Question

As the population ages, every aspect of nursing is challenged: acute care, home care, community health, long term care, etc. What are the top three issues you are seeing in your practice related to the aging population?

Answer 1

Old age is the latter part of life and it is the closing period of one's life span.

Geriatric nursing

It is a branch of nursing that deals with the health promotion and the prevention and treatment of disease and disability in the later life.

Issues in nursing practice related to the aging population

There are many challenges and issues in nursing practice related to the aging population such as:

1. Terminal illness and dying

One of the most important challenges in nursing practice related to aging population is terminal illness and the resultant death or dying. This process is painful not only for the patient and family members but also for the nurses. Assisting a dying patient and witnessing death is not an easy process, it may cause anxiety and sadness in a nurse.

2. Disability and dependence of the elderly

Because of factors like defective sensory organs and brain, poor mobility, loss of spouse and decline in health , the elderly people may become dependent on nurse for their activities of daily living. Most of the Patients in home care or long term care setting are dependent or bed ridden or dementia cases.

3. Eldery abuse or neglect

Physical maltreatment or neglecting an elderly person is abuse. Many incidents are reporting on Elderly abuse through out the country. Nurses has to identify the signs of abuse or neglect of old age person and should protect their rights.

Other issues related to Geriatric nursing practices are :

* the need of more nurses specialized in Geriatric nursing (as tbe elderly population is increasing day by day)

* Demand for nurses with special communication skills and leadership

Senior persons admitted or residing in a long term care or and old age home may not need Physician help always , most cases nurses are the significant person, who take care of the elderly. They should clarify the doubts of patient and family members , coordinate with other health team members. Nurses in Geriatric setting need more skills in communication and leadership qualities.