaction levels of nursing staff between both types of institution was found. Another important aspect, namely neuropsychiatric symptoms and agitation were also significantly similar for both institution types. According to the authors, a difference was found in the satisfaction level of…

Difficulties that Elderly People Encounter and Their Life Satisfaction," which was published within the scholarly journal Social Behavior and Personality in 2008, social scientists Kasim Karatas and Veli Duyan analyze the level of life satisfaction experienced by elderly residents of the Ankara region of Turkey, while also exploring the various factors which may negatively influence one's life satisfaction. According to the authors, "the purpose of this study was to examine the sociodemographic characteristics of elderly people and the effects that difficulties they encounter in daily life have on their life satisfaction" (2008), with the dually overriding objectives of determining a causal relationship between life satisfaction and either sociodemographic characteristics or hardships experienced. Relying on the tried and true methodology of administering a detailed survey and questionnaire combination, in this case to a sample of 109 females and 76 males between the ages of 60 and 98 living in the Kocatepe…

Pressure Ulcers in the Elderly

Gifty Appiah

Dr. Judi Kuric

DNP Project

Final Premise

DNP Project Question

Will Every Two Hourly Turning and Positioning Decrease Pressure Ulcers in the Elderly Bed Bound Population in Nursing Home.

Will Every Two Hourly Turning and Positioning Decrease the Pressure Ulcers in the Elderly Bed Bound Population in Nursing Homes.

Pressure ulcers are a common cause of immobility among the elderly, which results in immense pain, suffering, and substantial costs with charges because of increased length of stay in the nursing homes. Prior studies suggest that patients who receive care in accordance to evidence-based guidelines are not at risk of developing pressure ulcers. However, the empirical evidence on the effectiveness of the measures is inadequate. Nevertheless, frequent manual repositioning of patients is a firmly established standard of care for the elderly; although there has been no much evidence on the same, experts suggest that…

Restraining the Elderly

Project Management

The Project Management path for this research proposal will follow the path of quantitative research in a 'quasi-experimental' environment. Adhering as closely as possible to quantitative experiments designed to establish the causal factors or interdependent links between grouped variables, the researcher will follow a natural course of progression in administering dependent and independent variables, designing the sampling set, determining the optimal time(s) and location(s) for conducting the research, developing the measures and instruments necessary for evaluation of non-empirical evidentiary conclusion (i.e., the thought processes and reasoning of medical staff), measuring the response to education and procedural methodology, documentation to include evaluation materials, response forms, and restraint logs, preparing the education program, delivering the lectures, and evaluating the results in change or lack of change in care providers attitudes toward patient restraint.

Project Limitations

Any project that measures the process of learning, comprehension, acceptance or denial,…

The results of this analysis highlight the need for hospitals to fine-tune their discharge process to reduce readmissions, and support the expenditure of additional resources for this purpose as a cost-effective intervention; as an example, author cites a hospital in Iowa that implemented a rigorous post-discharge planning process for patients with heart failure and 30-day readmission rates were reduced by 3-9% during the 3-month period following implementation.

Conclusion

The research showed that many elderly patients who suffer from congestive heart failure also suffer from a wide range of comorbid conditions, including diabetes and hypertension. These patients can be reasonably expected to require periodic or even frequent treatment in emergency departments and/or hospitalizations for these conditions, making the need for effective and seamless post-discharge planning especially important. In this regard, the research also showed that there are some valuable evidence-based practice guidelines available, though, that can help clinicians better coordinate post-discharge…

