...psychological, or social health” (de Chesney, 2012). There are many vulnerable populations and this paper will concentrate on the elderly. According to Walsh (2009), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), states the elderly are considered anyone 65 years old or older. With the increased lifespan of elderly, there have become new demographics of young old (65-74), old (75-84), and oldest old (85 & over), and the frail old (anyone over 65 with physical or cognitive disabilities). The US census bureau estimated in 2011, the population of elderly persons 65 and over living in the U.S. to be 311,501,917. Between 2000 and 2010, the population 65 and over grew at a faster rate than any other population in the United States, 15.1% compared to 9.7% of the rest of the US population. Thirteen percent of the population is elderly; 55.2% are married, 32% live with family members, 51.7% are female, 48.3% are male, 60% are white, 17% are black, 18% are Hispanic, and 5% are other races. Education wise, 10.9% have less than a 9th grade , 10.3% have attended between 9th and 12th grade but did not receive a diploma, 36.4% are high school graduates, 20.6% have some college, and 22.5% have Bachelor’s degree or greater. It is estimated that elderly between the ages of 65-84 are doubling as the baby boomers age, with 85 and over being the fastest growing group due to elderly people living longer (US Census Bureau, 2012). As one ages, there are often cognitive changes and physical disabilities...
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...A fall is an abrupt, unexpected, and unintentional event that results in a person’s coming to rest on the ground or at a lower level (Rao, Stevens, & Thurman, 2008). Falls are the main cause of accidental death and the seventh leading cause of death in persons aged over 65 years (Akyol, 2007). Despite numerous studies available, elderly fall injuries and preventions remain a challenge among health care providers. Injuries related to a fall among older people are a major health public issue with essential health care and economic outcomes. To reduce the risk of falls, there are many preventative information available to enable the elderly to be proactive to maintain dwelling in the community and avoid institutionalization and acute hospitalizations related to falls. The Vancouver Coastal Health Seniors Fall and Inquiry Prevention Initiate currently publishes a pamphlet whose layout appeal is attracting to the eye as it shows the elderly performing various activities that can lead to their loss of independence secondary to a fall. The color scheme was calm and catching to the eye and sparked the reader’s curiosity to read and review more of the information. The quality of the material in the pamphlet was clear, concise, and to the point with an explanation of the risk factors that predisposes the individual to a fall and preventative measures for health promotion. The content in the pamphlet clearly explains the causes of a fall with preventative measures. Predisposition to...
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...A Matter of Balance is an evidence-based health program that is geared towards the elderly population to help prevent falls and reduce the fear of falling (Smith, Quinn, Gipson, Wilson, & Ory, 2011). In order to cope with the fear of falling, the elderly population may reduce or avoid activities which could lead to muscle weakness and debility, making them more prone to subsequent falls (Haynes, League, & Neault, 2014). This health promotion program incorporates techniques to help reduce this fear and implements education through evidence-based methods to help control falls (Haynes et al., 2014). A Matter of Balance is a valuable health program, especially for the elderly population who may have vision and balance problems (Danielsen, 2015)....
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...Evidence-Based Fall Prevention Intervention in Community Senior Centers. American Journal Of Public Health, 106(11), 2026-2031. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2016.303386 This article, written by two Ph.D.s and an M.D., evaluates the effectiveness of a balance program, Tai Ji Quan, among thirty-six senior citizen centers in Oregon. The program’s success was measured by researchers through the number of self-reported falls. The authors applied previous research in their study. All participants were thoroughly screened prior to their participation in the study. A total of 569 senior citizens were enrolled in the classes, with 77% remained enrolled and 23% withdrawing early. Three participants...
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...orthostatic-hypotension, and the risk of falls in a community-dwelling elderly population: The maintenance of balance, independent living, intellect, and zest in the elderly Boston study”; this title fits well with the content presented in the research article. The independent variables are clearly defined as well as the dependent variables for the research being conducted. The content of the abstract is a very good overview of the content and it is consistent with the content. The abstract summarizes the objective, design, setting, participants, measurements, and results. Problem/Purpose The problem being investigated is the risk of falls in the elderly population related to the effects of controlled and uncontrolled hypertension and orthostatic hypotension. The authors do identify the significance of the problem as falls for being the leading cause of disability for the elder generations. Adequate background information is not provided to support the problem because the subject at hand “has not been investigated previously” (Gangavati, et al., 2011, p. 383). Explanation of the purpose of this study being conducted is provided by the authors. Literature Review The previous research articles and their outcomes are briefly described with different amounts of time from 1-3 minutes after individual is standing before a decrease in blood pressure of 10-20mmHg would occur and be related to a fall. The purpose “was to...
