360 Strategist

Task-3
Geriatric care
As you help your parents or other aging family members with their medical care and
living arrangements, you’ll run into the phrase “geriatric care” more and more often.
Exactly what is geriatric care? The phrase covers a lot of territory, including
specialized medical care and case-management services. Here’s what you need to
know and how to find the help you may need.

The two main categories of geriatric care are medical care by a doctor who
specializes in older adults and care-coordination services by geriatric case
managers. These doctors and managers often work together to ensure that the
patient, family members, and other caregivers all have the same information about
medications, diet, exercise routines, daily schedules, and any other patient needs.

In an ideal world, all seniors with complex health problems would have a
geriatrician​ as their doctor. That’s because as we age, our bodies change. Some
medications affect older adults more strongly than younger adults, and some no
longer work well or safely. Older adults with an infection are more likely to
experience rapid dehydration and a condition called delirium. Both are medical
emergencies. Sicker seniors are more likely to suffer from what’s called
polypharmacy, which happens when multiple doctors prescribe the patient different
drugs that interact poorly or cause confusion.

Geriatricians consider all these factors and more when treating their patients. They
also focus on the emotional needs of people who are coming to terms with needing
extra care, and they work with family members and other caregivers to create a safe
living environment for their patients. The American Geriatrics Society’s ​Health in
Aging​ website recommends that seniors with health problems that seriously impair
them or make them frail should see a geriatrician. So should seniors whose family
caregivers are over-stressed by providing care.

Your family doctor may be able to refer you to a geriatrician. You can also use the
Health in Aging ​search tool​ to find nearby family physicians and internists who are
certified in geriatrics.

Case study on Geriatic care including various aspects

which are related
with it.
Background of the Case 
Fred is 75 years of age and lives with his wife in a small house in a rural town. He 
walks the dog daily and enjoys chopping wood. His house has two slow combustion 
heaters. Fred also keeps chickens for the eggs which he sells locally and gives to his 
daughter who lives next door with her husband and two teenage daughters. Fred 
looks after his wife who has agro phobia. Fred has been increasingly short of breath 
over the past few days and has a florid complexion. Recently he had some 
incontinence, and slipped when walking lacerating his right shin, which requires daily 
dressings. He is a big man and his mobility is significantly decreased. Fred had 
bypass surgery nine years ago and has been taking anti-hypertensive drugs, aspirin 
and lipex for the past two years. Fred recently had an operation to remove a cataract 
in his left eye. He says that the operation has done him no good and that he cannot 
see anything at all now from his left eye. Fred does most of the housework although 
the couple does have community services for some housework. Fred says that he is 
tired of doing everything and wants to go into long-term care. He still uses his car to 
go shopping and for social outings. Fred is concerned about his ability to continue 
doing this, and that he may have to undergo more surgery which would involve 
extended time away and extra costs. 

Care Strategies 
Since Fred is willing to engage in a long-term but somehow having second thoughts 
because of the costs and the time that it might consume. Therefore, these problems 
falls on the ability of health care industries as well as the provider in effectively 
managing their tasks and at the same time ensures the capability of delivering 
quality healthcare services to the clients. Therefore, it is suggested that the 
organization should use the ability in managing the people and aligning them 
towards the goal and mission in delivering the specific health care. The application 
of the methods and strategies should be first assessed according to the structures 
of treatment or medication and the targeting the patient satisfaction (Donini, Savina, 
and Cannella, 2003). The experiences of the health care providers through the 
evidence-based practices (EBPs) are important because it forces of changes that 
include competitive pressures, alternate health care delivery mechanisms, changing 
cost structures, monitoring by public and private groups, increased information 
availability, and a markedly better-informed clientele. 

The health care providers are guided by the same clinical practice that assists them 
as well as their patients in generating a clinical decision. The Evidence Based 
Practice (EBP) is guidelines that promoted and systematically formed to develop a 
comprehensive statement wherein the experts can deliberately explain or provide the 
quality care. The specific clinical condition of a patient is the most available 
scientific evidence and from the past experience and knowledge of the health care 
provider, the judgment can be created. The adequate prescription can be the last 
statement that a health care provider can give which is also suitable in the patient’s 
needs. 