Fraud and the Elderly

Elderly Fraud Victimization

Prevalence and Predictors of Fraud Victimization among the Elderly

Prevalence and Predictors of Fraud Victimization among the Elderly

Applied esearch and Consulting (AC, 2013) conducted a recent national online survey for the FINA Investor Education Foundation, with the goal of quantifying the prevalence of fraud victimization among the American adult population. Any American over the age of 40 was invited to participate, but for the purposes of meeting the 2010 Census distribution for age, ethnicity, and geographic location the sample was limited to 2,364. The primary focus of the study was financial fraud, including red flag persuasion tactics, cold calls, free lunch seminars, oil and gas scams, promissory note scams, pump and dump, pre-IPO scams, multi-level marketing, digital currency, lottery scams, and affinity (relatives) fraud. On a scale of one to ten, with one representing the most risk averse, persons over the age…

affordable Care Act (also known as the ACA or Obamacare) on the elderly

Obamacare: Its impact upon the elderly

The impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) (often called 'Obamacare') upon America is often discussed by politicians as if it had a uniform impact upon all citizens. However, the ACA's effects have been relatively disparate, depending upon the nature of the population. This paper will specifically focus upon the impact of the ACA on the elderly of a variety of socio-economic categories.

One of the criticisms of the American healthcare system before the passage of the ACA was the spiraling cost of entitlement programs such as Medicare, the federally-provided health insurance program for seniors. "One good result of all this [ACA] is that the burden of Medicare for taxpayers in future years has been drastically lowered. In fact, the day Barack Obama signed the ACA into law he cut the…

In a study of the prevalence of elder abuse in the United States, financial difficulties on the part of the abuser did appear to be an important risk factor (Krug, 2002, pp. 130-131).

elationship factors - in the early theoretical models, the level of stress of caregivers was seen as a risk factor that linked elder abuse with care of an elderly relative. While the accepted image of abuse depicts a dependent victim and an overstressed caregiver, there is growing evidence that neither of these factors properly accounts for cases of abuse. Although researchers do not deny the component of stress, they tend now to look at it in a wider context in which the quality of the overall relationship is a causal factor. Today, the belief is that stress may be a contributing factor in cases of abuse but does not by itself account for the entire phenomenon.

Living…

Q4. Participants at treatment facilities might be disproportionately affluent and white, given that historically, individuals of color suffering from addictions have more often been relegated to prisons, rather than received support and assistance. Public as well as private treatment facilities may need to be compared, to ensure a more representative sampling.

Part B:

Article:

Benshoff, John J., Laura K. Harrawood, & Darwin Shane Koch. (2003, April-June). Substance

abuse and the elderly: unique issues and concerns. Journal of Rehabilitation. 69.

In this study, the authors used a literature review format to examine a variety of previous studies of substance abuse amongst the elderly. In general, while individuals tend to age out of illicit drug use, alcohol abuse remains a risk throughout an individual's lifespan, given the lack of social and cultural taboos. Broad-ranging studies have found that alcohol abuse amongst the elderly is a silent epidemic, and both late and early-onset…

Therapeutic Massage on Elderly, Grieving Widows

The prosperity of a country is in accordance with its treatment of the aged," states an ancient Jewish Proverb ("Massage for the Mature Adult," 2001). This is an honorable and true statement. Too often many of our elderly people's needs are not noticed or attended to by family, friends, or medical practitioners. This is especially true for older women whose husbands have died.

Widowhood can have a tremendous impact on the health of older women (Ferraro, 1989; owling, 1987; Gass & Chang, 1989). The death of a spouse or partner has been described as the most disruptive and difficult role transition that an individual confronts throughout the life course (Lopata, 1987). In the United States, over 49% or 8.4 million women over the age of 65 are widows (radsher, 2000). Houdin (1993) states that "although the literature abounds with subjective pieces concerning bereavement, little…

Cognitive Disorder in Elderly

Cognitive Disorders in Elderly

Sachiko Furuya

Cognitive Assessment & Lab

Kris Thomas, PhD

The research of this study is related to cognitive, dementia, Alzheimer disease, and depression issues with the elderly populations of the United States and in the world in general. Societies with a large number of elderly people such as the U.S.A. are increasingly focusing their efforts on improving the life standards of these people based on the types of services given to them. The well-being of those on palliative and hospice care is as important as the well-being of the family members of these patients. Although many health issues present themselves during the elder years of any patient, there is a lot of attention paid to cognitive and mood issues in this age group. The disorders and maladies that are relevant to this population include, among others, depression, dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI)…

