America’s population is aging very fast and statistics say that the number of adults aged 65+ in the US will double over the next 4 decades. It’s a really concerning situation for the healthcare industry, especially since a recent study by the Association of Healthcare Journalists reports that most older adults are deeply dissatisfied[A1] with the level & quality of care they’re receiving.
Nurses play a very important role in bringing positivity to elderly care as well as making geriatric patients become healthier. Nurses can deal with older patients in a very friendly way and tend to their needs as necessary.
This blog explores why nurse practitioners are quite important in elderly care.
1. Specialization in Gerontology
There is a growing demand for nursing professionals in the country because the population of older adults will continue to grow as well. We need RNs who have expertise in taking care of older adults. That’s where gerontology specializations come in.
After all, nurses are the most well-suited healthcare professionals for this kind of education given the fact that over 67% of nurses have very good geriatric patient care knowledge already.
Aged patients face many challenges because of their declining health. But competent nurses in the country can address these challenges. They do so by recognizing the early symptoms of memory loss in older adults or giving end-of-life care to terminally ill patients.
That’s why advanced nursing careers in the field of adult-gerontology acute care are becoming more in-demand day by day, as they excel at nursing elderly patients back to health.
2. High-Quality Caregiving
Nurses communicate better with patients and are in contact with them more often than physicians. That’s why elderly patients can receive quality caregiving via nurses who are competent and approach geriatric well-being with compassion & expertise. Older adults get the personalized care they need as per their unique physical and emotional needs; a very important part of the process is for elderly patients to get their health conditions monitored all the time, made possible only by competent nurses.
3. Building Trust with Aged Patients
It was revealed in a very recent survey that 80% of older patients find it difficult to use and understand medical documents like charts/forms. Sometimes, older patients even lose the ability to make medically sound decisions because of this issue. But nursing professionals get specialized geriatric training. The health implications of aging aren’t unfamiliar to them. So, RNs do their best to address very important age-related issues like:
- Cognitive decline
- Physical exhaustion
- Slip-and-fall-related risks
- Sensory impairments
That’s how trust and comfort among elderly patients are built up by very competent nurses.
4. Preserving an Older Patient’s Autonomy
The perceived loss of autonomy frustrates many aged patients. Many older adults are afraid that they might one day find themselves at a stranger’s mercy after becoming physically/cognitively impaired. However, nurses advocate for patient rights and patient autonomy very successfully by:
- Teaching patients why self-care is so crucial
- Involving aged patients in medical decision-making
- Asking an older patient’s opinion regarding their treatment plan
5. Much Better Patient Outcomes
Many amazing research pieces show that most nurses (over 80% of them) have a very good understanding of the aging process and how to take care of aged patients. Some tips for wonderful health outcomes recommended by nurses to their aged patients include:
- Proper nutrition
- Exercise routines
- Stress management tips
- Vaccination encouragement
- Weight management guidelines
These tips can help older adults prolong their lifespan and manage some of the most common chronic diseases out there.
6. Managing Chronic Conditions
The elderly population in the US right now is afflicted with these chronic conditions:
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Dementia
- Heart disease
- Hypertension
The very important role that RNs play here involves managing these conditions by checking up on a patient’s symptoms and giving them their meds correctly. For instance, nurses can help their older patients learn how to check their blood sugar levels to reduce hospitalizations.
7. Making Hospital Switches More Tolerable
When older adults have to move from one healthcare center to another hospital, it often makes them feel dissatisfied.
However, RNs support their older patients in these situations by making care plans and booking follow-up appointments. They also address risks like at-home falls and teach caregivers about post-discharge instructions as well.
8. Addressing Ageism Concerns
Sadly, ageism is a very real phenomenon, no matter how much we like to ignore that it happens. A study shows that every 5th older patient (who is aged 50+) will be discriminated against by healthcare practitioners for their age.
The common stereotypes about aged patients can be challenged by nurses who work very hard to make sure that elderly patients get the same level of dignity and respect that young patients receive. A really inclusive environment is nurtured by nursing professionals who help combat a lot of preconceived notions and biases maligning healthcare outcomes.
9. Working Together with the Team
Elderly care can be very complex sometimes and requires input from various medical pros. That is why nurses involved in geriatric patient care often get in touch with not just doctors but also PTs, social workers, dietitians, psychologists, and other specialists to make sure that a special treatment plan can be created addressing a certain patient’s unique needs. They may get in touch with physical therapists, let’s say, to come up with a rehabilitation plan for very old and ill patients who are recovering from back surgery. They can then coordinate with social workers so home care services are arranged.
Registered nurses and family nurse practitioners don’t only take care of their geriatric patient’s physical symptoms but also address their broader emotional and psychological needs.
RNs will work really hard to advocate for older patients. The older adult population will keep increasing very fast. Gerontology specializations allow nurses to keep playing a very monumental role in providing wonderful care services to elderly patients.
[A1]https://healthjournalism.org/blog/2024/11/older-adults-are-deeply-dissatisfied-with-health-care-report-says/
