Nursing Gerentology Week 4 Discussion 6
Nursing Gerentology Week 4 Discussion 6
The management of chronic conditions is becoming an integral
part of medical care in most parts of the world. The elderly, in
particular, are living with one or more chronic illnesses for very
long periods. Access to care is not easy, given that most of them
are not insured. The situation gets worse when the patient is from
an ethnical minority background. Since it can be hard to reach
such patients, the first strategy that both the medical staff and the
care givers of the patient should put in place is fostering positive
communication. Putting a lot of focus in disease prevention,
health promotion and early detection is a very effective strategy
for enduring successful chronic disease management. This is
especially helpful for the frail seniors (Hitchcock, 2016). It is,
therefore, important for the care givers to listen carefully, show
compassion and work with the patient to ensure care goals.
The second strategy would be to embark on a patient-centered
approach. Such an approach is supposed to be responsive to, and
respectful of, the preference, needs and values of the patient.
Physicians should never make assumptions about the treatment
option that the patient would choose. Rather, they should discuss
also the available options. Doctors should also recognize when
such senior patients need help in managing their chronic illness
(Iecovich, 2018). Again, it may be important to carefully watch the
interactions between different medications that are used to treat

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