NAME: CHOONG CHEE LEONG

STUDENT ID: 051070262

CONTACT NO: 0195777971
EMAIL: CCL1_IP@STUDENT.WOU.EDU.MY
COURSE CODE: WUC102
COURSE NAME: WRITING SKILLS FOR UNIVERSITY STUDIES
CLASS CODE: 5WRI2
TUTOR NAME: CHONG SAM CHON
ASSIGNMENT NO: TMA1

Q1)
Health Care Services for the Elderly in the Middle East:
Populations are aging faster in the developing country compared to developed country.
Fertility rates are declining in the developing country. The region is going through
Health Transition Phase which means there is a large increase in both number and
proportion of adults and elderly. Chronic disease makes up almost one-half of the world's
burden of disease and become major cause of health problem for elderly in this region.
The policymakers must find a way of handling the issues of chronic disease and the needs
of elderly.
Q3)
Financing Health Care for an Aging Population:
In 1998 and 1999, Medicare implemented prospective payment systems for home health
care and skilled nursing services. The financing system becomes disorder because its
landscape of long-term financing has been changed. The flow of payments has been
redistributed and restricted to and among service providers. Elderly said that health care
is an entitlement according to focus group studies.
Patient can take responsibility for take care themselves. Under patient-driven system of
elder care, providers would help patients in their preventive and health maintenance
efforts through a dynamic system of wellness care. The barriers that hinder patient-driven
system include a lack of financial incentives, outdated state and federal regulations, other
cumbersome requirements, continuous threats of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement
cuts, etc.
To build a viable elder health care system, these steps include provide five years of stable
reimbursement for elder, building on positive results, provide financial incentive to
upgrade elder care facilities, invest in health information technology, establish financial
models, curb unnecessary lawsuits, etc.

Q3)
Health Care Services for the Elderly in the Middle East:
The population of elderly is growing in the Middle East and it needs to define the policies
and programs that will cut down the weight of aging population on society and its
economy. The traditional patterns of family responsibility will slowly fades away with the
economic development. Young city dwellers are busy with children of their own rather to
take care the elderly. Those categories include families are abroad, unmarried women,
families cannot support elder financially, etc.
Population aging in the Middle East facing problems including strain on informal support
systems, pressure on health care systems, shrinking productivity, increasing demand for
pensions and increasingly feminized older populations. The region has proposed some
policy measures to deal the aging population. These measures include facilitate family
provision of support, increase employment opportunities for elderly, establish or expand
public pension systems, develop the infrastructure for elderly, shift to prevention of
chronic disease, home care, etc.
Policies and health promotion programs that prevent chronic diseases reduce the chance
of getting disability amongst the elderly and lower the cost of health. The severely
impaired and dependent elderly still need professional care to look after them. The
families and professional service providers must share responsibility in taking care of the
elderly. Environmental design of hospitals of clinics should take a look from needs of
elderly.
Reference List
A. ABYAD, MD, PhD, MBA, MPH, AGSF, Health Care Services for the Elderly in the
Middle East
http://www.mejb.com/upgrade_flash/Vol2_Issue2/2_2_Healthcare.htm
(Accessed February 12, 2008)
J. Derr, Financing Health Care for an Aging Population, the Commonwealth Fund,
December 2005
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=331494
(Accessed February 12, 2008)