The health care needs can be also provided by the admission of the client in a 
nursing home. The popularity of nursing home services is also popular among the 
Western countries. It is considered to be the best place in which an older person can 
gain the quality of health care. However, Fred despite of his old age is the one 
responsible in most of the chores because of his wife’s condition in terms of agro 
phobia or the fear in the marketplace and his feeling of responsible father for his 
daughter although she had her own family. Basically, the older adults has the 
inability to earn and usually depends on their pension, savings, investments or even 
money from their children to meet their financial needs (Sherina, Rampal, & 
Mustaqim, 2003). 

Fred faces and suffers from both acute and chronic pain which is commonly found 
among the old age groups. The elderly with the age of 50 and above are found with 
the trouble pains because of the accident that can be caused by the nerve 
compression. He might also experience the chronic (lower or upper) back pains 
(Siciliano, 2006). The acute pain is commonly experienced that can come quickly 
and with a possibility to become severed, but lasts a relatively short time. Acute pain 
in individuals with orthopedic problems originates from the periosteum, the joint 
surfaces, and the arterial walls. Muscle pain associated with bone surgery results 
from muscle ischemia rather than muscle tension. Acute abdominal pain often 
causes the individual to lie on one side and draw up the legs in the fetal position 
(Burns, 2010). However, there are theories that patients with chronic pain initially 
experience undertreated acute pain and mostly the chronic pain (Roberto, 2001). But 
despite of all the methods and treatment introduced by the medical settings, many 
individuals are living with chronic pains which heighten the different approach in 
managing the acute and chronic pains (Roberto, 2001) like Fred. The modern health 
care system is expected to build a sound treatment and management towards of 
acute and chronic illness model. The essence of pain management is bound to 
create relief to pain sufferers through the means of (noxious) chemical, thermal or 
mechanical stimulus, associated with surgery, trauma, and acute illness and 
historically responsive to opioid therapy which may usually time-limited response. In 
addition the nursing practice should reduce the factors that can complicate the 
treatment of persons with chronic pain such as scarring, continuing psychologic 
stress, and medication (Sieppert, 1996). 

In addition, Fred might experience a chronic heart failure because of his history in 
bypass surgery. The involuntary muscles in the body such as the heart have a 
potential for failure of moving because of disorder in its system (Elkayam, et al., 
2008). This typical disorder is a result of gradual fluid accumulation which takes 
effect on the elderly populations. The acute heart failure is usually characterized with 
the cardiac failure, hypertension and increased in vascular stiffness. And most of the 
time, the diabetes coexist which threatens the health of a patient (Aguilar, et al., 
2010). In addition, a variety of pathophysiologic mechanisms may play a role in this 
disorder. These alterations of the cardiac output include the critical evaluation of the 
gathered data which supports the traditional and modernized approach in integrating 
the mechanisms into the model for heart failure (Cotter, et. al., 2008). Moreover, in 
the existence of diabetes in the body can worsen the prevalence of heart failure. In 
this situation, both the young and older population is affected. Most of the patients’ 
needs the advance admittance in medical institutions (Mullens, et. al., 2008). The 
appropriate management of heart failure may is also suggesting for measuring the 
effectiveness of the medicines or drugs that can reduce the cardiac output 
(Johnson, et. al., 2007; Elkayam, et. al., 2008). 

Suggested Medical Solution 

Fred faces difficulties in supporting their lives and is struggling to survive and he 
might not only suffer from the physical illness but also in depression or in 
behavioural aspects. 

Health care settings have already applied various paradigms that will enable them to 
improve the health care situation. One of the significant approaches in health care 
settings is through the concept of evidence-based practice (EBP). EBP is frequently 
defined as the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in 
making decisions about the care of individual patients because it encompasses the 
central position in health such as medication and behavioural health care disciplines 
(Bartels, 2002). 

