Population Aging
Population Aging
Population aging necessitates increasing research on health care needs and care outcomes of older adults. Current research often focuses on the effect of interventions or programs affecting a singular disease entity, such as diabetes. However, older adults may have multiple concurrent physiological problems superimposed with the psychological response to declining physical condition, limited financial resources, lack of transportation, loss, grieving, and living arrangements that may challenge physical reserve and be distant from relatives or support persons.
Future research projects must examine programs and interventions that address multimorbid status. Examining geriatric syndromes—constellations of signs and symptoms that are multifactorial and often involve more than 1 body system, rather than a disease entity—may be more appropriate for study. Examples of geriatric syndromes include falls, dysphagia, malnutrition, and sleep problems. In addition, because of the complex status of many older adults, intervention studies will need to help establish guidelines for care for older adults, rather than suggest modification to adult treatment patterns with overarching adages such as "go slow."
Furthermore, strategies to promote health and decrease or postpone frailty will be increasingly more important. Research must examine older adult health programs for their effect on quality and quantity of life and the strengths and barriers associated with them.
The effect of consolidating the GNP and adult NP role also bears monitoring. Research must examine the placement of graduates and the nature of their work to determine if this consolidation is advantageous to health care for older adults.
Research Implications
Population aging necessitates increasing research on health care needs and care outcomes of older adults. Current research often focuses on the effect of interventions or programs affecting a singular disease entity, such as diabetes. However, older adults may have multiple concurrent physiological problems superimposed with the psychological response to declining physical condition, limited financial resources, lack of transportation, loss, grieving, and living arrangements that may challenge physical reserve and be distant from relatives or support persons.
Future research projects must examine programs and interventions that address multimorbid status. Examining geriatric syndromes—constellations of signs and symptoms that are multifactorial and often involve more than 1 body system, rather than a disease entity—may be more appropriate for study. Examples of geriatric syndromes include falls, dysphagia, malnutrition, and sleep problems. In addition, because of the complex status of many older adults, intervention studies will need to help establish guidelines for care for older adults, rather than suggest modification to adult treatment patterns with overarching adages such as "go slow."
Furthermore, strategies to promote health and decrease or postpone frailty will be increasingly more important. Research must examine older adult health programs for their effect on quality and quantity of life and the strengths and barriers associated with them.
The effect of consolidating the GNP and adult NP role also bears monitoring. Research must examine the placement of graduates and the nature of their work to determine if this consolidation is advantageous to health care for older adults.
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