How Nursing Care Can Improve the Care Quality for the Elderly

According to Dr. Calvin Hirsch, there are roughly 46 million Americans aged 65 or older, a population that is continually expanding. The number is projected to almost double by 2060. Most have many chronic ailments and use multiple medicines, and as they shift from independent life to dependence on others, they live with uncertainty. The Age-Friendly Health Systems effort, a collaboration between the John A. Hartford Foundation, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and the American Hospital Association, strives to enhance health systems that are accommodating to older persons.

Health care reimbursement is a subject of continuing controversy. Numerous academics have found numerous impediments to elderly care. Numerous of these obstacles include payment strategies and the absence of compensation. Some study indicates that payment policies may affect the quality of treatment by limiting the number of operations done on elderly patients. Other studies indicate that a health system may increase the quality of treatment for older persons by placing a greater emphasis on providing high-quality care to low-income patients.

Providing high-quality care is dependent on educating older individuals about their needs. The aging process produces alterations in sensory and musculoskeletal function, which may impair the capacity of older persons to live independently and manage their health concerns. A reduction in vision or hearing, for instance, might hinder an older person's ability to learn self-care techniques. Nurses should recognize behaviors that suggest physical learning difficulties.

The infrastructure of the health system must be sufficient to promote healthy lifestyles and safeguard persons from damage. A catastrophic mistake happens when the whole system fails to fulfill this fundamental architecture. When vulnerabilities in one layer of a system align and enable all defenses to collapse, this is a catastrophic mistake. If a health system can be improved on all levels, it can be robust against such failures. And it can if the proper incentives are provided.

Dr. Calvin Hirsch pointed out that nurses may assist older persons in learning how to live healthier lives by educating them on fundamental health knowledge and lifestyle modifications. When educating older folks about a new topic, they should utilize familiar examples. Asking patients about their own experiences relating to a new skill is a fantastic method to strengthen their cognitive foundation for problem-solving. In other instances, nurses may function as surrogate readers for family members, reinforcing information delivered in the clinical setting and answering concerns after the patient returns home.

There are several causes and repercussions of age discrimination, including age prejudice among health care practitioners. It has been shown that physicians are less patient and polite with senior patients than with younger patients, and that their dialogue with them is often condescending. Additionally, doctors are less likely to include patients in medical decision-making, resulting in less intergroup communication. Social networks may be an important topic for future study and therapeutic efforts.

Negative age views have a significant influence on older persons' interactions with the medical system and their ability to get excellent health care, according to research. It may be natural in an ageist culture for many older persons to have a pessimistic outlook on aging. Ageist beliefs also result in unfavorable health effects, such as an increased risk of heart disease. However, we must address these attitudes before we can effectively increase the quality of care for older individuals.

A large component to global health care expenses is age-related sickness. The aging population has increased the number of disability-adjusted life years, and many older persons rely largely on health care systems to preserve their functional status and extend their lives. Although aging populations constitute a significant proportion of the population, older folks are not the major consumers of health care and hence do not have access to the same services as younger people.

In Dr. Calvin Hirsch’s opinion, age-related health and safety must strike a balance between individual liberty and the public interest. It may be important for older persons to reduce their activities and relocate to a safer area. Others may choose to preserve their degree of autonomy and engage in activities that lessen the risk of disease or damage. In any case, health-related safety needs service provider and customer participation in decision making. Similarly, health institutions should educate senior citizens on how to minimize possible health dangers at home. Additionally, older persons must be prepared to accept any negative health effects resulting from their activities.