Geriatrics is a faculty of medicine aiming to improve health care for elderly seniors over 75
years. The practice provides support for the elderly by preventing or treating illnesses that
come as a result of aging. It involves assisting older adults at their homes and special
institutions like nursing homes or psychiatric institutions.
In the near future, most of the US population will be in the elderly category, making
geriatrics the future of medicine. As the demographics shift in the next 50 years, a more
significant number of elderly adults will require care, and practitioners must adapt to the
change. Therefore, institutions like Geriatric Home Care Bethesda, MD, will sprout to meet
the demand and provide much-needed assistance to these patients. Healthcare facilities
will evolve to fit the shoe by allocating more time and resources to cater to the elderly
needs like it is other faculties.
Why Healthcare Facilities Must Evolve
Currently, healthcare facilities in the US are not well-equipped to handle elderly patients
adequately. For instance, hospitals are well-designed to take care of pediatric patients.
The same is expected soon for them to incorporate necessary facilities for the elderly’s
needs. Currently, standard hospitals are poorly suited to handle elderly patients due to
these reasons.
- Lack of privacy
- High volume, which translates to more stress they can’t handle
- Unfavorable surroundings
- Anxiety from other patients with varying illnesses or problems
- Limited time for assistance
- Noise that makes older adults with hearing challenges uncomfortable
The Goals of Geriatric Care
The aging effect comes with multiple chronic disorders ranging from cognitive and social
dysfunctions and more healthcare needs. These needs require large amounts of
healthcare resources and attention from Capital City Nurses. The main goal of geriatric
care is to improve patient care, promote a safe environment, and provide high-quality
services at affordable prices.
A facility built to serve specific patient needs ensures one-on-one engagement with
patients and creates distinguished person-centered care. This method effectively treats,
prevents, or treats elderly conditions for better outcomes, and practitioners need to
cultivate a culture based on the following goals.
- Provide secure care
- Reinforce person and family engagement
- Encourage effective communication to coordinate effective care
- Nurture effective prevention and treatment
- Promote healthy living in communities by engaging in the best
- Promote affordable care for all
Due to many chronic diseases, older adults might hop from one healthcare practitioner to
another. Therefore, a facility designed to provide consistently integrated care is crucial for
elderly patients. Communication is also paramount among primary care providers,
patients, and family members, especially after transfers from other institutions.
Conclusion
Elderly patients have more needs than seniors and family members, which can assist in
identifying the patient’s expectations (realistic and unrealistic). This way, it’s easy for
physicians to assess the patients comprehensively before rehabilitation. Caregivers should
also indicate their support while geriatric clinics meet their particular needs. Since elderly
patients have enormous healthcare needs, family members must choose a facility that
provides psychological support if the patient suffers a cognitive decline.