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...different times in his or her life under specific circumstances. According to de Chesnay (2008), “Vulnerable populations are those at risk for poor physical, psychological, or social health. Anyone can be vulnerable at any given point in time as a result of life circumstances or response to illness or events” (p. 3). In order to render good healthcare, healthcare providers need to be aware of their own vulnerability. This paper will discuss the vulnerable population of the elderly; demographics of the elderly; personal awareness of the elderly including attitudes, biases, and stereotyping prior to studying the elderly; the impact of research on personal attitudes after gathering information, and how knowledge might affect the delivery of healthcare to the elderly. The amount of aging people in the United States continues to increase, in We the American Elderly (1993) it states that: From 1990 to 2020, the elderly population is projected to increase to 54 million persons. In 2020, about 1 in 6 Americans would be elderly and more children would know their great grandparents (p.3). According to previous research in 2011 the poverty rate in the U.S. was increased by 2.6 million people resulting in a total of 46.2 million people living below the poverty line. Usually the reasons that were suspected for the increase were poor working conditions and high rates of...
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...set to reach 3.6m, or 5% of the population, by 2035( ONS 2012). This made it necessary for the government to launch the National Service Frame work (NSF) for older people(2001) which contained eight standards relating to older people’s services covering the full range of care older people need. The standards embody fundamental principles ensuring care is based on clinical need, not age, and that services treat older people as individuals, promoting their quality of life, independence, dignity and their right to make choices about their own care. This essay aims to explore how guidelines and policies are implemented in a residential care home in London to promote the well-being of the elderly and also further investigate the specific risk factors concerning the health and well-being of the elderly. Well-being has become an important focus for health and social policy in general, and in relation to older people in particular (Reed et al 2004). Well-being as a phenomenon involves more than happiness and health as it explores all aspects that give meaning to life and a feeling that life is fulfilling and worthwhile. It encompasses aspects of physical, emotional, social, financial and spiritual well-being (Reed et al 2004). Just like all human beings well-being affects all aspects of old age but mainly their...
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...Falls: Risks, Facts, Prevention Falls: Risks, Facts, Prevention The following information is a compilation of the teaching plan utilized for the community teaching assignment. The information presented includes statistical analysis and detailed information on potential risks of injury and death related to falls among the elderly. It also highlights prevention methods that can be utilized in an attempt to decrease Emergency Room visits secondary to falls. My target audience consisted of 18 senior citizens who reside at Heartfield Assisted Living Facility in Cary, NC. The median age of this group was 78 years old. A wheelchair with faulty brakes, oxygen tubing and a quad cane were used for props and demonstrations of safe vs. unsafe use. My teaching plan followed the pamphlet that was created for the teaching assignment. I chose this format as I felt it would be helpful to provide a resource for seniors to reference after completion of the session. The title of the pamphlet is Falls: Risks, Facts, Prevention; Understanding potential hazards and how to promote safety. The pamphlet/teaching was broken down into three categories: facts and statistics related to falls in the elderly, fall risks and prevention methods. An “Are you at Risk”? question and answer segment was also included to create awareness for individuals who believe they are practicing safety. This encouraged participants to analyze their...
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...In the last 30 years, falls are one of the most frequent incidents occurring today that affects the livelihood of older adults. It is becoming more and more difficult for families to leave adults 65 years and older alone in their homes due to the threat of them falling and not having anyone at their side to either help them back up if they are minor falls or call 911 if they are indeed significant falls. However, these incidents should not just be a worry for older patients who live home alone, but for patients in nursing homes as well. 30-40 percent of community-dwelling adults that are 65 and older fall each year, yet such rates are higher for the same age group residing in nursing homes. Nursing home facilities are set up in aiding their residents, many of whom are elderly, with their living arrangements and making their lives easier and safer. Therefore, improvements must be made amongst many facilities to lower the fall rates of their patients and ensure that such occurrences are not as likely to occur with the use of proper techniques and the development of the right...
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...Caring for the Baby Boomer Population Thomas Watrucki Thomas Edison State College Mentor Tish Dorman December 7th, 2014 The “baby boomer” generation (those born from 1946-1964) are now our retirement-age elderly that we healthcare providers are challenged with caring for. The Population Reference Bureau estimates that there are 76.4 million baby boomers (as of April 2014). About 3 million baby boomers will hit retirement age every year for the next 20 years (Barr, 2014). Healthypeople.gov estimates that 60 percent of this population will be managing more than one chronic condition by 2030. The American Hospital Association notes that the over 65 population will nearly triple as a result of the aging Boomers. What this means for us healthcare providers is that our healthcare system will be challenged with caring for a significantly increased amount of elderly with chronic ailments that we are seeing now. This will increase healthcare costs as chronic disease management increases and transitions are made from private insurance carriers to Medicare. I interviewed a baccalaureate nurse who works on the geriatric medical surgical unit in my hospital and asked her to identify the special needs of the Baby Boomer Generation. She has been a nurse for 25 years and has worked on that unit for the past 12 years. Looking back on her experience and the current trends of problems she encounters with this generation, specifically with the lower income minority population that we work...
