Long term care (LTC) settings provide a vast variety of services that range from convalescent care, respite stays and skilled rehabilitation services which includes: skilled nursing, physical, occupational or speech therapy. LTC includes a broad spectrum of services that are designed to meet the varying needs of geriatric individuals and other adults with functional restrictions. The services rendered in this setting are designed to support individual needs from assistance with activities of daily living, medication management, cognitive and behavioral health support and limitations secondary to acute to chronic medical conditions. The care bestowed not only assists individuals with maintaining or improving their physical functioning, it enhances their quality of life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2013, there were 16,100 nursing homes in the United States (U.S.); over 1.7 million adult persons required placement in one of those long term care settings (CDC, 2013). Medical care within these settings has evolved from the traditional physician model with the introduction of the nurse practitioner (NP). The NP views the client as a whole, and considers how the individual’s condition or symptoms impact their overall well-being (e.g.: medically, physically and mentally). With the growing geriatric population in the United States, one has to ponder does the role of the nurse practitioner improve outcomes for the elderly clients?
When talking about Medicaid, “the program allows for the coverage of long term care services through several vehicles and over a continuum of settings, institutional care and home and community based long term services and supports.” (Long Term Services and Support) I ...
Encompassing coronary heart disease, myocardial infarctions, and heart failure, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for approximately 1 in every 4 deaths1,2. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is caused by atherosclerosis which occurs when the build-up of cholesterol in the arterial wall limits the travel of oxygen-rich blood in the body3. This can lead to serious problems, including heart attack, stroke, or death. CHD is a chronic and potentially fatal condition. The consequences of the disease affect the lifestyle of individuals diagnosed and greatly impact the health care system at large. As of 2010, the estimated direct and indirect cost of CHD in the US exceeded $108 billion annually4. CHD results in substantial healthcare needs and may affect where people choose to live as they age.
In the United States, after World War II (particularly the period between 1946 and 1964), the birth rate rose due to the excitement of the end of the war and the return of overseas soldiers. This period is notoriously known as the “Baby Boom” and still affects our country today (Unit 3, Greene 36). “Baby boomers” are now reaching the age of retirement where they can begin reaping Social Security benefits and other government aid; this has become known as “The Graying of America”. In recent censuses, results have concluded that adults “65 and over make up 12.5% of the U.S. population” due to the “Baby Boom” and advances in medicine (Greene, Unit 3: Demographic Changes 31). Therefore, the retired and elderly make up a large portion of the American population, who need increased support and financial care from the government as well as from the rest of the general population, as well as retirement benefits. The elderly require increased health care due to disabilities and diseases. The elderly also need appropriate living arrangements, which may require stay at home care or admission into nursing homes, with more long-term care nurses and attendants. With the increased federal and state spending, on the proportion of those over the age of 65, brings increased financial pressure, economic decline, and further socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic inequalities among the proportion.
Nursing assistants work in many types of settings including nursing homes, hospice, mental health centers, assisted living residences, home care agencies, hospitals, rehabilitation and restorative care facilities (Sorrentuino & Remmert, 2012). There are many types of Long-term care centers. For this paper, I will focus on the long-term care centers often referred to as nursing homes. These LTCs are "licensed facilities that provide extended care for individuals who do not require the acute care provided in a hospital but who need more care than can be given at home" (U.S Department of Health And Human...
We also evaluated the proportion of residents requiring assistance in their activities of daily living (ADLs) according to the KATZ scale. Within our cohort of residents ≥65 years old, the majority of residents with CHD needed assistance with 3-4 ADLs (p=0.18) (Figure 1). However, this was found this to not be statistically significant.
Taking care of the individuals that are getting older takes many different needs. Most of these needs cannot be given from the help of a family. This causes the need of having to put your love one into a home and causing for the worry of how they will be treated. It is important for the family and also the soon to be client to feel at home in their new environment. This has been an issue with the care being provided for each individual, which has lead to the need of making sure individuals have their own health care plan.
After reviewing the current state of the long-term care policy from the United States, it
I will discuss how LTC contributes to the U.S. Healthcare System, the targeted clients, employees that work within the long-term setting, the benefits and services offered within LTC, and the expected outcomes for individuals in a long-term facility. I will discuss the legalities and regulatory issues faced within the LTC setting along with ethical issues that may impede successful facilitation of a long-term facility.
As a worker in the healthcare industry, I have witnessed first hand the issues facing not only our elderly, but of the young and middle-aged. They have to make decisions that no family should face: to buy medication or pay for groceries.