Thursday, March 15, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
Aging Impact
I wrote this in 2008. Seems like this still applies. What is your opinion?
The aging population will exacerbate the fiscal pressures on health care costs due to the longevity and increase of those in need of acute care. According to Orszag (2007), demographic changes will increase Social Security in 30 years from 4% to 6% before stabilizing. This increase will create outsized budget deficits that would raise the government debt to unprecedented levels. Although the effects of retirement of boomers and the social Security imbalance needs addressed, there is a greater need to examining health care costs that exert the dominant influence on the budget.
Hochhauser (2005) examines the Medicare benefits (currently collected by seniors for at least 10 to 15 years) changing with the increase in a healthier aging population living to approximately 100 years. Most Medicare payments do not cover all health care costs and seniors to pay for non-coverage services rely upon supplemental insurance. Hochhauser asks the questions, if retirement extends to 70 would Medicare not pay until people reached 100, moreover, what about Social Security? Efforts are currently being made to move the working age to 70 before collecting Social Security benefits. This then affects the HMO’s and managed care plans and eventually LTC.
Services will be in great demand; joint replacements, organ transplants, knee/hip replacement are just a few that will increase and place this great demand on the health care organizations. The demand on HMO’s and Medicare will increase and according to Hochhauser, there will be some kind of health care rationing, or triage, or frequency limit, or co-payment system that will be needed to help health plans finically survive. He poses on more question. What type of care can be provided for the aged with dementia and an extended lifespan? Who is going to pay for this care?(Hochhauser, 2005).
Not only do families, nursing facilities (long-term care providers) have these questions, but also the public is now examining the role of HMOs and MCOs as well as PPOs in long-term care. The impact of consumerisms on managed health care presents its own issues toward the transformation of managed health care plans and long-term care. Consumers are looking into new ways to save costs and pick a plan that offers different levels of health care services. These programs need to follow them into later life and long-term care. In response, health care plans are in a transformation process and the consumer is left with the question what is the best system for the long run?
Caregivers and health care professionals have a large impact on the health of the resident and the outcome of quality of care. Medicare and Medicaid are the most drawn on insurance providers for Long Term Care Facilities. These programs have strict limited requirements to be met by the facility to provide for the cost of care to the resident. HMOs and PPOs are not commonplace in Long Term Care, however, this may change with the pressures place on these plans from the new older generation,
Reference:
Orszag, Peter R. (2007). The Biggest Budget Buster. Wall Street Journal.(Eastern ed.) New York, N.Y. p A 19
Hochhauser, Mark.(2005). Living to 120: What Will it Mean toManaged Care?Managed Care Quarterly 13(1) 13–15
The aging population will exacerbate the fiscal pressures on health care costs due to the longevity and increase of those in need of acute care. According to Orszag (2007), demographic changes will increase Social Security in 30 years from 4% to 6% before stabilizing. This increase will create outsized budget deficits that would raise the government debt to unprecedented levels. Although the effects of retirement of boomers and the social Security imbalance needs addressed, there is a greater need to examining health care costs that exert the dominant influence on the budget.
Hochhauser (2005) examines the Medicare benefits (currently collected by seniors for at least 10 to 15 years) changing with the increase in a healthier aging population living to approximately 100 years. Most Medicare payments do not cover all health care costs and seniors to pay for non-coverage services rely upon supplemental insurance. Hochhauser asks the questions, if retirement extends to 70 would Medicare not pay until people reached 100, moreover, what about Social Security? Efforts are currently being made to move the working age to 70 before collecting Social Security benefits. This then affects the HMO’s and managed care plans and eventually LTC.
Services will be in great demand; joint replacements, organ transplants, knee/hip replacement are just a few that will increase and place this great demand on the health care organizations. The demand on HMO’s and Medicare will increase and according to Hochhauser, there will be some kind of health care rationing, or triage, or frequency limit, or co-payment system that will be needed to help health plans finically survive. He poses on more question. What type of care can be provided for the aged with dementia and an extended lifespan? Who is going to pay for this care?(Hochhauser, 2005).
