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Special Needs Population

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Future Healthcare Needs of the Baby Boomer Generation
Thomas Edison State College
December 8, 2013

Introduction
As the general population ages, the large group known as the Baby Boomer Generation has the potential to put enormous strains on the healthcare system. The Baby Boomer Generation is defined as those people born between 1946 and 1965 ("Baby boomer," 2013). The focus of this paper centers on the medical needs required for this generation and how the baccalaureate prepared nurse (BSN) will help provide care for them.
According to the United States government, the nation’s population of those over 65 will balloon from 40.2 million in 2010, to 88.5 million in 2050 (Vincent & Velkoff, 2010). Baby boomers will be responsible for this increase. A 2010 study compared the war time generation, those born before 1946, to the baby boomers. According to the study, the baby boomers are more prone to be heavier, and have a higher incidence of hypertension, diabetes and mental illness (Rice, Lang, Henrey & Melzer, 2010). The doubling of those in the over-65 age bracket, coupled with the results of this study, will undoubtedly put a massive strain on the nation’s healthcare system.
Special Needs for Baby Boomers
In order to gain insight on the needs of the baby boomers, a BSN prepared nurse who cares for this population was interviewed. This nurse earned her degree from Seton Hall and is currently matriculating towards her Master of Science Nursing degree. She works full time at a major medical center and works part time for a home health agency. During her home health visits, the predominant age group requiring care is the over-65 population. According to this nurse, the older generations have many concerns as they advance in age. The following are frequent concerns of the patients seen by this nurse during her home visits: avoiding chronic and/or debilitating healthcare problems, nutrition, arthritis/joint problems, mental/emotional needs, and affordable health insurance.
Interventions
A common worry among elderly patients seen in the home is the threat of suffering from chronic or debilitating diseases or conditions. Coronary artery disease, kidney disease and diabetes are frequently mentioned as afflictions most worried about according to the interviewed home care nurse. As the baby boomers age, action is required to help these people achieve the highest level of health. Good health does not indicate only the absence of disease, but effective management of diseases and conditions. Educating the baby boomers about their diseases and medications is potentially effective in promoting optimal health in these patients (Shah, Desai, Gajjar & Shah, 2013). This study concluded education provided to patients significantly improved the overall rates of medication compliance rates in the elderly.
Arthritis is another frequent concern of the elderly. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 50% of adults 65 years of age and older have been diagnosed with arthritis ("Arthritis-related statistics," 2011). According to the Arthritis Foundation website, physical activity and weight management are two beneficial ways to manage the symptoms of arthritis ("Prevent & manage arthritis," 2013). Exercise in the form of swimming and yoga provide cardiovascular benefits while minimizing the amount of impact on weight bearing joints.
Refining the nutritional intake of the aging population has the potential to reduce the incidence of long-term afflictions, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer (Mitrou et al, 2007). The results of this study provided strong evidence in regards to the beneficial effect of the Mediterranean diet on the population of the United States. Death from all causes, including CVD and cancer, has the potential to be reduced with this diet according to this study. Increasing the intake of whole grains, fruits, vegetable, fish and low fat dairy are basic principles of the Mediterranean diet. A nutritionist who specializes in the aging population is a recommendation for baby boomers to help with the guidelines of this diet.
The elderly who have mental health problems face challenges experiencing difficulties in accessing, receiving and benefitting from care ("Substance abuse and," 2009). Many baby boomers providing care for their parents have seen the effects of mental health disturbances and have concerns for their own mental health as they age. It is also important to note that members of this age group might not admit for the need to be treated for a mental health disturbance and therefore might not seek treatment. It is imperative to educate them and encourage them to seek primary care practitioners who specialize in mental health, if the need arises. Non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions have been shown to reduce the incidence and long term effects of mental health disturbances (Carr, 2007).
Concerns in regards to the Affordable Care Act (AFA) have seniors worrying over the future of their healthcare coverage. Media reports have consistently maintained those who have health insurance will not be largely affected by the AFA. Those on Medicare, especially the older individuals will not notice much of a change at all (Heape, 2013). To address these concerns, public education needs to be directed towards the aging population in order for them to plan for their own healthcare in the future (Finkelstein, Carrington Reid, Kleppinger, Pilemer & Robison, 2012). Local, state and federal government agencies are also available to help those in need of assistance.
Conclusion
As baby boomers move into the over-65 age group and beyond, providing adequate senior care will be a challenge for the healthcare system. Chronic illness has taken a heavy toll on our society, and in the face of limited human, economical and medical resources, maintaining optimal health for the elderly will prove difficult. This strain on the healthcare system will be magnified as the Baby Boomer Generation ages and the predicted number of chronic illnesses becomes a reality. Adequate healthcare will help provide guidelines for this generation and will help them achieve a healthy lifestyle as they move along in their golden years.
A common theme arises in the solutions to the worries of the baby boomer generation: education and prevention are critical components of their overall healthcare moving forward. BSN prepared nurses are better prepared to meet the patients’ needs. BSNs have more extensive training in leadership, management, community nursing, health promotion and disease prevention (Ellis, 2013). As preventative care shifts into the community, BSNs will prosper as they function with more independence in clinical decision making, bedside care, and supervision of ancillary staff. These nurses will be the driving force behind patient education, treatment regimens and the shift towards healthy lifestyles for the Baby Boomer Generation.