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...The term fall is defined as "an event which results in a person coming to rest unintentionally on the ground or lower level, not as a result of a major intrinsic event such as stroke or overwhelming hazard" (Tinetti, Speechley, & Ginter, 1988). The most common causes of injury and activity limitation among the elderly individuals is falls. About 30% of the elderly population in the age range of 65 and over end up with falls related injuries such as fractures and connective tissue injuries of the joints leaving them with personal and financial burden (Barry, Galvin, Keogh, Horgan, & Fahey, 2014). Gait and balance disorders are considered as the leading causes of falls in the elderly patients (Barry et al., 2014). There are many tools that...
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...Abstract As life expectancy increases the number of older adults requiring long-term care of some kind increases. These adults have varying needs, but most adults have problems with skin integrity, muscle weakness, and emotional issues in long-term care facilities. Interventions to meet these needs focus on preventing skin break down, improving muscle strength to prevent falls, and settings that promote usefulness and a feeling of not being alone. Current options available to older adults may not meet all of their needs, and creativity is needed in devising interventions to meet these needs. Structuring long-term care settings to encourage activity in older adults and connecting with other generations can help prevent feelings of loneliness and uselessness, and help older adults live meaningful and productive lives in long-term care settings. Long-Term Healthcare Needs of the Elderly As adults age many will require long-term health care. The evolving needs of the older adult population will require creative and new ways to meet their health care needs. This paper will look at the needs older adults have, and options that are currently available to meet these long-term care needs. This paper will also present new options that have been proposed for long-term health care settings, how these options compare with current interventions, and what outcomes can be expected if these new options are implemented. The Problem As life expectancies increase the older adult population...
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...Purpose of the organization Assistance to the Elderly, Inc., (ATTE) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that enables low-income, vulnerable adults to lead meaningful and dignified lives by providing supportive housing, care services, community education, and advocacy. ATTE provides supportive housing for Residential Plaza at Blue Lagoon (RPBL), an assisted living facility with 350 units that serves a predominantly Hispanic, low-income older population. Residential Plaza at Blue Lagoon has a long-standing reputation for providing quality services to low-income residents. Residential Plaza's Memory Care Program (RPMCP) provides affordable 24-hour specialized care, based on the Montessori for Aging and Dementia Program, in a homelike environment...
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...The elderly population is the generation most treated by healthcare professionals. It stands to reason that prescription drug abuse within the elderly presents a much higher risk than prescription drug abuse among younger generations. Ignoring this problem leads to a diminished quality of life and a less attentive healthcare system. Sadly, prescription drug abuse is a silent epidemic among the elderly population and it is a growing problem. With proper attention and diagnosis, there can be a reduction in injuries, such as hip fractures from falling, excessive hospitalizations, and even untimely death. Prescription drug abuse is overlooked by our healthcare professionals every day. Elderly patients are prescribed more medications than younger...
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...on for elderly in residential care A perception of good health inevitably lies in the eyes of the beholder (Strain, LA 1993). While some strive to maintain their bodies in peak physical condition, health management for the elderly in residential care is treated otherwise. Years of labour and strain is evident in their physical appearance, however it is beneath all this which is key to the vitality of their lives. Physiotherapists, also referred to as physical therapists, are one profession working with the elderly to maintain a state of wellbeing for everyday activity and participation. Through prevention, strengthening and mobility, these fundamental areas in elderly conditioning have more than superficial benefits. Nurses, as well as doctors, occupational therapists and specialists, are also crucial to this client group, ensuring the best possible health is maintained. Physiotherapists are aptly equipped with the skills and knowledge to assess individual patients and prevent avoidable mishaps from occurring. Elderly people over the age of 65 are more likely to experience incidents such as falls due to arthritis, prescribed medications and general impairment (Tinetti, ME 2003). Exercise prescription programs can specifically target areas to achieve maximum range of movement and reduce these risk factors. Researchers at Yale School of Medicine found that falls among the elderly were reduced by 11 percent when clinicians incorporated management and education of fall prevention...
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