CONCLUSION
As America ages, healthcare organizations and healthcare professionals must rethink approaches to healthcare in general, since caring for the older population will soon take up a bigger portion of healthcare resources than caring for the health needs of the young. At the same time, there is a major deficit in adequately prepared healthcare professionals involved in providing geriatric care.
Healthcare professionals today must recognize that older people are a diverse group with different values, functional levels, and illnesses. They must begin to appreciate the need for improving and optimizing the older adult’s functioning rather than just focusing on diseases. This is, of course, challenging.
Effective management that engages older adults, family caregivers, and clinicians in collaboratively identifying the older adult patient’s needs and goals is necessary in order to implement an individualized care plan, while recognizing that health changes due to aging together with multiple chronic illnesses can make creating a personalized health strategy more complex.
RESOURCES
Aging (Texas Health and Human Services)
National Center on Elder Abuse, State Resources
Report abuse (Texas Department of Family and Protective Services)
800-252-5400
REFERENCES
NOTE: Complete URLs for references retrieved from online sources are provided in the PDF of this course.
Alzheimer’s Association (AA). (2021). Mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Retrieved from https://www.alz.org
Alzheimer’s Society. (2021a). Aromatherapy, massage and dementia. Retrieved from https://www.alzheimers.org.uk
Alzheimer’s Society. (2021b). Tips for communicating with a person with dementia. Retrieved from https://www.alzheimers.org.uk
American Geriatric Society (AGS). (2020). Dementia. Retrieved from https://www.healthinaging.org
American Urological Association (AUA). (2020). What is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)? Retrieved from https://www.urologyhealth.org
Artz A. (2019). Anemia in elderly persons. Medscape. Retrieved from https://emedicine.medscape.com
Besdine R. (2019). Evaluation of the older adult. Merck Manual. Retrieved from https://www.merckmanuals.com
Bhimma R. (2018). What is the role of glucose homeostasis in renal glucosuria. Medscape. Retrieved from https://www.medscape.com
Boyd K. (2020). Eye health information for adults over 65. Retrieved from https://www.aao.org
Cash J & Glass C (Eds.). (2019). Gerontology practice guidelines (2nd ed.). New York: Springer.
Center for Hospice Care. (2018). Hospice & palliative care. Retrieved from https://www.hospicesect.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020a). Prevention and risk management. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020b). The truth about aging and dementia. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020c). Preventing elder abuse. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2019). Suicide prevention: risk and protective factors. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov
Cleveland Clinic. (2021). 5 steps to help prevent digestive problems as you age. Retrieved from https://health.clevelandclinic.org
Cleveland Clinic. (2020). Thyroid disease: management and treatment. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org
Cunningham R & Valasek S. (2019). Occupational therapy interventions for urinary dysfunction in primary care. American Journal of Occupation Therapy, 73(5). doi:10.5014/ajot.2019.038356
Dombrowsky A, Borg B, Xie R, Kirklin J, et al. (2018). Why is hyperparathyroidism underdiagnosed and undertreated in older adults? Clinical Medicine Insights: Endocrinology and Diabetes, 11, 108. doi:10.11177/1179551418815916
Dowling-Castronovo A & Spiro EL. (2020). Urinary incontinence assessment in older adults: part 1—transient urinary incontinence. Retrieved from https://hign.org
Dransfield M, Garner J, Bhatt S, Slebos D, Klooster KA, et al. (2020). Effect of Zephyr endobronchial valves on dyspnea activity levels and quality of life at one year. Ann Am Thorac Soc, 17(7), 829–38.
Elderly Health Service (EHS). (2018). Foot care. Retrieved from https://www.elderly.gov.hk
Fajemiroye J, Cunha L, Saavedra-Rodriguez, Rodrigues K, Naves L, et al. (2018). Aging-induced biological changes and cardiovascular disease. BioMed Research International, 1–14. doi:10.1155/2018/7156435
Fraser B. (2020). Aging skin and the importance of skin integrity assessment. Retrieved from https://healthtimes.com.au
Fulmer T. (2020) Elder mistreatment assessment. Retrieved from https://hign.org
Fulmer T & Chernof B (Eds.). (2019). Handbook of geriatric assessment (5th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones &Bartlett Learning.
Gewirtz-Meydan A, Hafford-Letchfield T, Benyamin Y, et al. (2018). Ageism and sexuality. In Ayalon L & Tesch-Römer C (Eds.), Contemporary perspectives on ageism: International Perspectives on Aging, vol 19, Springer, Cham. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-73820-8_10
Gill J. (2017). COPD in the elderly: the aging lung. Retrieved from https://www.gmjournal.co.uk
Gupta J & Shea M. (2019). Effects of aging on the heart and blood vessels. Merck Manual. Retrieved from https://www.merckmanuals.com
Halter M. (2018). Varcarolis’ foundations of psychiatric-mental health nursing: a clinical approach (8th ed.).St. Louis: Elsevier.