References
Arthritis-related statistics. (2011, August 11). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/arthritis_related_stats.htm
Baby boomer. (2013). Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Baby boomer
Carr, J. (2007). Psychological consequence associated with intensive care treatment. In Rebar, C. R., Gersch, C. J., Macnee, C. L., & McCabe, S. (2011). Understanding nursing research: using research in evidence-based practice. (3rd ed., pp. 330-336). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Ellis, S. (2013). To bsn or not to bsn - that is the nurse's question! Retrieved from http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/2361/1/To-BSN-or-not-to-BSN---That-is-the-Nurses-Question.html
Finkelstein, E. S., Carrington Reid, S., Kleppinger, A., Pilemer, K., & Robison, J. (2012). Are baby boomers who care for their older parents planning for their own future long-term care needs? Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 24(1), 2012. doi: 10.1080/08959420.2012.630905
Heape, C. S. (2013). The affordable care act and its impact on care managment. Journal of Geriatric Care Management, 23(2), 32. Retrieved from http://www.caremanager.org/wp-content/uploads/GCM_journal_OCT2013.pdf
Mitrou, P. N., Kipnis, V., Thiébaut, A. C., Reedy, J., Subar, A. F., & Wirfält, E…. Schatzkin, A. (2007). Mediterranean dietary pattern and prediction of all-cause mortality in a u.s. population. JAMA Internal Medicine, 167(22), 2461-2468. doi: 10.1001/archinte.167.22.2461
Prevent & manage arthritis. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.arthritis.org/conditions-treatments/prevent-and-manage-arthritis/
Rice, N. E., Lang, I. A., Henrey, W., & Melzer, D. (2010). Baby boomers nearing retirement: The healthiest generation? Rejuvenation Research, 13(1), 105-114. doi: 10.1089/rej.2009.0896
Shah, R. B., Desai, S. V., Gajjar, B. M., & Shah, A. M. (2013). Factors responsible for noncompliance to drug therapy in the elderly and the impact of patient education on improving compliance. Drugs & Therapy Perspectives, 29(11), 366. doi: 10.1007/s40267-013-0075-3
Substance abuse and mental health. (2009, October 9). Retrieved from http://www.iom.edu/Global/Topics/Substance-Abuse-Mental-Health.aspx
Vincent, G. K., & Velkoff, V. A. (2010, May). The older population in the united states: Retrieved from http://www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2002/JustHowManyBabyBoomersAreThere.aspx

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