Obesity in Elderly Obesity Is Term Paper

In addition, those who are emotionally troubled and who are overweight -- often a contributing factor to emotional difficulties -- do not receive extra counseling time." Seale, Seale & Zhang (2008, p.425) This is a serious concern and one that must be addressed immediately by physicians who are providing care for obese patients.

Future

A lot of revamping has to be done to meet this increased need of obese elderly and this has to be done fast. The numbers are increasing by the day and unless some initiatives are taken right away, it can blow up into a full-fledged catastrophe in the future. The first and foremost step that is required is to change the present healthcare system to make it more effective and efficient. Changes have to be made in the delivery of service as well as payments to make it more accessible to the elderly.

Another important step is to encourage more and more people to study geriatrics to fill the gap that has arisen due to the aging population. Incentives and subsidies has to be given to attract young people to this field of study. Also, specialized training can be given to nurses who are likely to be involved in caring for elderly patients.

The next step is to create awareness among the public about the possible ways to care for the elderly people in the society. This can reduce the strain on long-term caring facilities and nursing homes. If more and more people can take care of their aging parents, relatives and friends, this will help to ease the over-clogged system to make room for the most needy.

The most important step that has to be taken is to educate the people in their 30s and 40s about the possible effects of obesity. The Government and other local agencies can encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes healthy food choices and regular physical activity that will help to keep obesity at bay.

The approach taken by caregivers currently must also undergo some changes.The primary focus of caregivers must be to work on the dietary changes of patients. Rotkoff (1999) mentions a case study in which the caregivers had a lot of problems to teach an obese woman to adhere to her dietary modifications. More and more people must take this approach, preferably as early as possible to keep obesity rates low.

These are some of the ways to counter this chronic disease that is spreading among the elderly like a wild fire. These steps will also help to make it easier to care for the elderly, especially those who are obese.

References

Arterburn, David E. (2004). The Coming Epidemic of Obesity in Elderly Americans. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 52(11). 1907-1912

Odilia I; Bermudez; Tucker, Katherine L. (2001). Total and Central Obesity among Elderly Hispanics and the Association with Type 2 Diabetes. Obesity Research (9), 443 -- 451; doi: 10.1038/oby.2001.58

Thompson, Dennis. (2009, December 31). As U.S. Ages, Health Care May Need to Change. HealthDay Consumer News Service.

Dutton, Drake, D; Engelke. K; McAuliffe, M; Rose, M., (2005). Challenges that nurses face in caring for morbidly obese patients in the acute care setting. Surgery for Obesity and Related

Diseases. 1(5).

Lapane, K., Resnik, L., (2005). Obesity in Nursing Homes: An Escalating Problem. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 53(8).

Bradway, C., DiResta, J., Fleshner, I., Polomano, R., (2008). Obesity in Nursing Homes: A

Critical Review. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 56(8).

Sharkey, Joseph R.; Ory, Marcia G; Branch, Laurence G. (2006), Severe Elder Obesity and 1-Year Diminished Lower Extremity Physical Performance in Homebound Older Adults. The American Geriatrics Society 54(9).

Rotkoff, N., (1999) Care of the morbidly obese patient in a long-term care facility. Geriatric Nursing, 24(6). Retrieved January 10, 2010 from Science Direct.

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