Literature Review- Health Care for Seniors

Literature Review- Health Care for Seniors

According to Schenker and Costa (2019), the senior population requires more healthcare services than the other populations. The majority of the senior population has underlying chronic conditions that necessitate adequate and personalized healthcare services (van Seben et al., 2019). Notably, most of them are diabetic, hypertensive, or suffer from some form of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease (Tkacheva et al., 2018). Demographic factors play a huge role in determining the demand and utility of healthcare services by this population.

As the senior population continues to surge, their demand for healthcare services continues to increase. This implies that constraints are put on the budgets of Medicare, Medicaid, and other insurers (Giguere et al., 2018). Additionally, an increase in the elderly population and their healthcare demands significantly strains the capacity of the existing healthcare workforce (Giguere et al., 2018). This is likely to compound the existing problem of healthcare provider shortage (Giguere et al., 2018).

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Statistics and Comorbidities

According to ACL (2020), data from 2019 indicates that the American population aged 65 years and above is approximately 54 million. This represents approximately 16 percent of the entire population (ACL, 2020). This population is expected to increase and represent 20 percent of the entire population by 2030. Approximately 83 percent of the senior population has a chronic condition (ACL, 2020). Additionally, they are most likely to suffer from more than one comorbidity. Commonly reported conditions in this population include hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease (Giguere et al., 2018). These diseases lower the quality of life of senior citizens and are the primary drivers for this population to seek healthcare services (Giguere et al., 2018). Accordingly, care coordination and a continuum of care should be provided to this population (Schenker & Costa, 2019).

According to Schenker and Costa (2019), data demonstrates that beneficiaries of Medicare have underlying comorbidities visit approximately seven physicians annually. Additionally, findings reveal that about 20% of senior adults covered by Medicaid have at least 5 chronic conditions (Debt.org, n.d.). This has a significant financial implication because their treatment accounts for approximately 66 percent of Medicare spending (Debt.org, n.d.). Similar findings have been reported in Medicaid spending. Approximately 82 percent of Medicaid spending is used to provide healthcare services to the senior population with chronic comorbidities (Debt.org, n.d.).

Geriatric Syndromes

Geriatric syndromes have also been reported in the senior population. Examples of these syndromes include depression, osteoporosis, incontinence, falls, and delirium (Tkacheva et al., 2018). Just like the underlying chronic diseases, geriatric syndromes lower the population’s quality of life. Cases of incontinence have been reported in approximately 16 percent to 54 percent of females (van Seben et al., 2019). The cases in males are about 10 percent to 33 percent. (van Seben et al., 2019) Additionally, approximately 50 percent of older adult males suffer from sensory impairment. About 34 percent of similar cases have been reported in older adult females (Tkacheva et al., 2018).

According to van Seben et al. (2019), approximately 28 percent of senior adults are dependent on caregivers to accomplish basic activities of daily living. About 7 percent of this population is in long-term care facilities. Data reveals that approximately 81 percent of deaths in the USA are recorded among senior adults (Tkacheva et al., 2018). These mortalities are commonly caused by heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and respiratory conditions (van Seben et al., 2019).

Mental Health Problems

The senior population is most likely to suffer from mental health problems compared with the general population. Common psychological problems that have been reported in this population include depression, anxiety, and dementia-related problems. The most common type of dementia in the elderly population is Alzheimer’s disease (Mok et al., 2020). This presents with significant impairment in cognition and behavior. Both anterograde and retrograde amnesia have been reported in the severe forms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (Mok et al., 2020). Most incidences of AD in senior adults have been reported among African Americans (14 percent), Hispanics (12 percent), and non-Hispanic whites (10 percent) (Nebel et al., 2018). AD is the fifth leading cause of mortalities among the elderly patient population (Mok et al., 2020).

Healthcare Options

Studies have demonstrated that as the senior population ages, it experiences difficulties with affording healthcare costs. Members of a couple aged 65 years or more require approximately $290,000 allocated to their future healthcare needs (Debt.org, n.d.). These costs are not inclusive of the expenses required for long-term care. The senior population that has not saved for future healthcare costs is most likely to plunge into medical debts (Debt.org, n.d.). Various insurers and programs are available to cover the senior population. Medicare covers senior adults aged 65 years and above (Debt.org, n.d.). They should have been full-time workers for at least ten years to enjoy Medicare coverage (Debt.org, n.d.). Medicaid is available for seniors who have to spend a significant percentage of their assets (Debt.org, n.d.). Its coverage includes providing long-term care for seniors. Private health insurance plan coverage targets a small percentage of seniors (Debt.org, n.d.).

