Elder Care
In 2002, RNAO started to push for an elder health and elder
care strategy in Ontario to bring about the fundamental changes
we need in seniors’ health services. On the clinical
side we’ve developed several Best practice Guidelines
to address the needs of older people. We’ve also made
progress on the educational and policy fronts. For example,
RNAO hosts annual international elder health and elder care
conferences and we serve as the secretariat for the Elder
Care and Elder Health Coalition, which the provincial government
has turned to for advice on the new Seniors Strategy and elder-health
framework.
Nurses have an important role to play in identifying solutions
for improved elder health and elder care, such as building
strong community-based programs that are responsive to the
needs of seniors and help them remain vibrant participants
in our society.
In this section:
- Facts
about the elder population - In the coming decades,
seniors will comprise a larger share of the Canadian population,
growing from 3.5 million people in 1996 to an estimated
6.9 million by 2021.
- Delirium,
Dementia and Depression - Health Canada, Division of
Aging and Seniors (2001) estimates that by 2021, there will
be about 7 million seniors who will represent 19 per cent
of the Canadian population over the age of 65 years. Of
this population, an increasing number will experience some
form of altered mental status.
- Putting
Together Delirium, Dementia and Depression - Nurses
who care for older adults should become familiar with the
care strategies outlined in this document, use the document
from the RNAO (2003) guidelines on Screening for Delirium,
Dementia and Depression in Older Adults and begin to
apply as many of the recommendations as possible in their
individual work settings
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| This poster, part of RNAO's
2004 Nursing Week Campaign, emphasized the active lifestyle
that many seniors engage in. Click on the poster to see
a larger version. |
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