Impacts of Chronic Illness on the Elderly and Health Care System

Impacts of Chronic Illness on the Elderly and Health Care System

The HOME Network is a nationwide program to engage healthcare experts in home dialysis, empowering them to come up with solutions to overcome the difficulties that slow the adoption of home therapies within Australia. Home hemodialysis in Australia is exercised by just about ten percent of the patients on dialysis. From research, it has been established that home therapy is the best option for elderly patients as it leads to good quality of living, improves life expectancies and reduces the amount of time spent in the hospital. Elderly patients suffering from chronic illnesses undergo several significant consequences. Their conditions give rise to acute sicknesses, such as influenza and scarlet fever, and a few chronic diseases, particularly stroke, cancer, and heart diseases. Moreover, these patients tend to experience some difficulties when dealing with basic tasks like lifting objects or even walking for some distance. The hospital may experience a decreasing number of in-center kidney failure patients as many settle for a home dialysis program, which is flexible and comfortable. Additionally, if effectively carried out, home dialysis may eliminate the need for kidney transplants; hence, hospitals will also experience fewer patients requiring such an operation. Home dialysis is becoming more popular, and nurses may want to encourage their patients to opt for this treatment method.

Quality of Life for the Patients

Self-management is imperative for home dialysis. As soon as a patient is authorized, they will be far more accomplished in making their own choices concerning their care and will most probably adhere to the prescribed regimens. The values are shared management and instructing the patient on how to make decisions. Grown-up education principles are also essential. Self-management suggests that the patient is offered support in the:

• Understanding the nature of their situation together with risk factors and the relative incidence of the disease
• Having the knowledge of their management options and being in a position to make well-versed decisions about treatments
• Actively taking part in decision-making in the company of health expertise, relatives and caregivers and other support teams in terms of progressing care
• Following a treatment arrangement that has been discussed and approved with healthcare providers, relatives and caregivers, and other groups, as well as non-government and end-user organizations
• Monitoring the indications of alteration in their physical condition and having an action plan to act in response to the described changes
• Managing the effects of the condition on their bodily, emotional and public life and acquiring better mental health and welfare as an outcome
• Adopting a standard of living that minimizes risk and encourages health through deterrence and early intercession
• Having self-confidence in one’s capacity to make use of support services and make decisions about their well-being and quality of living

Economic Factors and Care of the Elderly Patients

Patients on home dialysis care may be entitled to economic assistance for expenses relating to, but not limited to, electricity and water. The government provides some reimbursements for these medical costs, making nearly all patients with kidney failures afford home dialysis and live a normal life. Center-link also pays a twelve-monthly $140 reimbursement to individuals who experience added increases in home electricity expenses from the application of vital medical apparatus to manage their medical condition. Home Dialysis patients have greatly benefited from this endeavor. In addition, patients, who travel to the city for intervention, may be entitled to a government system to offer financial support for travel and accommodation. However, most patients may need to be notified of eligibility for this assistance.

Conclusion

Home dialysis treatment is cheap, convenient and easy to operate; therefore, medical practitioners should encourage their patients to adopt the system. However, even though home-based hemodialysis machine has become easier to operate in recent years, the technology is constantly changing, and the equipment is available to a small percentage of dialysis patients in Australia. The dialysis equipment should be widely available to patients to ensure its uptake. Nurses and patients should also be frequently updated on new technologies and efficiently instructed on operating the new equipment. Given the ease and the diverse health and lifestyle benefits associated with home dialysis, patients should feel much better at home and improve their well-being than in the in-center treatment. The patient can choose when to dialyze during the day or at night. Home dialysis is a viable option for patients suffering from chronic kidney disease. It is the best method of therapy. ? References 1. Acton, QA 2011, Issues in kidney disease research and treatment, Scholarly Editions 2. Curtin, RB & Mapes, D 2001, “Health care management strategies of long-term dialysis survivors”, Nephrology Nursing Journal, p. 385.

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