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GERIATRIC HEALTH CARE TEAM (MODULE 8)

Geriatric care usually consists of a team-based approach. The care team can include,

but is not limited to, a Geriatrician, Gerontology Nurse, Occupational Therapists,

Physical Therapists, Speech therapists, Interdisciplinary Team, and Family/Significant,

of others. This team focuses on evaluating medical, social, and emotional needs,

emphasizing common problems in older adults, such as memory problems, falls,

incontinence, and multiple medications. The ultimate goal of this care team is to help

older adults age gracefully. Older adults tend to have numerous health issues, usually

three or more, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, or Alzheimer’s

disease. Caring for these individuals can be complicated. For example, choosing

medications can be more difficult because a drug used to treat one problem can worsen

another or interact with other medicines and cause side effects. Specializing in

geriatrics helps a health care professional become more educated and sensitive to the

unique needs involved in caring for older adults. Specialized care of older adults can

occur across multiple settings and locations, including outpatient offices, hospitals,

skilled nursing or assisted living facilities, and the home. Geriatric care occurs across

various stages. A geriatrician can provide services both as a consultant and as a

primary care provider in the office. The needs of the community and the patient largely

determine what type of services a geriatrician will provide. There needs to be a

discussion between the patient, their physician, and the geriatrician to decide what will

be in the patient’s best interest.

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RESEARCH AGENDA ON AGING (MODULE 9)

A. National: NIH Publication-2030 Problems on Caring for Aging Baby Boomers

In 10 years, all Baby Boomers will be 65 or older. Born between 1946 and 1964,

ages 56 to 74 this 2020, they represent some 5.8 percent or 18,636,900 of this

2020 population of 109, 581 078 Filipinos. Experts have warned that social and

policy changes must occur soon to meet the demand for care for this population.

Dubbed “the 2030 problem,” this challenge involves obtaining the needed

resources and service systems to care for Baby Boomers. Part of the problem?

Baby Boomers currently account for most unpaid family caregivers, and experts

are concerned about who will care for Boomers once they become unable to care

for themselves. James Knickman and Emily Snell write, “The real challenges of

caring for the elderly in 2030 will involve: (1) making sure society develops

payment and insurance systems for long-term care that work better than existing

ones, (2) taking advantage of advances in medicine and behavioral health to

keep the elderly as healthy and active as possible, (3) changing the way society

organizes community services so that care is more accessible, and (4) altering

the cultural view of aging to make sure all ages are integrated into the fabric of

community life. To meet the long-term care needs of Baby Boomers, social and

public policy changes must begin soon. Meeting the financial and social service

burdens of growing numbers of elders will not be a daunting task if necessary

changes are made now rather than when Baby Boomers need long-term care.”

care.” Caring for Filipinos elders is “the single most expensive domestic priority
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on the horizon, breaking the projected budgets of both Medicare and Medicaid,

and the truth is, no one is truly prepared for what is to come. Because there is no

federal plan in place, the Philippines have to take the lead on handling the 2030

problem. Some countries are working on making long-term care insurance more

affordable. However, it’s important to note that long-term care insurance comes

with drawbacks.

B. International: UN Program on Aging

The Madrid Plan of Action offers a bold new agenda for handling the issue of

ageing in the 21st-century. It focuses on three priority areas: older persons and

development; advancing health and well-being into old age; and ensuring

enabling and supportive environments. April 2002 mark a turning point in how the

world addresses the key challenge of “build- ing a society for all ages”. Before

then, December 1990, The World Assembly on Aging was held in Vienna in 1982

and was meant to be a forum to launch an international action programme aimed

at guaranteeing economic and social security to older persons, as well as

opportunities to contribute to national development. This agenda helps to

strengthen the capacities of Governments and civil society to deal effectively with

the aging of populations and to address the developmental potential and

dependency needs of older persons. It promotes regional and international

cooperation. As for my perspective, respect for older people's rights benefits

society as a whole. Poor treatment and abusing the human rights of older people

lead to their exclusion, poverty and discrimination. Yet, older people make key

contributions to any society through their experience and wisdom. The elderly
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have the inherent right to life, dignity, and the integrity of their persons, which

shall be protected by law. The elderly have the right to be free from abuse,

neglect, and exploitation. The elderly have the right to be free from

discrimination.

C. Other Current Research on Aging

The Philippines is a diverse country that will experience an increase in its aging

population in the near future. Policymakers and government leaders must plan

for the expected growth in the numbers of older adults, which is likely to increase

the demand for services and support for elders and their caregiving families. The

Philippines’ unique history and rich culture shapes its citizens’ views on aging

and bolsters expectations of informal caregiving for older family members.

Research on aging in the Philippines and current policies must be enhanced to

adequately address the needs of the country’s aging citizens. From a public

health perspective, aging is also the critical risk factor for a variety of human

pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, many

forms of cancer and metabolic disease/type II diabetes, which have become

much more prevalent in the elderly.

TRENDS/ISSUES AND CHALLENGES ON THE CARE OF OLDER PERSONS

(MODULE 10)
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Geriatric nursing is a field of medicine and hospice care that deal with elderly

people. Geriatric nurses are some of the most important professionals in the field of

nursing, as they provide different cares for different illness in elderly patients with

unique needs. Because of their fragile health issue they need special health care.

Working as a geriatric nurse is often very grafting, remarkable and rewarding

personally. However, it takes a special type of nurse to work in this field, and the work

can also be more frustrating, complication or disheartening at times as well. As a

student nurse, I have learned a lot regarding to this kind of situation. We should always

remember that all the elderly people were different from each other, while some elderly

patients are somewhat content or even happy or other might be having pain, sadness,

scared or even angriness that their health is failing day by day this is happen due to lack

of independence and isolation from their families’ loved ones. Handling them with care

and with love and affection is nurse responsibilities to make sure, they are in right place

which will help their mentally and reduce their negativity feeling. Geriatric nursing is

committed to providing timely health information on new and innovative programs and

practices in clinical, community as well as home care and administration. It also

reported clinical findings that are applicable to practice. Geriatric nursing is one of the

critical as well as interesting roles of the nurses. As a student nurse we need to look at

the positive aspects of aging. It is never too late to change behaviors and to improve

health status and quality of life. We can look after them as our own parents at the same

we will respect their culture and beliefs that why as a nurse we play a dynamics role to

promote life of the elderly patients. We can provide care in different setting so that we
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can delivery care in different way reach with the people from different culture. A holistic

caring is necessary to meet unique needs of the elderly patient.