Purpose of the Research

The senior population suffers from various comorbidities, geriatric syndromes, and mental health problems. Accordingly, their quality of life is lowered significantly, and they are forced to seek help to accomplish daily living activities. Research demonstrates that in the USA, a senior couple should have at least $ 290,000 in their savings to cater to their future medical needs (Debt.org, n.d.). Failure to which the risk of medical debts increases (Debt.org, n.d.). The purpose of the study is to evaluate different strategies that can be used to actualize better healthcare services that improve the quality of life of seniors.

Specific Research Question

Which techniques can be used to improve healthcare service delivery to seniors?

Hypotheses

Restructuring the healthcare system to finance long-term care services will improve healthcare delivery to seniors.

Restructuring the healthcare system by optimizing the number of healthcare practitioners will improve healthcare delivery to seniors.

Embracing care coordination will improve healthcare delivery to seniors.

References

Administration for Community Living. (2020). 2020 Profile of Older Americans. https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/Aging%20and%20Disability%20in%20America/2020ProfileOlderAmericans.Final_.pdf

Debt.org. (n.d.). Senior Health Care Options and Costs. https://www.debt.org/medical/senior-options-costs/

Giguere, A. M. C., Lawani, M. A., Fortier-Brochu, É., Carmichael, P. H., Légaré, F., Kröger, E., Witteman, H. O., Voyer, P., Caron, D., & Rodríguez, C. (2018). Tailoring and Evaluating an Intervention to Improve Shared Decision-Making Among Seniors with Dementia, their Caregivers, and Healthcare Providers: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. Trials, 19(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-018-2697-1

Mok, V. C. T., Au, L., Cordonnier, C., Gorelick, P. B., Pendlebury, S., Wong, A., Alladi, S., Bath, P. M., Biessels, G. J., Chen, C., Dichgans, M., Dominguez, J., Kim, S., Kwok, T., Greenberg, S. M., Lam, L. C. W., Yin, B., Lam, K., Lee, A. T. C., … Black, S. E. (2020). Tackling challenges in care of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias amid the COVID-19 pandemic , now and in the future. June, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12143

Nebel, R. A., Aggarwal, N. T., Barnes, L. L., Gallagher, A., Goldstein, J. M., Kantarci, K., Mallampalli, M. P., Mormino, E. C., Scott, L., Haung, W., Maki, P. M., & Mielke, M. M. (2018). Understanding the impact of sex and gender in Alzheimer ’ s disease : A call to action. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2018.04.008

Schenker, M., & Costa, D. H. Da. (2019). Advances and challenges of health care of the elderly population with chronic diseases in primary health care. Ciencia e Saude Coletiva, 24(4), 1369–1380. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232018244.01222019

Tkacheva, O. N., Runikhina, N. K., Ostapenko, V. S., Sharashkina, N. V., Mkhitaryan, E. A., Onuchina, J. S., Lysenkov, S. N., Yakhno, N. N., & Press, Y. (2018). Prevalence of geriatric syndromes among people aged 65 years and older at four community clinics in Moscow. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 13, 251–259. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S153389

van Seben, R., Reichardt, L. A., Aarden, J. J., van der Schaaf, M., van der Esch, M., Engelbert, R. H. H., Twisk, J. W. R., Bosch, J. A., Buurman, B. M., Kuper, I., de Jonghe, A., Leguit-Elberse, M., Kamper, A., Posthuma, N., Brendel, N., & Wold, J. (2019). The Course of Geriatric Syndromes in Acutely Hospitalized Older Adults: The Hospital-ADL Study. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 20(2), 152-158.e2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2018.08.003

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Literature Review Part V
Final Project: Creating the Literature Review Section

This week, you will finalize the Literature Review section of your proposal. While developing Part 5, use the following guidelines:

Literature Review- Health Care for Seniors

Review the topic using articles pulled in prior weeks. Start with a broad overview of the topic and narrow it down to the purpose of your research and your specific research question.
State your hypothesis(es) (your prediction of what your research will reveal based on the literature review)