Retooling for an Aging America

Retooling for an Aging America
Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 316
Release: 2008-08-27
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0309131952

As the first of the nation's 78 million baby boomers begin reaching age 65 in 2011, they will face a health care workforce that is too small and woefully unprepared to meet their specific health needs. Retooling for an Aging America calls for bold initiatives starting immediately to train all health care providers in the basics of geriatric care and to prepare family members and other informal caregivers, who currently receive little or no training in how to tend to their aging loved ones. The book also recommends that Medicare, Medicaid, and other health plans pay higher rates to boost recruitment and retention of geriatric specialists and care aides. Educators and health professional groups can use Retooling for an Aging America to institute or increase formal education and training in geriatrics. Consumer groups can use the book to advocate for improving the care for older adults. Health care professional and occupational groups can use it to improve the quality of health care jobs.

Preventive Care for Elderly People

Preventive Care for Elderly People
Author: David C. Kennie
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 340
Release: 1993-10-28
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 9780521436298

This book examines the concepts of preventive care and health promotion specifically in the context of the elderly. It adopts a broad concept of health and defines a number of goals around this theme. Thereafter it provides a succinct, up-to-the-minute critique of the worth, risks and costs of preventive care and health promotional strategies for older people. A broad range of such strategies are considered including cancer prevention, the prevention of non-cancer health problems and strategies aimed at enhancing functional status and strengthening the social support network. Principles for tailoring these strategies to the varied needs and wishes of elderly people are outlined. Likewise, practical measures are discussed for integrating these preventive strategies into the existing health care system. In particular, the role of screening, case-finding and targeting strategies in primary care are reviewed in detail. The book concludes with a wider look at the cost implications of preventive care for the purchasers of health and health care services.

Preventative Care

Preventative Care
Author: United States. Congress. House. Select Committee on Aging
Publisher:
Total Pages: 128
Release: 1990
Genre: Aged
ISBN:

Enhancing Use of Clinical Preventive Services Among Older Adults

Enhancing Use of Clinical Preventive Services Among Older Adults
Author: AARP (Organization)
Publisher:
Total Pages: 35
Release: 2011
Genre: Preventive health services
ISBN:

This new report, Enhancing Use of Clinical Preventive Services Among Older Adults -- Closing the Gap, calls attention to the use of potentially lifesaving preventive services by our nation's growing population of adults aged 65 years and older. By presenting and interpreting available state and national self-reported survey data, the Report aims to raise awareness among public health and aging services professionals, policy makers, the media, and researchers of critical gaps and opportunities for increasing the use of clinical preventive services, particularly among those who are currently underserved.

Clinical Preventive Services for Women

Clinical Preventive Services for Women
Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 249
Release: 2011-10-27
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0309215412

Women suffer disproportionate rates of chronic disease and disability from some conditions, and often have high out-of-pocket health care costs. The passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) provides the United States with an opportunity to reduce existing health disparities by providing an unprecedented level of population health care coverage. The expansion of coverage to millions of uninsured Americans and the new standards for coverage of preventive services that are included in the ACA can potentially improve the health and well-being of individuals across the United States. Women in particular stand to benefit from these additional preventive health services. Clinical Preventive Services for Women reviews the preventive services that are important to women's health and well-being. It recommends that eight preventive health services for women be added to the services that health plans will cover at no cost. The recommendations are based on a review of existing guidelines and an assessment of the evidence on the effectiveness of different preventive services. The services include improved screening for cervical cancer, sexually transmitted infections, and gestational diabetes; a fuller range of contraceptive education, counseling, methods, and services; services for pregnant women; at least one well-woman preventive care visit annually; and screening and counseling for interpersonal and domestic violence, among others. Clinical Preventive Services for Women identifies critical gaps in preventive services for women as well as measures that will further ensure optimal health and well-being. It can serve as a comprehensive guide for federal government agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention; state and local government agencies; policy makers; health care professionals; caregivers, and researchers.

Care Without Coverage

Care Without Coverage
Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 213
Release: 2002-06-20
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0309083435

Many Americans believe that people who lack health insurance somehow get the care they really need. Care Without Coverage examines the real consequences for adults who lack health insurance. The study presents findings in the areas of prevention and screening, cancer, chronic illness, hospital-based care, and general health status. The committee looked at the consequences of being uninsured for people suffering from cancer, diabetes, HIV infection and AIDS, heart and kidney disease, mental illness, traumatic injuries, and heart attacks. It focused on the roughly 30 million-one in seven-working-age Americans without health insurance. This group does not include the population over 65 that is covered by Medicare or the nearly 10 million children who are uninsured in this country. The main findings of the report are that working-age Americans without health insurance are more likely to receive too little medical care and receive it too late; be sicker and die sooner; and receive poorer care when they are in the hospital, even for acute situations like a motor vehicle crash.