Hinlog, Aila Kye B.

BSN – 3B

Why is it important for us health providers to know or study the demographics of aging?

It is important since it will present statistics that could tell us what age are more likely to
have certain disease. By this, as student nurses, we can explore more of the reasons and
identify certain lifestyle within this age that could be a factor of arising diseases. Also, in
identifying such, we can develop interventions and management that would work on the
manifestations of patients. Lasty, in learning the demographics of aging, we can already
conduct practices that will prevent patient to be at risk of common disease in line to their age by
modifying lifestyle and promoting wellness.

With the increasing diversity of older adult and the projected increasing number of older
adults what are the implications or challenges to the nursing profession?

This diversity will challenge all nursing profession along the preparation since it will be
then that critical thinking is needed in planning to provide the maximum care that every older
adult deserves and in putting all of these into our practice. Philippines in fact has its very
dependent form of family which has been proven by the existence of extended family. This
could be both an assurance and challenge. Assurance in a way that elderly is not a thing to be
worried about since they have their child/children to be there for them. However, it will become a
challenge in terms of financial aspect since not every citizen of this country is able to provide the
maximum care for older adults due to different priorities. In regards to this, nursing profession
will be challenged to extend their compassion towards the older adults knowing that they need
our care especially that there is a projected increasing number of older adults. Thus, implies that
student nurses like me shall learn every corner of geriatrics since in this way I could contribute
to the preparation for whatever diversity could come from the future.