Special Populations- HIV/AIDS Stricken Elderly
The current healthcare system in the United States is still grappling with the management of the elderly populations suffering from the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Health workers who supposedly ought to provide essential medical care to this group of persons continue to encounter various problems beyond their control. This illness’s overall health care management is unique compared to other diseases, thus making it very complex. In their quest to obtain good healthcare, these special populations encounter economic, sociological, and political issues and policies that affect them. Kominski (2014) asserts that the U.S. healthcare approach to treatment relies mainly on health insurance and the direct-fee system. In recent decades, healthcare and research expenditure has risen significantly due to the use of this model. Therefore, the elderly who cannot afford these facilities due to high poverty levels, especially when seeking medical covers, deteriorate their health. This model’s current sociological and economic impact on health care management contributes to high rates of uninsured older people with subsequent high rate health problems. This is contrary to other western nations whose approach to HIV/AIDS management is relatively affordable for the elderly. Another social, economic effect of these special groups is pegged on the stigmatization. Many of those suffering from this illness may have contacted the disease when young. And felt uncomfortable to go for testing. Therefore by the time they are diagnosed, the virus may be its advanced stage. According to disease control and preventive (CDC), aging accelerates HIV to AIDS and blunts cell response to antiretroviral physical therapy (Cahill & Valadez, 2013).
The current political arena has also done little to support the elderly. The government does not provide healthcare systems with the required resources, which enhances treatment for these suffering populations. Some of the subsidies provided for grandparents lack political goodwill support, hence ending up in the wrong hands. Additionally, parliament is adamant about passing laws and policies geared towards equipping hospitals with the mandate to help the elderly. Lack of legislation on care for the elderly, including pension schemes and other assistance provisions, overburdens these groups of persons (Kominski, 2014). Most of them have other responsibilities of taking care of their grandchildren, whose parents might have as well lacked the healthcare needed and passed away due to the AIDS pandemic. Hence the burdens of providing the economic support and psychological care of the orphaned.
Another social, economic problems revolve around quality care management. First, healthcare professionals are deprived of sleep, especially physicians. For instance, medical residents and surgeons who are overworked tend to perform dismally (Lines et al., 2013). Therefore when the elderly go to hospitals to seek medical treatment, they don’t get the required health attention. Secondly, there is a shortage of nurses and physicians due to a lack of interest in the profession brought about by little pay. As a result, many emergency rooms lack the prerequisite number of specialists. Hence a lack of emergency care for the elderly. Rural homes provide a thriving environment for AIDS to spread. With shortages of nurses, the elderly are hard hit because they cannot access healthcare professionals and facilities such as ambulances to take them to the hospital.
In conclusion, the raving of HIV/AIDS among the elderly continues to wreak havoc in the U.S. Ideally, those special groups who bear the brunt are the elderly who are infected. The general impact of these happenings stems from the country’s social, economic, and political settings.
References
Cahill, S., & Valadez, R. (2013). Growing older with HIV/AIDS: new public health challenges. American Journal of Public Health, 103(3), e7-e15.
Kominski, G. F. (2014). Changing the U.S. healthcare system: Key issues in health services policy and management (4th Ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Lines, L. M., Ahaghotu, C., Tilly, J., & Wiener, J. (2013). Care coordination for people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias: A literature review. Prepared for Office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.