Advancements in Elderly Care and Addressing Healthcare Challenges
The aging population poses significant challenges to healthcare and nursing globally. In Europe, the number of elderly people is expected to increase substantially in the coming decades. This demographic shift necessitates the reorganization and development of social and healthcare services to meet the diverse needs of the elderly. The shortage of healthcare workers, particularly the growing shortage of nurses, puts pressure on healthcare systems. Additionally, the need for qualified healthcare personnel increases as more nurses approach retirement age. Education in the social and healthcare sector must evolve to meet the demands of the workforce.
Gerontological nursing plays a crucial role in this development, as the health issues of the elderly are complex and varied. For example, multimorbidity can quickly lead to complications and decreased functional capacity, increasing the need for healthcare across different systems and requiring multidisciplinary care. Furthermore, issues related to aging are not always adequately recognized or addressed. There is a need to develop higher education in gerontological nursing to meet the needs of the workforce. Continuing education ensures that organizations have access to qualified personnel and individuals have better opportunities for continuous skill development.
Comprehensive geriatric assessment enhances nurses’ clinical competence in elderly care. It is essential to have a holistic view of the patient’s health and needs in elderly care. This holistic view can be achieved through geriatric assessment, which examines functional and cognitive abilities, social and economic situation, environmental factors, and physical and mental health. Unfortunately, geriatric assessment is often not sufficiently taught to nurses, partly because it is considered the responsibility of geriatricians (specialists in elderly care). However, successful assessment is the responsibility of a multidisciplinary team. Effective assessment improves the quality of life for the elderly, slows down frailty, and reduces hospitalizations.
Link to the original article in Finnish: Edistysaskelia ikääntyvien hoitotyössä ja terveydenhuollon haasteiden ratkaisemisessa – TalkTalk (turkuamk.fi)