Rheba de Tornyay

Critical Issues in Caring for an Aging Population

Nursing holds a major key to whether the increasing number of our aging population can receive care that is effective, humane, and cost effective. Medical science has permitted many to reach an age previous generations never believed would be possible. Nursing science must now help those who have a longer life to be able to enjoy it to its fullest. It does no good to live longer if it only means a life of pain, suffering and functional impairment.

The critical issues today and in the foreseeable future are these:

How can we distribute the health dollar in an equitable manner for people of all ages that includes a balance of both curative biomedical advances and supportive care?
Which health interventions are effective to prevent or postpone diseases and maintain major functional longevity?
What are the components of an environment that promotes successful aging?
How can the quality of life be enhanced for persons suffering from long term health problems?
How can we effectively care for persons who are frail and vulnerable allowing them maximum autonomy?
How can we promote healthy aging through education?
At the end of life, how can we help persons and their families to accept the inevitable toward a peaceful and meaningful death?

Nursing was born from the desire to protect, nourish, and cherish. Many years ago the great nursing educator, Virginia Henderson, said simply that the ultimate aim of nursing was helping the patient to attain and maintain health, or to secure freedom from pain and discomfort when a return to health is not possible. In no other area of nursing is this truer than in caring for older adults.