1. Gerontological Nursing and the Aging Society
Chapter objectives
Specify demographic changes relate to aging
Understand factors that affect the aging process
Recognize the great diversity of older people
Discuss strategies to prepare adequate eldercare workforce
Identify factors influenced gerontological nursing
Discuss various gerontological nursing roles
Compare various gerontological roles
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2. The study of aging
Age year the number of aging people will increase in the future
The view of the aging is that they ae frail, dependent, and waiting to die
In fact, the majority of those aged 65 and older regard their health as good or excellent
Many of them have close and meaningful relations
The development period of elderhood is essential part of a healthy society
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3. Gerontology Gerontology from Greek gero: old man
Is the scientific study of the effect of time on human development, specifically the study of older persons
In 1000 BCE the average life span was 18 years.
Geriatrics: Medical care of the older adults.
The focus now is of health promotion of older adults, this is why its gerontology not geriatrics.
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4. How old is old
Old is a relative concept based on how one acts and feels physically, mentally, socially, and culturally.
Ones chronological age may or may not reflect the biological age (age of organs), or psychological age (feeling of old), and social age (roles and relationships)
In the states a person who is 65 years or older is considered a senior citizen.
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5. How old is old
65 years is also the age when persons can receive social benefits and retirement
Further classification of old age: young-old (65-74 years), middle-old (75-84 years), old-old (85+).
From gerontological nursing perspective; functional age, or the ability to perform acticities of daily livings, is a more essential measure of age than chronological age.
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6. Aging concepts
Nonagenarians: those people who are genetically hardy and reached 90 years of age and still active and mobile.
Centenarians: people who reached 100 and are expected to be increasing in number (85 % are females). 50% of them are living in the nursing homes due to absence of living spouse or siblings
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7. The future old
Nurses musty consider the following when planning for older people care:
Their diversity
The uncertain political and economic future
Changing the health care delivery system
Progress in technology and medical management
Shift in values and ethics that will affect life
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8. Aging today
Census data are the most important to identify demographics of the aging population
In Jordan according to 2013 census the proportion of people over 65 years was 6.7% (3.3 males, 3.4 females).
In the states 12.6% (42.4% males, 57.8% females)
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9. Global aging
United nations projects that by the year 2050 more people over 60 and older than people younger than 15 years.
Japan (82.6), Hong Kong (82.2), Iceland (81.8) and Switzerland (81.7) have the highest life expectancy.
In Jordan 73.3 years
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10. Who will care for an aging society
Workforce to care for older adults are understaffed
The demand for Gerontological nurses and other heath care professionals is critical
Eldercare is projected to be the fastest growing employment sector in the health care industry
Improving the competency and adequacy of the eldercare workforce is essential to meet the needs and demands of a burgeoning aging population.
© Ma'en Aljezwi

11. Development of gerontological nursing
Different terms for nurses caring for older adults:
Gerontic nurses
Gerontological nurses
Geriatric nurses
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12. Development of gerontological nursing
Gerontological nursing has emerged only in the past six decades as a circumscribed.
Before that it was seen as a application of general principles of nursing
The most influence in enhancing gerontological nursing was the promoting geriatric nursing excellence for nurses and community
Other initiatives like the Nurse Competence in Aging, this initiative provided a grant and technical assistance for nurses and organizations
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13. Gerontological Nursing Education
Most nurses will care for older adults at least for sometime during their career
Most schools of nursing do not have freestanding courses in gerontology
Faculty with expertise in gerontological nursing are scarce, less than 30%.
Many initiatives stand now to establish gerontological nursing as a speciality in nursing schools
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14. Gerontological nursing roles
Older adults are the major consumers of health care services in all settings
The majority of nurses today are caring for older adults nowadays.
In acute care older people comprise 60% of the medical surgical patients and 46% of the critical care patients
Older people are the work of hospitals but most nurses do not say they specialize in geriatrics
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15. Gerontological nursing roles
A gerontological nurse may be a generalist or specialist
Generalist functions in a variety of settings: hospital, home, subacute and long-term and community (retirement homes, assisted living facilities, adult day programme, senior housing).
© Ma'en Aljezwi

16. Gerontological nursing roles
National certificates is a way to enhance knowledge of acute care nurses who care for older adults
To prepare student nurses for caring of the older adults it is important to provide expertise across the health care continuum
This will assist them to develop a more positive attitude towards older adults
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17. Gerontological nursing roles
Specialist role:
Has special preparation at the masters level
Has advanced clinical expertise
Has understanding of health and social policy, proficiency, planning, implementation and evaluation
There is a large shortage in this speciality
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18. Gerontological nursing roles
Other speciality roles include: advanced practice gerontological nurse, geriatric nurse practitioners, gerontological nurse specialist
Advanced practice nurses have demonstrated their skills in improving health outcomes and cost-effective
The positive outcome for this role include increased patient and family satisfaction, decreased cost and improved quality of care.
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19. Research on aging
Although the older age ranges from years, statistically in research they are usually grouped into one category
Research often conduct studies of those over 50 years
The study of Alzheimer’s disease has warded the largest amount of research funds
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20. Research on aging
Nursing research in this area developed best practice foundation in nursing
Nurses have generated a large amount of research in this area and established a solid background for the practice of gerontological nursing
Nursing research has significantly affected the quality of care of the older adults
However, liitle research has been conducted in the community-based settings
-© Ma'en Aljezwi

21. Future directions for gerontological nursing research
Staffing patterns and the most appropriate mix to improve care
The influence of culture on aging
Health disparities and health literacy
Demetia
Drug and alcohol abuse
Best practice protocols
Interprofessional communication
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22. The politics of aging
One of the most important factors that affected by politics
Funding for health and social services is often tied to stringent government requirements
The passing of new laws for older-adults care has shifted the focus more into older people care
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23. Key points
Aging is a complex phenomenon with bio-psychological and spiritual aspects
Older persons become more unique
The current generation of older adults are healthier than previous generations
The elder care workforce is critically understaffed
Nurses were the first health care professionals to have a speciality in older people care
© Ma'en Aljezwi