Who Are My Older Patients Anyway? The Rapidly Changing World of Your Elderly Patients and What It Means For You
(4.7 Contact Hours)

"Old age is no place for sissies." - Bette Davis

 

The price of this course is $24.00. You will only be asked to pay for the course if you decide to grade the Post Examination to earn a certificate with Contact Hours (CEUs).

Program Objectives

After completion of Who Are My Older Patients Anyway? The Rapidly Changing World of Your Elderly Patients and What It Means For You, the participant will be able to:

1) Describe demographic trends regarding U.S. elders and their effects on health and patient care.
2) Discuss elders' attitudes and beliefs about later life and how nurses should respond.
3) Identify the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among elders.
4) State how changes in disability rates will affect nursing practice.
5) Discuss common mental health disorders among elders.
6) Name the most common health promotion behaviors and motivators among elders.
7) Describe changes in where and how elders receive long term care.
8) Identify trends in health care utilization among elders.
9) Explain how family care giving affects the health needs of both caregiver and receiver.

Content Outline

I. How Many of Who? Overall Population Trends of Elders in the U.S.

A. The "Graying" of America, the "Birth Dearth" and the coming "Baby Boomers"
B. Income, Education, and Housing
C. What Is "Elderly" to Your Elderly Patients? What Is a "Good Old Age"?

II. In Search of a Healthy Old Age: Morbidity and Mortality Trends

A. Most Common Causes of Morbidity and Mortality in Elders
B. Disability among the Elderly
C. Depression and Mental Health Conditions Among the Elderly
D. Healthy Behavior Leads to a Healthy Old Age

III. Service and Housing Trends

A.Nursing Home Versus Community-based Care
B.Health Care Utilization
C.Out-of-pocket Health Care Costs
D.Family Caregivers, the Hidden Health Care System

IV. Putting It All Together

V. References

Introduction

You know your older patients inside and out. However, what you may not know about aspects of your patients' lives that affect their health and health care may surprise you. Well-being and the ability to carry out medical regimens are strongly affected by family structure, income and education, attitudes and beliefs, disability, access to health care, and many other factors. In this course we will examine some facts about the older U.S. population as a whole, think about what these trends might mean for your patients, and then offer some tips and strategies for your nursing practice. By knowing more about the evolving world of your older patients, you will better understand what lies behind their health status and behavior and be able to prepare for your elder patients of the future.