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The Elderly Population

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INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT
THE ELDERLY POPULATION
Niagara College
NURS 1270
Amanda Sorrell

The Elderly Population

How old do you want to live? This is a good question considering that according to research done by Christiansen et. al. (2009), there has been a gain of about 30 years of life expectancy on average, in developed countries globally over the span of the 20th century and Canada is no exception. This increase in life expectancy is primarily due to improvements in health care; an understanding of how disease is transmitted and can be prevented, and a better understanding of the body and how to keep it healthy (Christiansen, et. al., 2009). However, it would seem this extra lease on life comes with some extra concerns as seen in the current overall health of the elderly population which is the vulnerable group I have chosen for this assignment. This is also the group I am working with during my clinical placement this term, which is another reason I have chosen it for this paper. The members within the elderly population, in part due to extended years of life, are a group that is at risk for diminished well-being and compromised health due to changes in the aging process both physically and mentally. Nutrition, mobility and personal safety also become issues in health maintenance as we age, as is the issue of poverty that affect our elderly who are living well past the age of retirement in Canada. When our elderly population are not able to maintain a standard of health that keeps them independent, than the opposite, dependence occurs. There is dependence on our health system, as there becomes an increased need of health care services due to an increase in ailments and health concerns as we age and a dependence on our social assistance programs as financial constraints increase in our elderly population. Fortunately, there are some

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