Part 1:- Health Promotion
Introduction
- Application of Health Indicators to estimate Community and US health Status
- Analysis of how determinant os health influence quality of life of older adults
- Evaluation of effectiveness of Health promotion Message
- Identify risk factors that create disparities
Part 11: Common Health Problems: Causes, Prevention, and Treatment
Introduction
- Description of Chronic disease and risk factors (Type 11 diabetes mellitus)
Estimate my chances of developing chronic diseases as I age
Describe preventative plan – primary, secondary and tertiary
- Discuss age at which prevention should begin
Abstract
This presentation embodies discussions on two major aspects of health related to older adults. They are health promotion and common health problems; causes, prevention, and treatment. Health promotion is addressed as social determinants of health affecting quality of life. A common disease discussed will be type 11 diabetes Mellitus.
Part 1: Health Promotion
Introduction
Application of Health Indicators to estimate Community and US health Status
Healthy people 2020 summary of objectives pertaining to improvement in health for older adults are increasing use of Medicare benefits; encouraging of up to date clinical services; promoting confidence in managing chronic conditions; accessibility to diabetes self-management benefits; addressing functional limitations; promoting leisure-time and physical activities and ensuring pressure ulcer-related hospitalizations ( Healthy people, 2013).
On a long term basis objectives encompass assessing need for long-term services and support; caregiver support services; health care workforce with geriatric certification; evaluating emergency department visits due to falls among older adults and retrieving information on elderly abuse, neglect, and exploitation. These are all incorporated in the need for safety and security during adult life when debilitating diseases strike the body (Healthy people, 2013).
Insidiously these objectives indicate expectations regarding quality of life in older adults’ communities and United States of America. Precisely, studies conducted by Shankar, McMunn, Banks, and Steptoe (2011) show where loneliness and social isolation are as pertinent indicators of health as biological factors. The researchers collected data from 8, 688 older adults. Blood pressure, cholesterol levels and inflammatory markers were assessed in relation to these two variables, loneliness and social isolations. They concluded that loneliness and social isolation could affect health independently through their effects on health behaviors, whereas social isolation could speed up biological processes associated with the development of cardiovascular disease (Shankar, McMunn, Banks & Steptoe, 2011).
United States of America has a comparatively low birthrate and high life expectancy typically of a society that exercises birth control; focuses on education and available health resources. Life expectancy is at an average of 78.11 years with males being 75.6 and females 80.69 (US population Census, 2012).
Analysis of how determinants of health influence quality of life of older adults
It is important to note that United States of America caters for its senior citizens through Medicaid and Medicare services. Opportunities to continue being employed way beyond the age of 65 once the individual is healthy promotes longevity because there is something to live for. Implications are that there is scope to expand consciousness and thereby expand life itself.
According to Healthy people 2020 policymaking, social factors; health services; individual behavior; biology and genetics are social determinants that affect quality of life in the older adult (Healthy people 2020, 2013) .
When it comes to policy making in America many older individuals do not understand how their health care is paid for after they retire and in some cases how they can access health insurance over 65. It is important because accessibility to healthcare is just as important as availability. In many communities there are adequate health care services. However, without adequate health insurance coverage these serves are like ‘white elephants’ since the elderly are not educated as to their accessibility. Therefore, implicit within communities, policy makers should ensure that older adults are educated regarding their right to accessible health care services.
Individual behavior such as willingness to continue employment and in some cases active in social groups, music industry all play a major role in keeping older people healthier at a later age with a higher quality of life as they continue participating in the social structure. Research has shown where when older people remain sexually active it enhances their health and even life expectancy (Stibich, 2008).
Evaluation of effectiveness of Health promotion Message
Health promotion as described by Hooyman and Kiyak (2005) is a ‘combination of health education and related organizational, political, and economic changes aimed at enhancing an individual’s capacities for living, including moving toward greater health, not just less disease”
(Hooyman & Kiyak, 2005). Further, it has been posited that health promotion is more than preventing disease. It involves the body, mind, spirit, and the social part of our beings emphasizing that nobody ever reaches “total health and nobody is ever completely unhealthy either. Health and quality of life are entwined (Hooyman & Kiyak, 2005).