Elderly in Monrovia, CA

The population of people aged 65 years or greater is steadily escalating, as baby boomers come of age. It is estimated that this age bracket accounts for 10% of the total world population, and is statistically increasing. As this sector of the population steadily increases, there are of course, accompanying health care issues: osteoarthritis, cardiac and kidney issues, Alzheimer's or dementia, and an ever-growing problem with depression. For this essay, we will concentrate on several health issues that plague seniors nationally, but will specifically focus on the aging population over 65 in Monrovia, California.

Monrovia is a smallish city located at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in the San Gabriel Valley, Los Angeles County. Monrovia was settled in the late 1800s as a central hub for the growing orange grove industry, but has now become more of a bedroom community that supports the urban…

Poverty is defined as having a meager annual income, insufficient for meeting basic expenditure. esearch has confirmed that older adults, from the age of 65 years and above, when poor, confront immense burden in meeting with their basic housing, food, healthcare and other expenses. Poverty in the elderly populations is a persistent and grave issue in America. Almost 10% of elderly individuals (aged 65 years and above) belong to families with annual income below America's official poverty line, also termed as the federal poverty level (or FPL). An older adult (age- 65+) who lives alone was labeled as a 'poor' individual if his/her annual income before tax amounted to less than 10, 326 dollars, in 2008. Elderly couples having incomes under 13, 014 dollars were labeled as poor. oughly one in every six elderly individuals was nearly poor, or poor, with income less than 125% of FPL; nearly a third…

Living Aangements Among the Eldely

This is an eight page pape concening the divesity in living aangements among the eldely. Thee ae six efeences used.
Intoduction
People today ae living longe, which means thee is a lage eldely population in ou society. Thee ae many concens facing the eldely, one of which is housing. The eldely have seveal options available to them and it's inteesting to see how divese they can be.
Statistics
Befoe we look at the housing options fo the eldely, we should fist exploe the statistics concening the population of this gowing goup. Thee wee ove 35.0 million pesons ove 65 in the United States in 2000. This accounts fo 12.4% of the population o one in evey eight Ameicans. Since 1990, the numbe of eldely has inceased 12.0% in compaison to the 13.3% incease of those unde 65. The statling fact is those aged 45-64 inceased…

The gradual decrease in income, eventual dependency on other people and the government for financial resource, lack of activities to do, and the onset of physical and/or physical limitations as a result of aging are known causes of frustration, stress, and even depression among elderly people who have retired (Blekesaune and Solem, 2005, p. 80). In the case of Mrs. a, she has not experienced these negative feelings or emotions as she had been flexibly and intermittently engaging herself in house-, family- and community-related pursuits. However, she did admit that her husband's death had been a pivotal point in her life, when she felt that she, too, must be with her husband because, as far as she is concerned, she has already accomplished what she was supposed to do as a "wife, mother, and woman."

Interestingly, with Mrs. a, work and retirement is not the conventional kind of retirement one…

It is also wise to have it reviewed by a doctor or attorney, the Family Doctor eb site suggests; that way you can be assured that what you wish to have done with you and to you if you become incapacitated is "understood exactly as you intended" (Family Doctor).

The advance directives are sensitive and private, and they are very important for seniors. But the advance directives can be controversial, so it is wise for older people to know the law and understand the facts. To wit, there have been rumors and falsehoods spread on the orld ide eb and elsewhere about the advance directives that are spelled out in the recent overhaul of the healthcare system. Former governor of Alaska Sarah Palin made news in the summer of 2009 by asserting that the advance directives in the healthcare overhaul created a "death panel" of bureaucrats who will "decide, based…

foundational issues at hand for our culture is the provision of health care for all. Challenging the standard by limiting health care for the elderly is a substantial ethical question. (Etzioni, 1988, pgs. 168-174) Yet, regardless of the bargaining power of organizations who advocate for the elderly the limitations are being made, in more covert and less effective ways. Regardless of public opinion the system we have now adopted is inefficient and not only do the elderly suffer, but all others who are not offered services in economically feasible ways suffer.

