Annotated Bibliography: The Gerontological Population

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide problem that is currently three times higher for African Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, American Indians and seniors (The National Kidney Foundation, 2013). CKD occurs when the kidneys are damaged by a pathogen or injury and they can no longer adequately maintain proper levels of regulated chemicals in the bloodstream. There are many risk associated with CKD. According to the National Kidney Foundation, two of the major risks are Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) and Cardiovascular Disease. Currently twenty million American adults have CKD and millions of others are at increased risk. Age has no barrier on getting CKD. People with pre-existing health issues, and a part of certain population

The demographic characteristics of the senior population has been changing over time. The rise in diversity and the geographic placement of seniors can provide an opportunity to examine their use of the social program SNAP. Characteristics of food insecurity such a geography and race correlate with higher rates of food insecurity and as these same characteristics continue to grow in the senior population. Since seniors have the lowest rates of SNAP participation versus other age groups, and their rates of food insecurity continue to grow it is important to examine what characteristics impact the likelihood of SNAP take up among this population.

Using Item B and elsewhere, assess the view that an ageing population creates problems for society

Today I spoke with a very outspoken neighbor of mine who was kind enough to participate in my assessment project. Iris L. is her name and she was born in March of 1940, which makes her 76 years old. She has lived in the small town of Archer Lodge, NC since she was born. She has been widowed for over 35 years and has one son who also lives five minutes away. She remains very active within the community but spends a majority of her time with her two grandchildren, ages 9 and 11. She has three sisters who all live within a few minutes of her home. She is active in her church and has lots of community friends that she assist in taking to appointments and says she also enjoys “feeding the shut-ins”. She is retired from a manufacturing job of 35 years but returned to work part-time at Dollar General approximately 8 years ago. She told me “if you don’t keep busy and active, you will go downhill quickly when you retire”.

Over the decade of the 1980’s, the largest percent increases in elderly population (65 years and over) were mostly in the West, particularly the Mountain States, and in the South, especially the South Atlantic States of Florida, South Carolina, and Delaware (Census Bureau, 2014).

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common disorder and occurs in the elderly population. In younger patients, it

According to Statistics Canada, aging population has steadily increased since the mid-1960. The age of 65 and older comprised 15.7% of the country’s population. Promoting health in these aging population is very crucial to minimise the severity of health complications that might occur in the long run. Gerontological Nursing involves the care of aging people and emphasize the promotion of the highest possible quality of life and wellness throughout the lifespan (Eliopoulos, c2014 p73). Aging people need Gerontological Nurses who are knowledgeable and willing to promote health and optimum quality of life with the consideration of their core needs such as physiological balance, connection and gratification (Eliopoulos, c2014 p78).

The recent growth in the number of older adults in the United States is unusual in the history of America. The anticipation of the elderly population (65+) by the year 2050 will be almost 89million people, or greater than the population of the elderly in the year 2010 (CDC 2013).

Health care has been an issue for the United States for several years. Universal health care has still not been accomplished, and this means there are many people uninsured across the country who could be seeking medical attention, but cannot afford it. Another problem recently surfaced for the United States. This problem is the aging population. There are many factors that have contributed to the aging population, and they greatly effect health care.

Loss is defined as the experience of having something taken from you or destroyed (Loss, 2016). In the senior population losses become more common and frequent due to dwindling health circumstances, among other circumstances. “Functional losses experienced by the elderly include physical performance, balance, mobility, and muscle strength” (Nakano, Otonari, Takara, Carmo & Tanaka, 2014, p. 583). Situational or circumstantial losses may be the loss of a partner or the loss of a home due to being transferred into a retirement home or health care facility. Losses are enhanced by any diseases a person may have making it more difficult to deal with these losses. “Taking a look at diabetes; diabetes plays a key role in many individuals in the older adult population lives, more than 25% of adults over the age of 65 in America have been diagnosed with diabetes” (Kirkman, 2012, p. 2650). This disease alters the rate of which losses are experienced and in turn how the elderly grief over the loss. “Diabetic patients are more likely to experience depression and diabetic patients are more likely to undergo amputation from limb loss” (Spiess, McLemore, Zinyemba, Ortiz & Meyr, 2014, p. 1068). Being diagnosed with diabetes impacts every aspect of one’s life and creates difficulties in caring for oneself that need to be dutifully addressed.

Till I was twelve years old I had to ask my friends to hangout either by calling on our landline or go ride my bike to their house and see if they are home. Moving forward nine years in time with my birth cohort the process of cohort aging took place with new ways to communicate. Cohort aging is the process of a cohort moving from one age category to the next until it is extinguished. Now, I am twenty-one years old and all I have to do is type, “chill?” into my touchscreen mobile device! Then I wait for a notification on my screen to pop up with the word “sure” or “can’t.” As part of a birth cohort I felt a generational consciousness when, cell phones changed the way we communicate with one another on a daily basis. It is an experience that has dyed out in birth cohorts after mine.

Providing eldercare to sick and aging loved ones increases women’s risk of living in poverty later in life, and specifically at retirement age due to the negative health and financial implications including gaps or decreases in employment, losses in retirement income, and the use of savings to cover out-of-pocket costs (Wakabayashi, Donato, 2006). The elderly population in the United States continues to grow at a significant rate, with estimates that approximately 80 million adults will be over the age of sixty-five by the year 2030 (Bookman, Kimbrel, 2011). Approximately seventy-five percent of elderly persons who require assistance with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living receive that support in the form

The aging population in the United State is at risk for not only chronic health problems, but abuse including, physical, sexual, psychological/emotional, and/or financial. With the increase number of elders being seen by healthcare professionals it is important to know what suspicions to look for, to report accurately and appropriately.

According to the maps of 1990 and 2010 it is easy to see that in the upper middle part of our country (South Dakota, North Dakota, Idaho, Wyoming, etc.) the numbers are staying low and not moving. The Southern part of the country is increasing in population, therefore making the numbers grow, while in the states near the Great Lakes (Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, etc.) are losing representatives in both maps. In 1990, California really grew in population and added 7 representatives, along with Florida gaining 4. When States gain and lose representatives it is normally only 1 or 2. Washington, Texas, Florida, and Georgia gained representatives in both 1990 and 2010. The same goes for Iowa, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania,

Throughout the world and throughout history, the young have always outnumbered the elderly. Over the next 40 years this will change. The population over 60 will grow by one billion to a total of two billion. For the first time in human history there will be more people over 60 than under 15. One in every five people will be elderly. In 1950 there were twelve working people for every elderly person, today nine working people and in 2050 4 working people. More money will go out and less money will come in. (HelpAge International, 2014) Economies will face a change in terms of growth, savings, debts, investment, consumption, labor markets, pensions and taxation. Social impacts will consist of changes in family composition, living arrangements,