National Palliative Care Strategy for Aged Population in Australia

Running head: AGEING IN AUSTRALIA
Ageing in Australia
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Introduction:
In the recent era, demand for aged care has increased exponentially due to the prevalence
of aged population as a result of a population of aging in Australia. In Australia, the aged
population over 85 years has increased to 40000 and it will be 1.8 million in 2051 ( Theou, Tan,
Bell, Emery, Robson, Morley ... & Visvanathan, 2016Theou et al., 2016). Underlying these
trends are changes in life expectancy at retirement age of 65. In 2017, more than half of older
people were aged to 65 to 74 years and one-third of them were 75 to 84 years ( 30 %
approximately) and only 13 % of them were aged 85 years (Kendig, Gong, Cannon & Browning,
2017Kendig et al. 2017). Therefore, the aged care facilities are crucial for reducing the morbidity
and mortality rate among elderly population of Australia. According to Arabiat, Whitehead and
Al Jabery Arabiat et al. (2018), it was observed that the importance of long term aged care for
the older population has become increasingly important due to the prevalence of a disease such
as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, mobility issues, and psychological disorders. The
diversity of these diseases not only affected the health of the aged population but also increased
health care expenditure exponentially (Scott, Hilmer, Reeve, Potter, Le Couteur, Rigby ... &
Jansen, 2015Scott et al., 2015). Therefore specific policies and practice framework need to
analyse be analysed in order to manage and prevent these chronic diseases. According to Lucas,
Annear, Harris, Eyles and Rotheram Lucas et al. (2018), national legal and policy frameworks
were relevant to the aging population in order to provide them comprehensive long term care.
The case study represents the different perspective of aging involving a 68 years old female,
Barbara, her parents who are 93 and 91 respectively and her friend Jim. This paper will illustrate
social determinates determinants of health that impacted the aged population of Australia in the
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context of Barbara, demonstration of national legal and policy frameworks for the disease and
policies for prevention of and management in theof the chronic disease.
Social determinants of health and influence of it in the older population:
As observed in this cases study, Barbara martini is a 68 years old woman who is a
working woman and never got married on childrenor had children. In the case study, different
perspective were shown with respect to their aging process,
As discussed by Atkins and Tonts (2016), the social determents determinants of the
health care encompass the economic and social conditions of the population, which influence
individuals and groups differ in the health statusbrings about a difference in their health status.
According to the World Health Organization suggested that these factors are health-promoting
factors found as an integral part of individuals which enhances the risk of developing chronic
disease or vulnerability to injury. These social determinants are often shaped by public policies
and therefore proper policies are required to reduce the global burden of disease. According to
Hillman, Athari, Frost and BraithwaiteHillman et al. (2018), the social determents determinants
of health are stress, early life experience, social exclusion, work environment, unemployment,
social support, addiction, accommodations, food habits, and transportation. The social
determinantsdeterminists interfere with the quality of the life, and functionality of the older
pollution.population. In addition, there are several psychological factors that largely contribute
to, or often deter the social, emotional, and mental wellbeing of older adults (Braveman &
Gottlieb, 2014). In other words, the aforementioned factors have resulted in a worsening of the
physical symptoms of Barbara, thus deteriorating the patient health outcomes.
Effect of housing on older population:
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A study by Hoff and Park (2016), suggested that the current inadequate housing impacted
the functionality of the older population. A majority of the people want to age in a
placeaccomplish a healthy aging, in a setting that is perceived comfortable and secure, such as
their homes; the house should have age-friendly elements, zero-step entranceno steps to the
entrance of their houses, and single floor living with wide halls, wheelchairs that facilitate access
with wheelchairs. Puts, Hsu, Szumacher, Sattar, Toubasi, Rosario ... and MussPuts et al. (2017),
suggested that only 3.5% of the house offers these three elements to the individuals, therefore,
the majority of elderly individuals are suffering from the mobility issues, hip fractionsfractures,
and sudden falls. In the case study, Barbara’s parents are living independently in town but due to
frail healthlive in town, and are not dependent on their daughter. Their ill health does not permit
them to live with Barbara. In addition, the fact that Barbara’s parents and her friends do not have
steady economic resources also created a major impact on their health. Exclusion and/or social
isolation is another major factor that results in an exposure of a person to chronic stress
experiences, and subsequent negative outcomes. Hence, it can be suggested that living away
from her parents contributed to her health complications.Therefore, living away from Barbara
affected their aging process.
Effect of income on older population:
A steady income and associated economic status support welling wellbeing of the
individuals as the study suggested that the majority of the older people are above 65 years of age,
and due to their retirement, they have lower economic status and for few individuals, the family
lives away from them as observed in this case. Another study by Harling, Payne, Davies,
Gomez-Olive, Kahn, Manderson ... and Witham Harling et al (2019) shows that , a considerate
number of individuals are suffering from depression and social isolation due to unemployment.
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Barbara was a working lady who finds business as a way of satisfaction through income. On the
other hand, parents of BarbaraBarbara’s parents, as well as her close friend Jim, were
unemployed and therefore, it impacted their lifewhich in turn created a significant impact on
their lives by reducing their access to services and conditions that are able to promote healthy
lifestyle. Lack of employment and adequate financial opportunities limited their access to
healthy housing and food, in addition to provisions for high quality medical services (Fazel,
Geddes & Kushel, 2014). It also subjected them to social exclusion, and inferior public services.
Effect of dependency on the aged people:
The state of the dependency affected the majority of the individuals. It was observed
from the accumulated evidence that the a significant number of older people are suffering from
depression and other health issues because of dependency on self-care and lack of belongingness.
They have to depend on other family members as observed in cases of parents of Barbarain the
case study. Barbara parents demand more time from Barbara due to a health condition which
Barbara failed to offer which further may result in social isolation (Hoff & Park, 2016). With an
increase in age, elderly parents generally lose their capabilities, and have to depend on their
children for assisting them with activities of daily living, medication management, and a healthy
aging (Pacolet, Bouten & Versieck, 2018). While there are home-care aids that assist older
people with their regular activities, they require companionship and care from their kids, which if
inadequate, results in the onset of sorrow and depression among the parents. Hence, isolation
from Barbara was largely responsible for the deterioration in her parent’s health status.
The effect of transportation on older people:
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Due to mobility issues and week weak health, the walking and travelling by transport
affects the wellbeing of the older population. Aging is a painful process which affected thealters
the human anatomy and therefore transportation to access health care and other service required
the assistance of others as observed in this case. Aging is also responsible for bringing about
alterations in the cells, tissues, and organs where the organs gradually being to lose their
functionality, with an increase in age. This exerts a major impact on the appearance and health
status of the elderly (Levasseur, Généreux, Bruneau, Vanasse, Chabot, Beaulac & Bédard, 2015).
Older adults have unique transportation needs that are accessible, affordable and
convenient. Furthermore, although there is no specific age at which the elderly are not
considered safe drivers, their disability and chronic illness often creates an impact on their
driving skills. Furthermore, lack of transportation facilities also results in social exclusion that
lowers the access to emergency medical services such as, hospital visits, appointment with
clinicians, and continual care (Takemoto, Carlson, Moran, Godbole, Crist & Kerr, 2015).
Therefore, it can be stated that lack of adequate transportation facilities often lessens the
independence of the elderly, thereby creating a major influence on the health status, as was
evident in this case study.
Theory of aging and how it shapes attitude and values of individual’s person:
Most of the people are bound to experience aging and the age-related deterioration is
affecting and growing number of people. Although the process is unavoidable, different people
experienced it in a different way. Accumulate An accumulation of evidences showed highlighted
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