Not only do families, nursing facilities (long-term care providers) have these questions, but also the public is now examining the role of HMOs and MCOs as well as PPOs in long-term care. The impact of consumerisms on managed health care presents its own issues toward the transformation of managed health care plans and long-term care. Consumers are looking into new ways to save costs and pick a plan that offers different levels of health care services. These programs need to follow them into later life and long-term care. In response, health care plans are in a transformation process and the consumer is left with the question what is the best system for the long run?
Caregivers and health care professionals have a large impact on the health of the resident and the outcome of quality of care. Medicare and Medicaid are the most drawn on insurance providers for Long Term Care Facilities. These programs have strict limited requirements to be met by the facility to provide for the cost of care to the resident. HMOs and PPOs are not commonplace in Long Term Care, however, this may change with the pressures place on these plans from the new older generation,
Reference:
Orszag, Peter R. (2007). The Biggest Budget Buster. Wall Street Journal.(Eastern ed.) New York, N.Y. p A 19
Hochhauser, Mark.(2005). Living to 120: What Will it Mean toManaged Care?Managed Care Quarterly 13(1) 13–15
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Changing the way we think.
With the population changing to an over-whelming elderly group, it is important for everyone to understand the impact this age group will have on future technologies and programs affecting the community and society as a whole. We have had many challenges over the years and had to adjust our values, beliefs, and morals in reaction to our judgments of these events and challenges.
Our ability to discard outdated judgments and values, proves that individuals are active constructive thinkers. We hold the future in our hands. What we do with it is totally up to our own reactions to our life history. I have changed how I react to the environment around me. My decisions to continue my education and work in patient advocacy comes directly from the formulations made with the stored information collected over the years. If I can change my reactions to the events presented to me in a positive direction, then I believe I can help others in their choice of reacting in a more comforting and peaceful way to conflicting stresses and the complexion of health issues.
Our ability to discard outdated judgments and values, proves that individuals are active constructive thinkers. We hold the future in our hands. What we do with it is totally up to our own reactions to our life history. I have changed how I react to the environment around me. My decisions to continue my education and work in patient advocacy comes directly from the formulations made with the stored information collected over the years. If I can change my reactions to the events presented to me in a positive direction, then I believe I can help others in their choice of reacting in a more comforting and peaceful way to conflicting stresses and the complexion of health issues.
The Spiritual Life Review
Spiritual Life Review by Mary Miller Lewis (2001) discusses the opportunities the older adult receives through the review process. Spirituality has been linked to positive physical health and inversely related to physical illness. Two spiritual needs are seen across all lists, and seem to be important for counselors to discuss with adults who identify as spiritual or religious or both: (1) dealing with death, and (2) discussing meaning and purpose.
Older adults face many adjustments as they approach death. Robert N. Butler’s (1971) opinion is that life review is an important element in an individual’s overall adjustment to death, a continuation of personality development right to the very end of life (Vander Zanden, 2003).
The life review process enhances an elders self-understanding, personal meaning, self-esteem and the meaning of life. This has a positive effect on the health of the elderly according to Mary Miller Lewis. The use of spirituality in counseling is an option to help resolve issues and adjust to a treatment plan.
References:
Vander Zanden, J. W. (2003). Human Development. NY: McGraw Hill
Lewis, M. M., (2001). Spirituality, counseling, and elderly: An introduction to the spiritual life review. Journal of Adult Development, 8(4), 231-240.
Older adults face many adjustments as they approach death. Robert N. Butler’s (1971) opinion is that life review is an important element in an individual’s overall adjustment to death, a continuation of personality development right to the very end of life (Vander Zanden, 2003).
The life review process enhances an elders self-understanding, personal meaning, self-esteem and the meaning of life. This has a positive effect on the health of the elderly according to Mary Miller Lewis. The use of spirituality in counseling is an option to help resolve issues and adjust to a treatment plan.
References:
Vander Zanden, J. W. (2003). Human Development. NY: McGraw Hill
Lewis, M. M., (2001). Spirituality, counseling, and elderly: An introduction to the spiritual life review. Journal of Adult Development, 8(4), 231-240.
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