Ageing population is a global phenomenon in this 21st century and has changed the demographic profile of many countries. Malaysia is also keeping pace with other countries in achieving the ageing population status whereby, the country also gradually experiencing on this. The elderly population of Malaysia is projected to increase from 5% in the year 2010 to 11.4% in 2040 (Department of statistic Malaysia, 2010). This is due to the improvements in health, low mortality, and fertility rates combined with increasing life expectancy over the latter half of the twentieth century (Phillips & Chan, 2002). With that, interest in well being in the later life and how to achieve it has intensified. Health as defined by World Health Organization is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO, 1985). Birren (1999) supports that in human ageing, the sequences of biological, behavioural and social environmental factors influence both life span and well being. Thus, quality of life is widely accepted as an indicator of successful ageing and it is monitored as a means of measuring the effectiveness of social policies, welfare programme and health care.
Ageing is distinguished from disease by the fact that it is universal. Multiple pathologies resulting in multiple symptoms, often non-specific, are a common phenomenon in the elderly (Arokiasamy, 1996). Few elderly persons escape the accumulation of chronic pathologies and long term non fatal diseases, which are degenerative in nature, as they grow older. According to Mental Health Quality of Life (MHQoL), there are 49.6% of older Malaysian having at least one to two chronic condition and 22.3% of the older population having more t...
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...and multidisciplinary approach to set up policies, programmes and activities relating to areas such as housing education, transport, taxation, and income security that will improve the quality of life of the ageing population and promote healthy aging. This would require coordination and linkage between policy planners, administrators, service deliverers, and the research community; between individuals and groups of older adults. Planning, development, delivery, and evaluation of services and activities provided will need the availability of strong data bases and relevant research. Importantly, the elderly must remain integrated in society and themselves must have a say in the formulation and implementation of policies that directly affect their well-being, while sharing their knowledge, skills and wisdom with society, and in particular the younger generation.
The aim of the agency is to develop knowledge and skills to cater the residents and ensure they enjoy their life at the aged care. Furthermore, the agency aims to enhance local expertise in mental and physical health care, improve care through training and foster a collaboration with academics, researchers, institutions, volunteers, therapists, doctors and other health care professionals.
The purpose of this paper is to illuminate and discuss healthcare vulnerabilities of the elderly rural population in Baker County, Florida and describe how the nursing profession can address these problems. Rural health has been a complex and multifaceted challenge for government and healthcare practitioners. The elderly who live alone in the county suffer from low socioeconomic status, low health literacy rates, declining cognitive and physical health and lack of healthcare facilities. The health status of this vulnerable group is impacted by rural culture and social values, healthcare policy and funding affecting rural healthcare facilities, distance and lack of transportation, and health literacy.
The Canadian population is graying at a steady pace, adding thousands of seniors above the age of 65 in the population charts year after year. This segment of the population needs special attention due to its social, emotional, health, and dwelling needs. Continued growth in the size of aging population is putting pressure on the economy, health care system, and living space for seniors. Planners and policy makers need to pay immediate attention to the issue as it is going to affect all Canadians in the years to come.
Caring for the elderly is an activity that requires patience, willingness, due diligence and effective co-ordination of resources in order to optimally benefit the recipients. Community services and programs is one such avenue that caters for the elderly by providing for their mental, physical, social and emotional well-being, and by extension promotes a greater quality of life. Community services help meet the needs of the elderly and attract older people who face barriers to active living. One strong advocate of community based services and a program for the elderly is the American Association of Retired People (AARP) who relentlessly seeks to promote a healthy lifestyle for people 50 years and over.
Upon growing older there are many decisions to be made. Among one of the most difficult and perhaps most important decisions is where the elder person will live and how long-term care needs will be met when he/she is no longer capable of doing so independently due to the incapacity that accompanies many with old age. Nursing homes seem to be the popular choice for people no matter the race, gender, or socioeconomic status with 1.5 million Americans being admitted to them yearly.[3] Because nursing homes are in such a high demand and are not cheap, $77.9 billion was spent for nursing home care in the United States in 2010 alone, they are under criticism of many professions including the legal profession, which is in the process of establishing elder law as a defense to issues with in the elder community. Nursing homes have a duty to provide many things to the elderly including medical, social, pharmaceutical, and dietary services so that the individual may maintain the highest well-being possible.[4] Stated another way 'a nursing facility must care for its residents in such a manner and in such an environment as will promote maintenance or enhancement of the q...