Health promotion messages are only effective when changes in behavior patterns are enacted. Besides, designing the message, means of dissemination must be adequate for receptivity. For example, if a tornado or hurricane is eminent this message must reach the public from media coverage and repeated time and time again. In many communities where hurricane shelters are provided considerations for visiting homes of elderly who may not listen to media reports alerting them of these impending dangers must be made and enforced.
Elderly sometimes do not take these messages seriously due to cultural beliefs. During disasters it is very important in transmitting health promotion messages so that the cultural orientations of diverse older adult groups within a population are clarified. Sending messages in different languages such as Spanish, English and Creole can be every effective, but in assessing whether it is received and interpreted correctly lies in the effectiveness of the outreach. Consequently, surveys should follow messages to know whether they were received and communicated correctly.
Conclusion
Identify risk factors that create disparities
Age is a risk factor that creates disparity which will determine who gets service and when. In some communities due to a person’s age they are classified as being susceptible to certain illness or conditions. Without a thorough examination that person when arriving at a doctor’s office or hospital emergency room could be mis-diagnosed treated and subsequently. Also he/she may be referred from nursing home intervention without proper evaluation regarding capabilities. The tendency for younger person to be further evaluated in preventing a nursing home sequel to their care.
The socio-economic status of elderly presents a risk factor as well. It can be evaluated based on high or low income. Many health care providers tend to bill Medicare for services, which the elderly do not really need at the time of a visit in their coverage is great. This means the individual may have Medicare along with another advantage plan, which pays for additional services. A low income individual who has only Medicare will receive the basic treatment. Hence, the disparity created between the high income earner with additional insurance coverage and the low income with just Medicare.
Health beliefs also create disparities regarding where the focus of health promotion lies and who have access to preventable health care. Many minority groups do not believe in visiting a doctor every month or what they consider regularly except in cases of severe illness. Clearly, this disparity in belief put these groups at a disadvantage of accessing quality care. Apart from this factor many are uninsured and do not apply for Medicare except when they become ill.
References
Healthy People 2020 (2013). Health people 2020 Summary of Objectives. Retrieved February 9th
2013 from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/pdfs/OlderAdults.pdf Hooyman, N., & Asuman Kiyak, H (2005). Exam Copy for Social Gerontology: A
Multidisciplinary Perspective, 9/E. Pearson
Shankar, A. McMunn, A. Banks, J., & Steptoe, A. (2011). Loneliness, social isolation, and
behavioral and biological health indicators in older adults. Health Psychol, 30(4), 377
Stibich, M ( 2008). Sex, Aging and Longevity. Retrieved on February 9th, 2013 from
http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelongrelationships/p/sex_longevity.htm
US population census (2012). US and World Clock Census Bureau. Retrieved 9th February,
2013 from http://www.census.gov/population/www/popclockus.html
Describe one chronic disease that appears later in life and identify risk factors (type 11 diabetes mellitus)
Type 11 diabetes mellitus is a nutritional disorder affecting the pancreas whereby insufficient insulin is produced for carbohydrate metabolism. Untreated diabetes can lead to coma and death. This condition affects the cardiovascular system, kidneys and eyes. Risk factors have been researched and they include an age factor of greater than 45 years; diabetes during a previous pregnancy; excess body weight (especially around the waist); family history of diabetes; giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds (American Diabetes Association, 2011).
Patients with HDL cholesterol under 35 mg/dL; high blood levels of triglycerides, a type of fat molecule (250 mg/dL or more); high blood pressure (greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg); impaired glucose tolerance; low activity level (exercising less than 3 times a week); metabolic syndrome; polycystic ovarian syndrome and acanthosis nigricans, which causes dark, thickened skin around the neck or armpits are also susceptible to diabetes mellitus type 11. Recent research has shown where there is a rising incidence among African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans (American Diabetes Association, 2011).
