Community Health Care in Nursing: Senior Health in Western Australia

This report provides an analysis of community health care in nursing, specifically focusing on the health and well-being of seniors residing in aged care facilities within Western Australia. The report begins with an introduction to the demographics of the senior population in Western Australia and the increasing reliance on aged care facilities. It then delves into the common health issues faced by this demographic, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and mental health concerns, along with an exploration of the social determinants of health (SDoH) that influence their well-being. The report emphasizes the importance of addressing mental health issues, the impact of social isolation, and the need for supportive frameworks within aged care settings. It highlights the role of community-based care and the challenges faced in delivering comprehensive healthcare services. The report concludes by underscoring the need for streamlined interventions, addressing economic disparities, and fostering social and moral support to improve the health outcomes of seniors in Western Australia.

Community Health care in nursing
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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Demographics............................................................................................................................2
Health issues...............................................................................................................................4
Social determinants of health (SDoH).......................................................................................6
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................8
Reference:..................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
The Western Australian Community is composed of large proportion of aged
proportion of seniors. As stated by Coyne, Rands, Gurung & Kellett, (2016), the seniors are
often known to denote the age group of 65 years and above. Most of the seniors in Australia
are known to reside in the Aged Care Facilities (ACF). The reason of transfer to the aged care
facilities can be many; the first thing that can be attributed is the increase in demand of
continuous scope of care. The increase in demand of mental or physical care may seem
challenging for the unprofessional individuals who are not well verse with the provision of
healthcare. In addition to that Gnanamanickam et al. (2018), pointed out the fact that
provision of care is not based on physical well being.
The mental disability is often or additional factors such as social insecurity, loneliness
and even isolation can be termed as a leading cause of transfer from residence to the aged
care facilities. In similar regards, ACF can be described as public or even private institutions
that specialise in providing either short or long term accommodation. In addition to that,
seniors are often seen to enjoy several facilities provided by the chosen centres. However, it
should be noted that there exists a series of challenges in the provision of healthcare that may
act as a potential hindrance in the domain of positive health outcomes. It is for the same that
the current essay aims to assess the condition of seniors residing in Western Australia AFCs
and their common health issues with demographics and social health determinant
Demographics
Older individuals are seen to make up a large amount of population within the
Australia in 2017. One out of 7 Australian citizens is from senior age group. The system of
aged care in Australia is known to deliver service through community based care settings

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(aihw.gov.au, 2018) The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is known for
providing basic level of healthcare services to the aged population for supporting the scope of
continuous care for the people above 65 years. It was further incorporated with
Commonwealth Home and Community Care (HACC) program from 2015 and would
continue until 2018. In 2016 to 2017, over 720,000 aged individuals were seen to receive
aged care facilities for better health outcomes (health.gov.au, 2018).
Aged care facilities program is often seen to help older individuals to remain in
comfortable environment for a longer period of time. In the year range of 2016 to 2017 the
number of operational approved providers was seen to increase by 41.5% (aihw.gov.au,
2018). In 2017 there were roughly 71,400 recipients of home care services at care level 1-2
that works on meeting the basic to moderate care needs. The care recipients were seen to be
over the age of 65 years. The number of ACF increased over the last few years reaching up to
84% in the last decade (health.gov.au, 2018). The mentioned statistics reflects the increase in
preference among the older adults to age in a place with increased provision of system that is
successful in delivering community based care. Residential aged care providers are known to
have the following scope of services:
Permanent mode of accommodation for aged individuals who no longer live in their
residence for increasingly complex healthcare needs
Short term accommodation and even care for careers is a must as they need a break from their
normal living arrangements.
In 2016 to 2017, 97% of the targeted population in the Western Australia was either in
residential care for a long duration or even for a shorter period of time (Mitchell et al. 2016).
The statistics provide clear idea to the fact that 232, 000 individuals are seen to opt for
permanent residence care services while 57, 500 individuals are seen to take help of respite

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residential care (Bennett et al. 2018). The capacity of residential care facilities is seen to
expand on a steady basis. The overall number of operational places in the aged care facilities
rose from 167,000 to 201,000 within a year (Kellett et al. 2016). Within the same time line,
the number of individuals in the aged care facilities was seen to increase. The age care
funding instrument is often implemented to help people in establishing residential care
facilities that can affect the cost associated with care delivery. The measures associated with
ACF are spread on the following modes of care that are as follows; “cognition and
behaviour”, “activities on daily living” and “complex needs of health care. The proportion
with individuals with demands of high care needs to be assessed for reducing the
complexities within the healthcare domain
Health issues
Cardiovascular disease and even cancer is termed as one of the leading health issues
among the older Australians, contributing to 24% of disease; followed by neurological
conditions 11% (Forough et al. 2017). Among the top diseases, the rate of burden of disease
is seen to increase with increasing age except for incident of cancer where the highest age
range was seen to be 80 to 84 years (Fasugba et al. 2018). The leading cause of health issues
is often highlighted among the gender of old people. For the male individuals, leading cause
of healthcare problem was cancer and cardiovascular issues. Cardiovascular issues were
termed to be a leading cause of healthcare among the older women followed by cancer
(Duque et al. 2016).
In addition to that, it can be stated at other end of lifespan older adults are in need of
complex healthcare facilities. As pointed out by Duque et al. (2016), older individuals within
the Western Australia residing in community are seen to exhibit better scope of health as
opposed to those residing within aged care are at high risk of mental health issues. Older

