With the ageing population worldwide, the need for physicians specialized in geriatrics and qualified nurses who could address people with specific health issues is rising. Gerontological nurses are involved in enhancing the quality of the lives of elderly people and preventing any jeopardizing of their self-sufficiency. This blog discusses the following points regarding gerontological nursing: the significance, roles and duties, problems and prospects.
Gerontological nursing and healthy aging entails analyzing, organizing, administering and monitoring health care for the elderly. This nursing field is not simply a medical one that focuses on the patients’ diseases but also the well-being of elderly patients in all the physical, emotional, social and psychological aspects. Gerontological nurses practice in hospitals, extended care, communities, and homes; further, it assists seniors in riding chronic diseases, loss of dependency, and a better quality of life.
Ageing Population: Demographers agree that the planet’s population is ageing at a never-before-seen rate. The World Health Organization estimates that in the next 34 years, the population of people aged 60 and above will be 2 billion, compared to the global population of 900 million recorded in 2015. These demographic changes call for a form of nursing that is specialized in taking care of senior citizens.
Some of the chronic illnesses older adults develop include diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and dementia, among others. Gerontological nurses are postural to take charge of health needs, and offer care that suits each of the patients.
Another anticipated outcome of gerontological nursing practice is preserving the elders’ independence for as long as feasible. Nurses empower patients and their families, trying to find ways and means of encouraging the patients to be as independent as possible.
Gerontological nurses enhance the quality of life of senior citizens through physical, emotional, and social support. Palo Alto’s responsibilities include managing acute pain, preventing falls, encouraging healthy lifestyle practices, and promoting sound mental health.
Gerontological nurses have a wide range of responsibilities that go beyond traditional medical care. They are educators, advocates, and entrepreneurs in the field of elderly care. Their roles include patient assessment, care planning, chronic disease management, medication administration, patient and family education, end-of-life care, and advocacy. This diversity of roles underscores the comprehensive nature of gerontological nursing.
Gerontological nurses work with an older client’s assessment through medical facts, considering the health of the body, mind, spirit, and society. This assessment is useful, especially in determining a patient’s health risks so a treatment plan can be prepared for him.
Following the patient’s assessment, the gerontological nurses develop and implement care that is specific to every patient. This may include prescriptions, physical therapy, dietary counselling, and consulting with other health care professionals.
Care of chronic illnesses is best described as one of the primary responsibilities of gerontological nursing. Nurses constantly observe their patients, teach them how to deal with their diseases, and make changes that will benefit them, if any.
Many elderly patients are on multiple medications at the same time, thus increasing the likelihood of drug interactions or adverse effects. The gerontological nurses are expected to safely administer medications, report and look out for any side effects in their patients, and explain the prescriptions given to them.
Education is one of the most important parts of gerontological nursing. Patients and their families are taught about the changes that occur during the aging process, the management of disease conditions, preventive measures and available sources of help to the elderly.
Gerontological nurses, as one of the specialties, are usually responsible for the end of life care, pain controlling, emotional support, and much more with understanding the patient’s preferences. They also help families during this period through offering support to them.
Gerontological nurses also advocate for the elderly and ensure that they have the right to receive the necessary attention and honour.
Despite its critical role in healthcare, gerontological nursing faces several challenges:Despite its critical role in healthcare, gerontological nursing faces several challenges:
It is peculiar that the number of nurses specialising in gerontological care is diminishing. This shortage is likely to result in overload, stress, and reduced quality of patient care, especially for the elderly.
Indeed, establishing treatment plans for older adults is more challenging than for other categories of patients because they have multiple comorbidities. Still, gerontological nurses must deal with these issues, providing person-centred care.
So, elderly people with chronic diseases or having limited life expectancy can be rather stressful to work with. There is therefore the need for gerontological nurses to acquire relevant coping mechanisms to be able to deal with their emotions properly as well as seek support.
This means that to achieve optimum health care for the elderly, gerontological nurses need to update their knowledge base and practice in light of existing or emerging policies, technologies and existing or new ideal models in the delivery of health care to the elderly.
This can be attributed to hearing problems, decline in cognitive abilities, or language barriers that are likely to affect elderly people. The caregivers, specifically the nurses, have to be patient and find ways and means of reaching the patient.
Therefore, the future of gerontological nursing seems rather bright as more and more attention is being paid to the elderly population and their unique needs. Key trends shaping the field include:Key trends shaping the field include:
Technologies like telehealth, remote monitoring, and wearables are changing the way care is given to geriatric patients. Gerontological nurses employ these technologies more frequently than other groups of nurses in the care of their patients.
It is also important to realize that the efficient treatment of elders’ needs is a multidisciplinary field. Gerontological nurses cooperate with doctors, therapists, social workers, and other caregivers to make good care plans.
More efforts are being made to maintain health, disease, and longevity. From an administrative perspective, gerontological nurses are crucial in facilitating lifestyle modifications, vaccinations, and screening that assist in averting diseases and enhancing health.
Elderly care involves numerous aspects, so a single health care professional cannot practise it. Gerontological nurses also collaborate with doctors, therapists, social workers, and other professionals to adequately meet patients’ needs.
Two significant developments are the focus on preventive medicine and health promotion for the elderly. Gerontological nurses have a special role in encouraging the necessary modifications, vaccinations, and tests that can help users avoid various diseases and enhance their quality of life.
Due to the increased demand for gerontological care, nursing schools are evolving and considering more actions in Geriatrics. There is also continuing education for practising nurses, whereby they further polish their education to become master’s in nursing.
It means that with the existing trend in the increase of the number of elderly people in a society there is a need to put up policies that would enhance their health. Such a nurse engaging in gerontology is usually a staunch humane rights fighter who champions for reforms that will make health care accessible to the elderly as well as ensuring rights of the elderly are protected besides the recognition of social justice factors.
Gerontological nursing is a fulfilling and a very important branch of nursing that deals with the care of the elderly people. Giving specialized care and enabling elderly patients to become more independent and increases their quality of life, gerontological nurses are crucial in the elderly’s lives. Since the population is aging, the positions of gerontological nurses are going to be in demand more and more, which makes this field indispensable within the overall system of healthcare. Through continual education, campaigning and support, the gerontological nursing will keep on enabling positive change in the lives of the elderly and their close ones.
Specialty of nursing that concerns with physical, emotional and social needs of elderly people in the society.
It assists in the control of long-term diseases, self reliance, and well being of the elderly.
Some agencies provide home care services for patients and the elderly; some serve in hospitals, old age homes, and even community centers, and some offer their services in private homes.