1.Learning Activity 5 – Ageing Population
Do you believe that an increasingly ageing population poses a serious threat to the Australian government’s capacity to provide health and social care services to older Australians? If so, why? If not, why not?What steps do you believe need to be taken in orderplan for the futureprovision of health and social care to older Australians and their families?In what ways do you think the health care system needs to change in order to better meet the needs of older Australians in the future?How do you think population ageing will influence the roles and responsibilities of health professionals?
2.Learning Activity 19 – Policies & Guidelines High-level strategic policies give effect to the visions and directions of the government and guide the whole direction and culture of the department or the portfolio. Policies inform staff of their working arrangements in terms of process, content, attitude, priority and urgency.
To assist in answering the following questions review theSA Health Policies and guidelines
Please review the title ofeach policy and identify which ones are specificallyrelated to the older person and make a note of your findings.After you have identified the policies that are applicable to caring for the older person which ones are you not familiar with? Identify those policies and list 3 key messages that are related to that policy.In your opinion are there any policies or directives that are missing in the care of the older person, what are they and why do you think they are needed?If you could change ONE thing about our health care systemregarding caring for the older person, what would that be?And how could it be implemented?
3.Learning Activity 22 – Recommendations from the Royal Commission
This topic will examine:Reform agendas in aged care
Learning objectives
At the completion of this topic you should be ableto:
Critically discuss key reforms that have occurred in caring for older people and aged care services in Australia.Be aware of the recommendations that have been made from the Royal Commission in Aged Care Quality & Safety and how this will influence reform in the way we care for our older persons in Australia.
4.Learning Activity 23 – Physical Assessment
Bob Tomlinson sustained a hip fracture from a fall as he was taking his rubbish bin out.
After surgery, he is admitted to a surgical ward for recovery.
He is 90 years old and lives alone since his wife’s death three years ago.
He has a son who lives in Australia, with whom he seems to have little contact.
Mr Tomlinson desperately wants to go home.
He often talks about his 10-year-old Labrador, who is being looked after by neighbours.
He has started walking with a frame but has developed continence problems and it is likely that he will require support with activities of daily living after discharge.
You are one of the health care professionals looking after Mr Tomlinson on the ward and have been tasked with writing a care plan for him.
Which questions would you askMr Tomlinson regarding his physical health?Which tools, tests or screening would you use to assess the physical domain?What other domains of health need to be assessed to ensure holistic care?How do Mr Tomlinson’s physical issues affect the other domains of health?Which health professionals need to be involved in Mr Tomlinson’s care?
(Wiltjer & Kendall 2019a, p. 44)
5.Learning Activity 27 – Spiritual Assessment Take a moment to reflect on practice – your own and/or that of other members of staff – to identify whether the spiritual needs of older people are met in your workplace.Consider the following questions:
How well is spiritual care assessed in your workplace?What barriers prevent you or your colleagues from assessing the spiritual needs of the older people under your care?What could be done to improve the assessment and evaluation process in terms of spiritual care provision?
(Wiltjer & Kendall 2019e, p27)
6.Learning Activity 33 – Health education & Health promotion
Jeffery is a 76 years of age and lives in anouter Adelaide Southern suburb .He owns his own houseand lives alone following the death of his wife 18 months ago.He has two dogs that arealways with him.Jeffery is quite active andregularly walks for 10 kms three times a week.He states that he doesn’t seem to get lonely as he often catches up with people on his walks.He also swims at thelocal heatedpool at least twice a week.His family is settled in other areas of the state and they usually visit each other monthly andring each other regularly on the phone.Jeffery states that hehas had increasing vertigo and intermittent hearing loss that he describes as annoying especially whenhe is ‘on the phone.’he had recently had a bout of gastroenteritis which made him quitedehydrated and he required a short stay in the local hospital.Jefefry keeps mentally active by reading,completing, crosswords, brain games and using the Internet.At time he is concerned that he isgetting dementia as he forgets things easily.
The GP is concerned that there is a degree ofdementia and wants to send Jeffery for more tests