Aging and old age for a long time presented as dominated by negative traits and states such as sickness, depression and isolation. The aging process is not simply senescence most people over the age of 65 are not Senile, bedridden, isolated, or suicidal (Aldwin & Levenson, 1994). This change in perspective led the investigation of the other side of the coin. Ageing is seen as health, maturity and personal Royal growth, self-acceptance, happiness, generatively, coping and acceptance of age-related constraints (Birren & Fisher, 1995). Psychological und...
In conclusion there needs to be an increase in government funding for long term care facilities to convey maximum ability to provide quality of care to elders and equal accessibility too homes and care. Ways that can produce this outcome are increases in staff funding for training and recruitment, as well as for equipment to help increase care. Government funding should also help elders decrease the cost of living in nursing homes and allow equal accessibility to homes and care in homes.
There are changes in the demographic as the population grows older, the number of older adult’s increases and thus, there is an increase of proportion of patients that are older adults for nurses to take care of (Wells, Y., Foreman, P., Gething, L., & Petralia, W., 2004). The nurses are there to assist and support the older adults in achieving wellness within their situation through empowering the clients (Touhy, et al (2012). Caring for older adults is important as there is an increase in population with deteriorating health. When caring for a client it is important to incorporate Jean Watson’s caring theories and Carative Factors to help influence and support the care. She encourages nurses to co-participate within the caring process by establishing unity and trust between the nurse and client. First, this paper will explain a situation in where I cared for an older adult and it will then introduce Jean Watson’s lower order needs, specifically the need for activity and how it relates to the older adult I cared for. Lastly, this paper will explain the nursing interventions I implemented to meet the lower order need, with a discussion of Carative Factor #4 relating to the client.
As the population of the United States ages and lifespan increases, the U.S. is being faced with challenges that could either hurt the country or benefit it if plans are executed correctly. By the year 2050, more than thirty-two million Americans will be over the age eighty and the share of the 80-plus generation will have doubled to 7.4 percent. Health care and aging population has become a great deal considering the impact it is having on the U.S. The United States is heading into another century with an outstanding percentage of people within the aging population. Today’s challenges involving health care and the aging populations are the employees of health professions being a major percentage of the aging population, the drive into debt, and prevention and postponement of disease and disability.
Many countries globally are faced with unprecedented demographic changes from high mortality and fertility to low mortality and fertility, giving rise to an ageing population. Population ageing is profound and enduring, and has major consequences and implications for all facets of human life. With a larger proportion of older people, one of the major concerns is health and health care. The health of older persons generally declines with age and some illness are more likely to be associated with older people. One of such illness is dementia. As the life expectancies of the general population have dramatically increased since the turn of the century, more and more people are at risk of developing a dementia (National Institute of Aging, 2000).
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. (2012). Living Longer. Living Better. Aged Care Reform Package (technical document). Retrieved from www.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/ Content/63AB242EFDCFCD73CA2579F3000C7E8A/$File/AGED%20CARE%20 REFORM%20PACKAGE.pdf.
Health and Aging Often we take our health, or the absence of illness, disease, or injury for granted until we become sick. It is then that we recognize the worth of being without ailments. It is then that we appreciate feeling strong, robust and healthy. Being healthy and, being physically and mentally sound, is associated with one's satisfaction with life.
Life expectancy is the amount of time a person is expected to live which is a problem all around the world. The amount of time a person is expected to live in some countries is longer than in other co...
America is a country where everyone is free to live however they like, but it is possible for some people to live a happy life, if no one is around to take care of them. Nearly three hundred million people reside in the America, and out of those three hundred million populations, senior citizens make a 12 percent of the entire population. A senior citizen is commonly known as a person who is over the age of 65 and living on retirement, or known as social security benefits (Census Bureau). Ever since Franklin D. Roosevelt implied the act of Social Security in 1935, seniors are regularly provided a financial help, but seniors, along with financial help, seeks also accompany of someone who can look after them. Because of constantly growing needs of senior citizens, government as well as many non-profit organizations is working on helping seniors. Therefore I decided to research on this particular issue in my community, and I found that 64.5% of seniors are living alone in metropolitan area of Atlanta.
Aging is an unavoidable and irreversible change as a result of demographic transition in all societies. Family support for the elderly people has become a very important issue in examining the overall well-being of the elderly people. Family support is playing a key role in determining the quality of life (QOL) of the aged people. Elderly women have larger social networks outside the work environment than those of men (Tough et al.., 2012). Family as a social institution is closest and its influence can be felt in everyday life (Health Canada, 2004). It is a place where a person finds and expects the most encouragement, comfort and security and help if needed. “Health is where home is” Canadian Nurses Association (CNA).