Based on the cases of health problems among the elderly, there should be an 
appropriate treatment or preventative approach for the “entire body”. Since the entire 
body is affected by depression that may exist in the health situations and emotions 
that are common among the elderly, it is only natural to start assessing the health of 
the entire body. Behavioural health, in general, is self-explanatory and is bound to 
expresses the wellness of body, mind, and soul. In combating depression, an 
individual should ensure that he/she achieved the wellness on these three aspects. 
For body, an individual should establish a healthy living so that when he reached his 
old age, his body will continue to function. If the body if well fed, therefore, the mind 
should be also fed. This means that human minds should keep on functioning by 
reading and obtaining knowledge. And lastly, for the soul, an individual should start 
their day with an activity that will give pleasure and positivity to have self-fulfilment 
(Holt, et al., 2004). Having the wellness in behavioural health reflects in their attitude 
in socialization and their perspective in life. A person who values the behavioural 
health has an advantage from the other individual because they can cope in the 
changes and have a relatively effect in fighting depression and illness. 

How would you convince big brands or start-ups to 

focus on this segment and what points would you 
consider? 
As of 2020, approximately 73 million baby boomers, people born between 1946 and 1964, 
are over the age of 65. In  

another 10 years, by 2030, all of them will be over 65, making it the 2nd largest age group. 

The year 2030 marks an important demographic turning point in U.S. history according to the 
U.S. Census  
Bureau’s 2017 National Population Projections. By 2030, all baby boomers will be older than 
age 65. This will  

expand the size of the older population so 1 in every 5 residents will be retirement age. 

By 2035, there will be 78.0 million people 65 years and older compared to 76.4 million under 
the age of 18. Between  

2020 and 2050, the number of deaths is projected to rise substantially as the population 
ages and a significant  

share of the population, the baby boomers, age into older adulthood. 

There are some 44.7 million people 65 and older in the United States, accounting for 14.1 
percent of the total  

population. In 15 years (by 2033), however, the population 65 and older is projected to 
outnumber people younger  

than 18 for the first time. By 2060, the number of seniors is projected to more than double, 
with people 65 and over  

accounting for nearly one-fourth of the population. 

A big part of that senior population is the baby boomer generation, currently between 54 and 
72 years old.Baby  

boomers occupy a unique consumer position: Not only are some of them seniors 
themselves, but because Americans  

are living longer, many of them are also buying products and services for their parents. Many 
are also affluent.  

Overall, the spending power of Baby Boomers is expected to reach $15 trillion worldwide by 
the end of 2019. 

As a growing market that will have increasing needs, starting geriatric care business makes 
sense. 

All the above facts shows the future of geriatric care industry, apart from this, there are 
various points are  

that must be considered by big brands thinking to establish a geriatric care business:- 

There is no need for health care background, geriatric care is the perfect option for anyone 
who thrives on  

making people happy and to earn some profit. 

It is a Recession resilient industry. As the perception of geriatric care continues to grow 
while other  

industries may be faced with ongoing challenges. COVID-19 and economic uncertainty aside, 
people will still  

continue to age and seniors are still going to need care in the comfort of their own homes. 

It is a huge industry with an investment of 93 billion dollar (US) and is growing rapidly. 
Studies studies  

project the number of American population of 65+ age will be double by 2050, and it’s 
expected that two  

thirds of that age group will need long-term care in their lifetime. This is where it helps to 
think long-term.  

Jumping on board now means that you’ll be able to establish your home care business 
before there’s a  

boom in geriatric care providers too. 

Low Initial Costs. If anyone is purchasing an established geriatric care business for sale, the 
costs of  

purchasing your business will be tied to the value of the business in question. A larger 
agency could require a  

seven-figure investment, while a smaller agency could cost significantly less. Yet, if you’re 
buying a new  

home care franchise, you’re more or less guaranteed an affordable price tag. At Always Best 
Care, our franchise fee is less than $50K, and the overall cost of starting a new franchise is 
often less than $100K.  

These costs are miniscule compared to the initial costs of franchise opportunities in other 
sectors.