Elderly Care Group 3 Final Paper And Project Document ✓ Solved

Elderly Care (Group 3) Final Paper & Project Document

Discuss the components of delivering elderly care in America, focusing on at least five main components such as Medicare, geriatric medicine, long-term care, and end-of-life care. The paper should be formatted in APA style, excluding bullet points and visuals. The body must contain at least six pages of content divided into three sections: System Resources, System Processes, and System Outcomes. Ensure you include at least six unique references, including those from the provided bibliography. The final paper must flow smoothly with appropriate transitions, and all grammar, spelling, and clarity should be checked at the end.

Paper For Above Instructions

Introduction

The growing elderly population across the globe poses significant challenges to healthcare systems, particularly in the United States. As individuals age, they experience a range of health issues that necessitate complex care delivery models capable of managing not just singular ailments but multifaceted health concerns that arise with aging. This paper focuses on the core components of elderly care in America, namely Medicare, geriatric medicine, long-term care, end-of-life care, and current issues facing this domain. The interplay between system resources, processes, and outcomes is vital for understanding how to improve care for aging populations. This examination will highlight system resources, processes as they relate to key components, and outcomes as experienced by individuals aged 65 and above.

System Resources

System resources in elderly care encompass the financial, human, and technological assets that support the healthcare of aging individuals. Medicare plays a crucial role, providing health coverage for millions of elderly Americans, thereby alleviating the financial burden associated with medical care. Studies have shown that Medicare's effectiveness in managing age-related diseases serves as a cornerstone of elderly healthcare in the U.S. (Graham et al., 2015). Additionally, geriatric specialists are essential resources as they possess specialized knowledge and training in addressing the complex medical needs of older adults (Cesari et al., 2016).

Further, the integration of technology and health information systems facilitates better management of elderly patients, enhancing the efficiency of healthcare delivery. Telehealth services, especially post-pandemic, have become an integral resource in ensuring accessibility to care for homebound elderly individuals (Shi & Singh, 2021). In summary, the resource allocation significantly influences the quality and availability of elderly care, positioning Medicare, skilled professionals, and modern technology as critical to successful health outcomes.

System Processes

The processes involved in elderly care include the methodologies through which healthcare services are delivered. These processes encompass assessment, treatment planning, and the delivery of care through various modalities. As outlined in the five components of elderly care, understanding these processes is pivotal for ensuring optimal outcomes.

Medicare establishes processes for patient eligibility and care coordination. It influences how elderly patients access necessary medical services, including routine check-ups and specialist consultations. For example, appropriate medication management is vital for elderly patients, as multiple prescriptions can lead to adverse drug reactions. A study by Karttunen et al. (2019) indicates that proper medication documentation and monitoring processes are often inconsistently implemented, necessitating improvements in nursing training to safeguard against errors.

Geriatric medicine focuses on tailoring processes to individual patient needs, advocating for approaches that address comorbidities and functional impairments. This paradigm shift is critical as it aims to shift care from disease-oriented to patient-centered strategies, thereby improving the overall health status of elderly patients (Cesari et al., 2016). Lastly, processes related to end-of-life care must prioritize dignity and comfort, emphasizing palliative care frameworks that ensure quality over quantity of life during the dying process (Lindskog et al., 2015).

System Outcomes

The outcomes of elderly care are reflective of the effectiveness and efficiency of the resources and processes applied in healthcare delivery. Positive outcomes include improved health status, lower hospitalization rates, and enhanced quality of life for elderly individuals. Conversely, inadequate care processes may result in negative outcomes, such as increased mortality rates and diminished patient satisfaction.

Current research highlights disparities in care outcomes as influenced by age, socioeconomic status, and comorbid conditions. According to Lindskog et al. (2015), older cancer patients often receive suboptimal end-of-life care, suggesting systemic failures in addressing the unique needs of the elderly during critical health declines.

Moreover, various studies emphasize the importance of improving processes to foster positive outcomes. Embracing a more holistic approach to care, particularly for frail elderly patients, is necessary to ensure that they receive adequate support and treatment as they navigate complex health challenges (Cesari et al., 2016; Karttunen et al., 2019). Additionally, addressing systemic issues such as underfunding and workforce shortages will also positively influence care outcomes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the delivery of elderly care in America is multifaceted, requiring an integrated approach that includes adequate system resources, efficient processes, and targeted outcome measures. The complexities of aging necessitate a paradigm shift in how care is structured and delivered. As the elderly population continues to grow, the healthcare system must adapt to ensure that it meets the multifaceted needs of older adults. Through investing in resources such as Medicare, enhancing workforce training, and employing advanced healthcare technologies, the outcomes for elderly patients can be improved significantly. Achieving excellence in elderly care requires collaboration among health professionals, policy-makers, and community resources to create a responsive and sustainable healthcare environment.

References

• Cesari, M., Marzetti, E., Thiem, U., Pérez-Zepeda, M. U., Van Kan, G. A., Landi, F., & Bernabei, R. (2016). The geriatric management of frailty as a paradigm of “The end of the disease era.” European Journal of Internal Medicine, 31, 11-14.
• Graham, D. J., Reichman, M. E., Wernecke, M., Zhang, R., Southworth, M. R., Levenson, M., & MaCurdy, T. E. (2015). Cardiovascular, bleeding, and mortality risks in elderly Medicare patients treated with dabigatran or warfarin for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Circulation, 131(2).
• Karttunen, M., Sneck, S., Jokelainen, J., Männikkö, N., & Elo, S. (2019). Safety checks, monitoring and documentation in medication process in long-term elderly care: Nurses' subjective perceptions. Journal of Nursing Research.
• Lindskog, M., Tavelin, B., & Lundström, S. (2015). Old age as a risk indicator for poor end-of-life care quality – a population-based study of cancer deaths from the Swedish Register of Palliative Care. European Journal of Cancer, 51(10).
• Shi, L., & Singh, D. A. (2021). Delivering Health Care in America: A Systems Approach (7th ed.).
• Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
• National Institute on Aging. (2020). Aging Research: Health Disparities and Older Adults.
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2020). Medicare & You 2020.
• World Health Organization. (2021). World report on aging and health.
• The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2022). The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity.