Question

Reflecting on the content of this course, especially this unit, what are some of the important challenges facing geriatric case management today? Choose one and explain how you would go about addressing it.

Answer 1

Geriatrics

The branch of medicine that focuses on health promotion and the prevention and treatment of disease and disability in later life.

Challenges facing by Geriatric Case Management

Geriatric Case Management is the process of managing the care of elderly perssons with physical or mental impairments and it focuses on improving the quality of life of elderly. It is also known as Senior health care management or elder care management. There are different Challenges facing by geriatric case management , such as:

* Functional impairment in elderly

* Inadequate care givers and support system

*Frailty in older adults

* Increased health care cost

* emotional distress of family care givers

* Frequent hospitalization and multiple medical conditions

* Ethical dilemmas regarding treatment decisions and choices in case of multiple conditions, unconscious patients, mental impairments such as dementia

Frailty among older adults

One of the important Challenges facing by Geriatric Case Management is frail old adults. Frailty is the condition , of being frail ( easily broken or fragile) physically or infirmity. Frail older adults are more prone to progressive disability, pneumonia, falls, hospitalization , dehydration, iatrogenic complications and mortality . Around 10 % of elderly population are in risk of frailty. Majority of them need a health care assistance and care givers for their Activities of daily living. It gives a heavy burden to family and society. Health care cost also increased considerably.

Studies show that frail older adults are the major consumers of health care system: 80% of home health care services and 50 % of hospital services. There are many associated challenges, pertaining to frailty are existing such as chronic diseases, functional disability, continuous assistance and support for meeting daily needs etc.

Addressing the challenges: Planning of services for meeting both short-term and long term needs are important. For acute illness and injury, in patient hospitalization is required. Elderly who need long term care, health care providers should plan for either adult day care or home health care, health promotion programmes, meal programme, equipments and transportation facilities.

Family care givers are often burnt out because of work load or multi tasking at home. They often the give up their jobs and they care for the elderly. Palliative care centres are big relief for those who are burdened with the care of elderly. Professional help from health care settings also can be extended to the families, who provide health care to the elderly, should be there such as tele medicine and other assistive technologies.