Han B & Moore A. (2018). Prevention and screening of unhealthy substance use by older adults. Clin Geriatr Med, 34(1), 117–29. doi:10.1016/j.cger.2017.08.005
Harper M, Lyons W, & Potter J. (2019). Geriatrics review syllabus (10th ed.). American Geriatrics Society. Retrieved from https://geriatricscareonline.org
Health in Aging Foundation. (2020). End of life care. Retrieved from https://www.healthinaging.org
Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). (2019). “What matters” to adults? A toolkit for health systems to design better care with older adults. Retrieved from http://www.ihi.org
International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care (IAHPC). (2020). What is palliative care? Retrieved from https://hospicecare.com
Jannini EA & Nappi RE. (2018). Couplepause: a new paradigm in treating sexual dysfunction during menopause and andropause. Sex Med Rev, 6, 384–95.
Kane R, Ouslander J, Resnick B, & Malone M. (2018). Essentials of clinical geriatrics (8th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill Education.
Koch R. (2020). Communicating and interacting with people with dementia. Retrieved from https://www.thechicagoschool.edu
Kyriazis I & Saridi M. (2020). Senescence of the cardiovascular system due to aging and the resulting increase in cardiovascular risk. Health Science Journal. Retrieved from https://www.hsj.gr
Leung E, Wongrakpanich S, & Munshi H. (2018). Diabetes management in the elderly. Diabetes Spectrum, 31(3), 245–53. doi:10.2337/ds18-0033
LibreTexts. (2020). Functionals of the musculoskeletal system. Retrieved from http://bio.libretexts.org
Mayo Clinic. (2020a). Erectile dysfunction. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org
Mayo Clinic. (2020b). Caregivers. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org
Mayo Clinic. (2020c). Mild cognitive impairment. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org
Mayo Clinic. (2020d). Delirium. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org
Mayo Clinic. (2019). Urinary incontinence. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org
Memorial Sloan Kettering Library (MSKL). (2020). The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center geriatric plan: integumentary. Retrieved from https://libguides.mskcc.org
Mental Health America (MHA). (2021). Depression in older adults: more facts. Retrieved from https://www.mhanational.org
Minetto M, Giannini A, McConnell R, Busso C, Torre G, & Massazza G. (2020). Common musculoskeletal disorders in the elderly: the star triad. J Clin Med, 9(4), 1216.
Morley J. (2019). Effects of aging on the endocrine system. Merck Manual. Retrieved from https://www.merckmanuals.com
National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA). (2020). Elder justice. Retrieved from https://elderjustice.acl.gov
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). (2021). Facts and figures. Retrieved from https://www.nhpco.org
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (2020). Older adults and depression. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov
National Institute on Aging (NIA). (2020). Understanding the dynamics of the aging process. Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov
National Institute on Aging (NIA). (2017). Depression and older adults. Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). (2020). Substance use in older adults drug facts. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov
National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2020a). Aging changes in the bones-muscles-joints. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov
National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2020b). Aging changes in the skin. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov
National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2020c). Aging changes in the kidneys and bladder. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov
National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2020d). Aging changes in the lungs. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov
National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2020e). Aging changes in hormone production. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov
National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2020f). Aging changes in the male reproductive system. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov
National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2020g). Aging changes in the senses. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov
National Kidney Foundation (NKF). (2020). Preventing diabetes kidney disease: 10 answers to questions. Retrieved from https://www.kidney.org
Olejarczyk J & Young M. (2020). Patient rights. StatPearls. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Physiopedia. (2021). Aging and the genitourinary system. Retrieved from https://www.physio-pedia.com
Ritchie C & Yukawa M. (2020). Geriatric nutrition: nutritional issues in older adults. UpToDate. Retrieved from https://www.uptodate.com
Ruiz A. (2020). Effects of aging on the digestive system. Merck Manual. Retrieved from https://www.merckmanuals.com
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TX DFPS). (2020). Report abuse, neglect or exploitation. Retrieved from https://www.dfps.state.tx.us
Texas Health and Human Services (TX HHS). (2021a). Aging. Retrieved from https://hhs.texas.gov
Texas Health and Human Services (TX HHS). (2021b). How can I report abuse, neglect or exploitation? Retrieved from https://hhs.texas.gov
Tortosa-Martinez, Manchado C, Cortell-Tormo J, & Chuvi-Medrano I. (2018). Exercise, the diurnal cycle of cortisol and cognitive impairment in older adults. Neurobiology of Stress, 9, 40–7. doi:10.1016/j.ynstr.2018.08.004
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA). (2019). Drug abuse and dependence section of labeling for human prescription drug and biological products—content and format. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). (2020). Healthy aging. Retrieved from https://memory.ucsf.edu
Van den Beld, Kaufman J, Zillikens M, Lamberts S, et al. (2018). The physiology of endocrine systems with ageing. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol, 6(8), 647–58. doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(18)30026-3
Wenker S & Liebzeit D. (2019). Guccione’s geriatric physical therapy ebook. Retrieved from https://www.google.com
Zaid D & Greenman Y. (2019). Human immunodeficiency virus infection and the endocrine system. Endocrinol Meta, 34(2), 95–105.