Health and Socio Political Issues in Aged Care

Running head: HEALTH AND SOCIO POLITICAL ISSUES IN AGED CARE
HEALTH AND SOCIO POLITICAL ISSUES IN AGED CARE
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1HEALTH AND SOCIO POLITICAL ISSUES IN AGED CARE
Introduction
Primary health care is an overall society approach to a population’s health and well-
being focused on the requirements and preferences of individuals, their families and
populations. It aims in addressing the broader factors of health and wellbeing and
interrelated aspects. It is also found to target the health and living conditions or the
population (Whitehead, Shaver & Stephenson, 2016).
The increasing number of the older people who age above 65 years has dragged
attention towards the requirement and necessity of the primary healthcare services. The older
population are found to witness multiple and critical illness and disabilities because of the
and because of which they become reliable to the health care service. The growing age
decreases the functional ability and increases the risk factor, which make them more
susceptible to disease. The socio-economic aspects have a major effect on the lives and health
of the elderly people living in a community. The face challenges because of their income
sources, retirements and costs of the facilities. the economic condition also plays a vital role
in keeping the older people deprived of the appropriate healthcare facilities and medical
assistance (Xesfingi & Vozikis, 2016). There are various facilities that are provided to the
older people related to the healthcare services and the social-political issues related to it, apart
from which they also face various issues in the aged healthcare services.
Primary healthcare approach for older people
The Australian healthcare system has taken few measures to address the healthcare
needs of the older people and also the economic condition of the age group which is keeping
them away from a better health condition (Australian Medical Association, 2019).

2HEALTH AND SOCIO POLITICAL ISSUES IN AGED CARE
Health promotion and prevention
There are various daily routines and living attitudes which tends to decrease the risk factor
of disease and impact of decreased functional ability in older population. Many of these
practices have their origin from a very early stage and also include regular action, healthy diet
style, responsibility towards the preventive health actions, and disease and illness
management (Australian Medical Association, 2019). In order to provide proper knowledge
about the healthy living conditions, proper health promotions are required to be facilitated by
the primary healthcare services (Turcotte, Carrier, Desrosiers & Levasseur, 2015). The
healthcare practitioners in general practitioners (GPs), frequently provide preventive care and
healthcare home for the older people focusing on their complex care necessities and also
ensures proper access to healthcare services and advocate from their side (Kogan, Wilber &
Mosqueda, 2016).
Australia’s health systems for older people
Healthcare services for th older people must be provided in home and respective
public settings, and in Residential Aged Care Facility. The access should be regularly revised
to ensure older people meet their needs (Agedcare.health.gov.au, 2019). Older people must
be provided with proper support while they choose their aged care services. Aged care
Standards are required to provide proper care without restricting the resources and
economics. They require to improve their availability, treatment and care procedure in order
to improve their health conditions (Osborn et al., 2015).
Respective disease care plans
The primary health care services should provide specific care plans, such as Dementia
care, Palliative Care and Psychogeriatric care. As these are the major type of care they
require at their age group, there should be proper care provided focusing specifically to the
disorders (Rietjens et al., 2017).

3HEALTH AND SOCIO POLITICAL ISSUES IN AGED CARE
Elder abuse
Elder abuse such as financial, emotional, physical abuse which can be either
intentional or unintentional, should be avoided. Any kind of elder abuse are found to violate
legal rights of a person according to the Government of Australia. The healthcare services
should provide appropriate knowledge and information regarding their health condition and
treatment provided (Pillemer et al., 2016).
The following governmental laws in Australia are established to govern the primary
healthcare services for the aged population:
Aged Care Act 1997
It a framework in Australian healthcare system which regulates the healthcare facility for
older people. According to this act, the Government of Australia provides economic support
to older people in need of the healthcare service. It ensures a better an easy access to the
facilities for the older population (Abedin, Erfani & Blount, 2017).
The Australian Aged Care Quality Agency
The aim of the agency is to provide protection and enhancing the safety, health condition,
well-being and the living conditions of the older people in the aged care (Davis, Morgans &
Burgess, 2016).
The Aged Care Assessment Programme
The program ensures that the older persons who belong to the groups such as Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander, rural or remote areas and people who are financially unstable should
receive equitable access to ACAT services (Kim, Subramaniam & Flicker, 2018).