Wellness goals for older adults
Healthy People 2020 has several goals and objectives that target older adults in society. First, the document outlines that the US aims at increasing the proportion of elderly people that access and benefit from Medicare (Koh, Blakey & Roper 2014). Another objective is to ensure that more older adults are up to date with primary clinical preventive services. Healthy People 2020 wishes to reduce the number of older people that succumb to chronic diseases. In this regard, the document states that it wishes to see more older people report more confidence in the management of chronic conditions. Another goal is to reduce the number of older patients with moderate to severe physical limitations. The document asserts that there is a need to reduce the number of older people with cognitive problems. Here, the US government seeks to increase the number of older adults engaging in light physical and vigorous leisure activities. Additionally, the Healthy People 2020 wishes to increase the healthcare workforce dedicated to the elderly population. Consequently, there should be an increase in physicians, psychiatrists, nurses, dentists, and dieticians with geriatric certification.
The aging process
According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, people living above 65 years are estimated to be seventy percent. The department posits that there are five stages that human beings go through during the aging process. The first stage is called independence, where most people in this stage can take care of themselves. Most people here stay at their homes and can handle pretty much of their needs. Such people can normally engage in day to day activities such as transport, finances, and other daily activities. Additionally, it is during this stage that people plan for their future and make necessary adjustments. The second stage is called interdependence (Kohlberg, 1973). Here, daily tasks such as cooking, washing dishes and clothes, cleaning the house, etc. become more challenging. Consequently, these people frequently need help from other people to go on with their lives. Such people have more able spouses, friends, and relatives that help them with their needs. The next stage is called dependency, as seniors largely rely on help from other people to handle daily tasks. Further, this stage comes with physiological decline rendering the members dependent on caregivers, medication, defined nutrition, etc. The last two stages are crisis management and end life. People in this stage are heavily dependent on round the clock medical attention. Most of the people in these stages spend their time in hospices where they wish to die.
Nursing actions for older people
Geriatric nurses go through rigorous training and education that is aimed at equipping them with knowledge and skills to address the needs of older adults. Notably, age comes with complex physical and mental needs among human beings. This results in an increased need for nursing care to cope with the physical and mental changes being experienced. As such, nurses take various actions aimed at dispensing care for elderly patients. Nurses are capable of assessing patients with cognitive and mental status. Also, they can assess and establish acute and chronic health issues that their patients might be experiencing. Nurses can address common health concerns such as change of sleep patterns, incontinence, and sexual related issues. Another function that nurses undertake is to source for and administer medication to these patients. They are also tasked with educating their patients on matters of disease prevention and personal safety. Lastly, nurses link their patients with essential local resources.
Health Concerns for the aged
Aging brings forth many health concerns among the elderly. Indeed, one’s health system and consequent immunity decline as they age. One pertinent health concern among the elderly is chronic illnesses. In fact, the National Council on Aging reported that more than ninety percent of the elderly people suffer from one chronic illness, while approximately seventy-seven percent have at least two chronic illnesses. The most common conditions include cancer, stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. Cumulatively, these diseases cause more than two-thirds of deaths annually. Another major health concern among the older members of society is cognitive-related health problems. Many people lose their ability to learn, think, and remember as they age. One common cognitive problem is dementia, which affects as many as five million older adults in the United States. The third major health concern is mental problems, such as depression. According to the World Health Organization, more than fifteen percent of the elderly population suffers from mental disorders. Moreover, the report says that elderly people contribute to more than eighteen percent of the total suicides in the US due to depression. Lastly, elderly people in society are at a high risk of getting infected with sexually transmitted diseases. The center for disease control reported in 2013 that people above fifty years registered 21 percent of the total AIDS infections. Notably, these people are less likely to use sexual protection whenever engaging. Also, their weak immunity means that they can easily acquire, suffer, and die from these diseases.
Work cited
Koh, H. K., Blakey, C. R., & Roper, A. Y. (2014). Healthy People 2020: a report card on the health of the nation. Jama, 311(24), 2475-2476.
Kohlberg, L. (1973). Stages and aging in moral development—Some speculations. The Gerontologist, 13(4), 497-502.