Estimation of my chances of developing chronic diseases such
diabetes Mellitus type 11as I age
There are three major modifiable factors that relates chronic disease with aging as represented in the study notes. They include power to control environmental hazards, which appears first on the list. Next is health promotion messaging which are expected to alert people regarding dangers to their health and thirdly is the advancements in medical science available/accessible to human within their communities and the society at large (Study Notes, 2013) These are the three elements that would influence whether I develop chronic diseases or not.
Environmental hazards within the past 100 years wrecked communities, families and destroyed nations. These included poor disposal of human waste, which caused disease such as typhoid, cholera, dysentery among a few disastrous epidemics. With improved sanitation systems disposal of human waste, pure water supplies and ventilation mechanisms these deadly disease have been eradicated. Sadly, poor underdeveloped nations still are plagued with these chronic conditions due to inadequate sanitation, pure water and refuse disposal.
Thanks to be living in a developed nation which provides its population with safer environment where one can enjoy ventilated building with air condition equipment and proper heating during winter, healthy foods, which have to be FDA authorized and environmental sanitation hazards evaluated work place and recreational facilities.
Health promotion messaging is expected to create life style changes. These are evident all across the globe within communities and spaces where people congregate as a group. Everywhere one notices no-smoking signs and realizes that it is about the safety of community. It is not forcing anyone to stop smoking but it reminds us that this is a health hazard and it is about community’s health. Health promotion analysts have contended that there is still some measure of difficulty in people responding favorable to messaging. However efforts are made to device strategies that would raise the level of responses in changing behavior entirely.
Modern medicine is playing a great role in deferring complications of many chronic diseases. Medical research everyday are making strides in developing new drugs and techniques to prevent, diagnose, and cure or manage chronic diseases which just a few years ago claimed the lives of millions and reduced life expectancy greatly. For example, people with cancers are living longer enjoying a better quality of life. Diabetics are self-managing the condition with fewer doctors’ visits and less effects of complications. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can manage their condition more adequately with fewer hospital visits. In the same way patients with chronic heart failure have 24 hour mobile oxygen tanks to travel around which reduces exacerbations.
These three factors estimate my chances of developing chronic diseases at a later age because while medical science predicts diseases based on genetics we all know that lifestyle , the environment and health promotion techniques can deferred medicals incidences, which were unrelated to genetics. Once I adhere to health promotion messages, live in a clean environment and eat healthy; I would die healthy if death is the outcome of life in a body.
Description of preventative measures
At the primary level diabetes mellitus type two can be prevented through education. Since it is primarily a nutritional disease nutrion education is very important. Children and youth adults ought to use diet rich in fiber; high in vitamin; low in fats and cholesterol and refined sugars. In essence a balanced diet is required for preventing this disease.
Secondary intervention would necessitate controlling blood sugar and preventing complications when the diseases occur. There are numerous self-management diabetic programs, which cater towards supplying glucose monitoring devices to elderly diabetics through Medicare funding. There is also the diabetic shoes program to prevent injury leading to amputation and retinal evaluation to detect retinal degeneration which is a complication of the disease.
At the tertiary level is where many elderly diabetics may end up in a long term care facility due to amputation, ulcers that would not heal blindness, or even kidney failure. At this point intervention to prevent end of life episodes are necessary. While a person must die dying gracefully is the goal. As such, if there is no end of life prognosis measures are taken to have patients relocated in the community either in assisted living or at home with a home health aide services. If there is an end of life prognosis than hospice care is recommended.
Conclusion
Age primary prevention should begin
In my opinion prevention of disease should begin from conception. Some studies conducted in Africa revealed where intro uterine starvation resulted in diabetes mellitus later in life (American Diabetes Association, 2011). In the absence of more valid data relating intrauterine life to disease sequel it is highly recommended that disease prevention should be considered before during and after conception.
References
American Diabetes Association (2011). Standards of medical care in diabetes--2011. Diabetes
Care. Suppl 1:S11-61.
Study Notes (2013). Common Health Problems, Causes, Prevention and Treatment. Lesson Unit
5.1