The system will continue to be based upon capitalistic standards as long as benefits exist in a manner that provides profits for cutting corners on standard preventative care and offering substantially overblown services to those who can afford to pay for it or who have no voice to say no. (Lamm, 1989, pgs. 158-162) Providing care in such a…

Fall Among the Elderly Age Group

Falls among the Elderly Age Group

Biological Factors

Unintentional falls

Expected falls and unexpected falls

isk Elements for Falls

Outline of Several Different Strategies

Counseling and Health Education Strategies

Single Strategies

Primary Strategies

Exercise and physical activity 8

Nursing-Home Strategies

Interventions of Unidentified Effectiveness

Developed Based on your Understanding of the Public Health Problem

Schedule an appointment with your Medic

Keep moving

Wear sensible shoes

According to JM (2009), "As people get older, falls turn out to be a typical and often hurting issue that occurs among those that are in the elderly category, producing a huge quantity of illness, death and use of health care services as well as premature nursing home admittances ( p. 42)." However, falls are a difficult, multi-faceted problem that comprises of social, medical, and financial elements. Medically, the mixture of a high occurs of falls and an increased…

An opportunity has been identified in a growing niche that has been largely untapped to date. The opportunity further can be described as being at a crossroads that exists where many factors come together in an intersection in which many social changes are present. The business model that is being proposed in this report consists of developing prepped meal service for seniors, where prepared, nutritionally-balanced meals are delivered to seniors who have trouble cooking for themselves, at a cost-effective price. The need for a sustainable food service model that focuses on meals that are easy to prepare, nutritionally-balanced, consistent with dietary requirements, and affordable is especially relevant to a vulnerable population like the elderly who, in many cases, has difficulty in maintaining a proper diet. The demand for such a service has quietly build a niche industry that is still developing.

There are many social factors that have been identified…

health issue of falls among the elderly in Canada.

Community Health Problem

The major reason behind the Canadian seniors' hospitalization is fall-related injury. Approximately 20% to 30% seniors fall in a year. For instance, Canadian Community Health Survey statistics shows mostly over 80-years older seniors, 20% living in the community are fall (Seniors' Falls in Canada: Second eport - Public Health Agency of Canada, n.d).

Extent of the Problem

256,011 older Canadians suffered from fall-related injuries in 2009/2010. Comparing with injured people, other than fall-related, percentage was higher in females over 74-year age (63.6% as compared to 54.3%). Statistically, difference based on marital status was also notable. 55.9% fall-related injured people were married as compared to other injured that were 63.6%. Furthermore, 31% of the fall-related injured people were widows as compared to 23.6% other injured people. In this education group, 30% people had fall related injury as compared to…

Substance / Alcohol Abuse among the Elderly

Substance/alcohol abuse among the elderly 60 years and older

Alcohol and substance abuse among the elderly is a significant social problem, not only because people in this age group tend to have very permissive attitudes towards social drug and alcohol usage but also because the stressors that accompany aging may result in increases in drug or alcohol usage to problematic levels. While people may begin experiencing age-related problems in their 40s and 50s, it is not generally until their 60s that most people begin to experience significant physical or emotional challenges related to age. These challenges are often accompanied by major life changes, such as retirement, the death of a spouse or friends, relocation, and diminished physical and intellectual capabilities. These changes may mean a lack of access to the coping mechanisms that have traditionally served the individual, leading to a rise in…

