OLDER ADULTS &

PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES

By Linda Langevoort

South University Online

Health Promotion & Wellness

March 24, 2015

CONTENTS

The Outlook………………………………………Assistance…………………………………………Current Barriers…………………………………...Roles of Health Care Professionals…………………..Roles of Public Health……………………………..Cognitive Care Program……………………………..Community Involvement……………………………..Financial Support………………………………….Projected Risks If Goals Are Not Met………………Tracking the Data…………………………………Disparities for Minorities……………………………

~OUTLOOK ~OLDER INDIVIDUALS ARE GROWING IN

POPULATION AND IN THEIR NEEDS.

BY 2030 , MOST OLDER INDIVIDUALS WILL BE COPING WITH MORE THAN

ONE CHRONIC CONDITION.

THE FOCUS BY 2020 , IS TO PROVIDE PREVENTATIVE HEALTH SERVICES, GOOD QUALITY HEALTHCARE, AND

PROVIDE OLDER ADULTS WITH MORE SPECIALISTS, TO MEET THEIR MULTIFACETED CONDITIONS.

~ASSISTANCE~

Administration on Aging.

Family Caregiver Alliance.

National Health

Information Center.

Federal Health Information

& Clearinghouses.

U.S. Department of Health

& Human Resources.

~CURRENT BARRIERS~

More trained people are

needed to provide elder care.

Providing healthcare guidance

for caregivers.

Help for older people to

manage caring for themselves.

Coordinating care.

Providing good quality care.www.buzzfeed.com

~ROLES FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS~

Healthcare Professionals should advise older adults on ways to keep active.

Advice should be given on preventative measures against falls.

Provide information for caregivers and resources for them to use.

Screen older adults- Make available Medicare wellness checks.

Colon screenings and breast care checks are advised for this population. Provide clinics or events.

~ROLES FOR PUBLICHEALTH PROFESSIONALS~

Provide social support interventions in the community setting. (Health walks, exercise programs, physical fitness activities)

Programs to help caregivers and older adults such as: meals on wheels, respite care, support group and counseling for caregivers.

Community programs to screen older adults and provide needed vaccinations and care. (I.E. flu shots, pneumonia shots, shingles vaccinations, diabetic care, smoking cessation)

(Eldercare Workforce Alliance, 2013)

~COGNITIVE CARE PROGRAM~

The Focus:

1. Measurement of cognitive

abilities for this population.

2. Educating why cognitive

abilities decline.

3. Discussion on what can be

done to improve cognitive

abilities.

4. Strategies for caregivers of

those with Alzheimer’s disease.

5. Resources and tips.

Healthyliving.com

~COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT~

The community can provide assistance to caregivers and

resources.

The community can deliver meals and find home health aides

to help those older adults that are living alone.

The community can provide mobile transportation to medical

appointments and senior centers.

The community can provide activities for the older population.

(Eldercare Workforce Alliance, 2013)

~FINANCIAL SUPPORT~

National Partners State and Federal Local Partners Healthy Aging Research Network Alzheimer’s Association National Institute on Aging(The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006-2011)

Thepointsguy.com

~PROJECTED RISKS IF GOALS ARE NOT MET~

Decrease in quality of life.

Impaired functioning.

Sedentary older adults.

More chronic illness.

More dependent care.

Increase of health

services.

(HealthyPeople.gov)

~TRACKING THE DATA~

By using evidence based programs, clinical

recommendations, and consumer information, we can

provide trusted sources. Tracking of outcomes from

the program, will help in future planning, as well as,

provide a progressive outlook on how the program

worked for this population.

~DISPARITIES FOR MINORITIES~

Our definition of a “healthy

brain” can be swayed by

race and ethnicity.

Physical health may not be

the only protective measure

to a healthy brain; what if it

is related to nutrition?

(continued)

~DISPARITIES FOR MINORITIES~

Those speaking foreign

languages could be

impeded from finding

services.

Rural individuals could

be secluded from access

to care and programs.

(www.cdc.gov)www.pinintrest.com

~References~

Eldercare Workforce Alliance. (2013, November).Caring for an aging america: Meeting the health care needs of older adults. Retrieved from http://www.eldercareworkforce.org/research/issue-briefs/research:qanda/

Healthfinder.gov. (2015). Caregivers. Retrieved from http://www.healthfinder.gov/FindServices/SearchContext.aspx?topic=140

HealthyPeople.gov. (2015). Behavioral and social approaches to increase physical activity: Social support interventions in community settings—recommendations to increase physical activity in communities . Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/tools-resources/evidence-based-resource/behavioral-and-social-approaches-increase-physical

~References~

HealthyPeople.gov. (n.d.). Older adults- interventions and resources. Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/older-adults/ebrs

HealthyPeople.gov. (2015). Overview. Retrieved from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/older-adults

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006-2011). The cdc healthy brain initiative. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/aging/pdf/hbibook_508.pdf