Long-Term Care Today

Long-Term Care Today

The global need for long-term care has increased considerably in the recent past. More than twelve million people in the United States need long-term care. Whereas the American health system holds high regard for older people, with elderly Americans receiving universal health insurance as an entitlement, the same is not the case in developing countries like Kenya.

More than half the adult population in the United States has at least one chronic condition. Cardiovascular disorders, cancer, diabetes mellitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders are the most common chronic disorders affecting American adults (Raghupathi, W., & Raghupathi, V., 2018). In Kenya, the most common chronic illnesses among the elderly include cardiovascular disorders, cancers, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis. Cardiovascular disorders have seen an upward trend in both countries, with significant morbidities and mortalities arising from these disorders. We offer assignment help with high professionalism.

The incidence and prevalence of long-term care consumption in the US is over 8 million persons annually. Elderly Americans account for the most significant proportions, with over 65%. Long-term care consumption is relatively low in Kenya, limited to a few individuals with better socioeconomic status (Ezeh et al., 2016). Unofficial estimates place the number of people requiring long-term care at hundreds of thousands.

With population increases realized in both countries, the number of people requiring long-term care is expected to rise significantly. In the United States, the number is expected to double over the next decade. Over 27 million people are expected to seek long-term care in the US in ten years. In Kenya, the number is expected to triple; WHO estimates that the number of people seeking long-term care in sub-Saharan Africa will triple from an estimated 46 million to over 150 million by 2035. This reflects a three-fold increase in the number.

Differences exist in the care needs of the American and Kenyan old populations. The elderly Americans are primarily of higher socioeconomic status, with a majority having access to basic needs and excellent care. They are also under an elaborate insurance cover with access to medicines to treat their underlying morbidities. Nursing homes provide residence for the majority of the American older population. The Kenyan elderly group is mostly of lower socioeconomic status with little or no access to basic needs. The majority have no access to medicines and are confined to home care. Care needs also vary among these two groups. Access to drugs tops the list of requirements among the American old, with the majority requiring medications to manage underlying diseases and improve their well-being. Kenyan elderly groups need access to basic food and water needs since poverty remains of great concern in this country.

The United States has a broad infrastructure for care provision among elderly persons. Several agencies have been institutionalized and are targeted at providing care to older people. Over 39 million caregivers in the US have expertise in varied fields. Nursing homes are examples of institutional caregivers that accommodate more than half of the American old. These nursing homes are spread across all states. Non-institutional care in the US is mainly achieved by collaborating with family members and caregivers (C. Spillman et al., 2022). In Kenya, institutional care is not widespread and is limited to only a few individuals. Non-institutional care is, however, prominent, accounting for the more significant proportion. The prominence of non-institutional care in these countries is attributable to poor government policies, poor healthcare provision in care institutions, and inadequate funds to cover the elderly needs (Ezeh et al., 2016). These factors make it challenging to enable efficient and effective institutional care.

Differences exist between the status of quality of care for the American and Kenyan elderly population. The American elderly receive a relatively better quality of care than the Kenyan elderly. The American elderly can access basic needs and medications to treat their ailments. The Kenyan elderly, on the other hand, have limited access to basic needs and little or no access to drugs.

Healthcare cost varies between the two countries. The cost of healthcare in the US is more expensive than it is in Kenya. Accessibility to healthcare is, however, subsidized by the presence of insurance covers that fund part of the cost of healthcare. On the contrary, the Kenyan healthcare cost is relatively cheap. However, its access is limited by poverty and inadequate access to healthcare insurance.

References

Ezeh AC, Chepngeno G, Kasiira AZ, et al. The Situation of Older People in Poor Urban Settings: The Case of Nairobi, Kenya. In: National Research Council (US) Committee on Population; Cohen B, Menken J, editors. Aging in Sub-Saharan Africa: Recommendation for Furthering Research. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2016. 6. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK20309

Spillman, B., Wolff, J., Freedman, V., & D. Kasper, J. (2022). Informal Caregiving for Older Americans: An Analysis of the 2011 National Study of Caregiving. ASPE. They were retrieved 24 March 2022 from https://aspe.hhs.gov/reports/informal-caregiving-older-americans-analysis-2011-national-study-caregiving.

Raghupathi, W., & Raghupathi, V. (2018). An Empirical Study of Chronic Diseases in the United States: A Visual Analytics Approach. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(3), 431. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030431

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Demographics and epidemiological transitions result in dramatic changes in the health needs of individuals throughout the globe. In recent times, there has been an increase in the prevalence of long-term disability in the population—causing an increasing need for long-term care services. In addition, the present developing world is experiencing an increase in the demand for long-term care services at a cost much lower than in industrialized countries.

Prepare a report in a Microsoft Word document comparing the US long-term care system with the long-term care system of a developing country. Research the South University Online Library and the Internet to find relevant content.

Include the following information in your report:

What are the chronic illness trends of each country?
What is the incidence and prevalence of elderly long-term care consumers in the United States compared to your chosen developing country?
How does each country expect these numbers to change in the next ten years?
What are the main characteristics of the elderly population in both countries? Is there any difference in consumers’ long-term healthcare needs in both countries? Provide a rationale for your answer.
Who are the institutional and non-institutional caregivers in both countries? Support your answer with relevant examples. Explain the factors that affect caregiving in each country.
Is there any difference in the status of quality of care for elderly consumers in the United States as compared to developing countries?
Is there any difference in the health care cost provided in the United States compared to the developing country? Define any social support that may exist to cover health care in both countries.
Use your course and textbook readings and the South University Online Library to support your work. As in all assignments, cite your sources in your career and provide references for the citations in APA format.