The Aging Population and Dementia
Introduction
Dementia is generally defined as a problem that impacts the elderly population and includes “impairments in cognitive and intellectual ability, memory, language, reasoning, and judgment that interfere with everyday functioning” (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2014). The two leading types of dementia in the world are Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia (Livingston et al., 2017). Dementia is a problem for the elderly population because it is so prevalent and still somewhat poorly understood. As Jayadev et al. (2010) point out, the cause of the disease is still relatively unknown, which makes treating it difficult for care providers. An average of 25 million elderly people suffer from some form of dementia in developed nations—and that number is double in developing nations (Livingston et al., 2017). The best that care providers can hope for in this situation is to treat it by using preventive care interventions,…

Gran Torino

Moody (2010) introduced many important concepts about aging in his textbook. The idea of aging as a subject is broached in many ways in this informative book, however there are some key aspects that suggest the most prominent and problematic concepts of aging that are highlighted when comparing this text to the film Gran Torino, directed by Clint Eastwood. This movie suggests that despite the portrayal as violence as a virtue, becoming elderly is a difficult and misunderstood time in one's life. The film depicted a man who, after a lifetime of resorting to violence, realizes he his misunderstood in a changed world that pays him no respect.

Moody wrote "the subjective experience of meaning is closely related to individual well being. The search for interpretive meaning in later life underscores the importance of cognitive functioning in old age," (p.23). Using this idea as a model for the…

Substance Abuse in the Elderly

The increase in substance abuse among people over 60 years of age is understandable from several perspectives. The boomer generation grew up in a society that was experimenting with controlled substances, and in -- or on the margins of -- a culture that viewed the use of drugs as normative. Indeed, much of the rhetoric about drugs and alcohol was that these substances could enhance life experiences, provide deeper insights into one's life -- transcendence, if you will -- and ease the suffering brought about by life transitions and quotidian pressures. This generation found self-medicating for personal angst and genuine disorders such as depression or post-traumatic syndrome was acceptable.

While many life challenges are universal and do not occur in higher percentages according to particular demographics, other challenges are linked to demographics. People in their 60s and beyond do experience an uptick of physical and…

Child Abuse Elder Abuse)

Abuse in the contemporary society

There is much controversy regarding child and elderly abuse in the contemporary society. Even with the fact that the general public agrees with regard to the negative effect such actions have on victims and on the world as a whole, numerous cases are still being reported every year and it seems that in many communities there is a type of silent acceptance of the occurrence. In most cases, the perpetrators motivate their behavior by relating to the stress that their victims inflicted on them previous to the violent event and to how their actions were largely owed to the fact that they could no longer control themselves. The following two cases of abuse demonstrate the degree to which violence pervades the social order and makes it difficult and almost impossible for anyone to intervene.

The American football running back for the…

Interview With the Elderly

As Cavanaugh and Blanchard-Fields (2014) assert, "We cannot understand adults' experiences without appreciating what came before in childhood and adolescence" (p. 4). The interviewee, therefore, was asked to describe her childhood experiences on the farm where she grew up. She recalled a life that was much more rugged and basic than today's childhood experiences. She described having to help with the slaughter of pigs, which she did not like, because it smelled terribly. She described the flowers that her father grew and the greenhouse that was popular. She talked about the stone house and how it was divided up among her parents and her siblings and how they would have curtains separating "rooms" and how there was no such thing as television when she was a child. These experiences clearly shaped her character and her perspective of things as she grew older and the world around…

person creative? In what ways do you think creativity can be supported and enhanced by the environment?

What makes a person creative is the combination of imagination and will and exercising of that interaction. A creative person is one who can do things in a unique way -- one who is imaginative and likes to take part in the creative process by developing ideas and utilizing latent skills within the individual that all concepts and expressions to be manifested in any number of ways. Creativity stems from a desire to produce works, whether art or writing or sewing or knitting or architecture -- anything that one can put the mind to accomplishing -- in a manner that is pleasing. It does not even have to be something that is aesthetically pleasing to all. For some creative people, what they make is only admired by a few or maybe even by…