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adults are subjected to chronic conditions or even relapsing mental health issues or may be
subjected to recent onset of mental illness. However, Coyne, Rands, Gurung & Kellett (2016)
critiqued the fact that older adults are prone to high risk of illness relapse, specifically mental
health issues. To make sure that appropriate relapse prevention is maintained, consideration
must be leveraged towards chronic nature of diseases as well as the required medical
intervention at the suitable stage of life.
The issue of mental health gained immense prominence in the recent times. However,
Gnanamanickam et al. (2018), pointed out the fact that mental health issue among the adults
are of prime importance. Thus, differentiating mental disorder as a part of normal process of
aging can be termed as one of the most important achievements in domains of geriatric health
(Theou et al. 2016). Suitable mental and physical health condition is important; however,
there are several factors that can cause hindrance in providing better scope in healthcare
services. In similar instances, Alzheimer’s disease and even depression may go unrecognized
and mistreated leading to fatal outcomes (Tynan, & McKenzie, 2018). Better diagnosis of
physical and even mental health conditions need to be at great awareness and symptoms of
mental health must be given priority
Older aged individuals within the chosen area, experiencing a lifelong chronic illness
or may have special needs. These individuals are often termed to be uniquely disabled by a
combination of social, personal and even mental health disadvantage. Having spent a large
amount of adult life in mental healthcare centres, moving towards community healthcare can
be a bit daunting (Creighton, Davison & Kissane, 2016). The prime risk exists in not having
their health needs being met due to prevalence of limited partnership between healthcare
centre and even aged care facilities. In addition to that, it can be noted the notion associated
with recovery can be traumatic experience and people need to be approached with care and
avoid issues related to relapse.

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In order to understand the risk and even protective factor of mental illness relapse in
aged care. It has been successfully argued that ageing is often termed contingent on the
following factors: “avoidance of diseases, sustaining high level of physical and cognitive
function coupled with disability. These are thus considered to be the factors responsible for
providing rehabilitation and even support services for older individuals are isolation,
bereavement and even poor physical health. As stated by Henderson et al. (2018),
bereavement is often termed as a risk factor engendering depression and support from peer
group is termed to be a good way to counter the mental health problem. Social isolation is
often considered as a potential problem for individuals suffering from mental illness within
the targeted population and is seen to reach an acute stage with progressive ageing. It is the
aged care facilities that work on making strenuous endeavours to engage older adults with
wider community programs and social activities must be sorted according to priority
The support groups for the older adults with mental illness and their families can work
on reducing the feelings of isolation and increase knowledge about the mentioned health
issue. Limited research has been undertaken to provide support to the aged population in
Western Australia. Maximising the physical health through the use of proper diet and even
sleep with exercise is of prime importance. The importance of general practise is evident in
the mentioned context for the older adults. As stated by Jokanovic et al. (2017), general
physician is main source of healthcare and only contact for the people seeking healthcare
facilities.
Social determinants of health (SDoH)
The social determinants of health are often termed as conditions within which an
individual is born, work and even live. As opined by Mitchell et al. (2016), SDoH is often
inclusive of systems of economic policies. In the mentioned population it can be clearly seen

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that there is a major gap in economic policies for the aged individuals. It would be wrong to
state that Australia lacks the scope of care of aged individuals. Rather the interventions are
not streamlined and thus fail to provide the expected scope of care.
Additionally, it becomes important to understand the fact that there is clear lack in
social opportunities. As stated by Bennett et al. (2018), there is commonly a lack in scope and
even alternatives for the provision of mental health; thereby reduction in incident of relapse
can be a prime cause of concern. Rural areas and even the people residing within the
mentioned areas can be socially connected; specifically, the health professionals can work in
close contact with ACF, for better health outcomes.
Paradoxically, limited traditional services and even lack of resources can be termed as
one of the main cause of poor mental health outcome within the targeted population. In
similar regards, the social and cultural determinants of healthcare play a significant role in
healthcare. As stated by Forough et al. (2017), slower pace and even open space of the rural
communities often provides an environment that can meet the demands for care. A supportive
framework for care can work on addressing the health needs of targeted population (Fasugba
et al. 2018). It is for the same reason; it becomes equally important to ensure a socially
exclusive structure that differentiates a poor mental health condition not as a part of ageing.
In addition to that the economic support is of prime importance and needs to be addressed at
immediate levels.
The ground of moral support should not be neglected either. The provision of mental
healthcare often receives limited attention and is kept a secret due to fear of stigma. In aged
care individual things like dementia and Alzheimer’s is often treated as a progressive
degradation of memory that comes with age. However, Duque et al. (2016), pointed out the
fact loss of memory should be considered as a severe mental health problem and it is for the

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same reason it becomes important to understand the fact that the aged care facilities should
work on removing the potential barrier in healthcare
Conclusion
The community health care is a holistic approach and aged care facility is a small part
within the broad term. It becomes important to note that the increase in number of healthcare
facilities for the aged is on rise. The change in the current form of statistics provides an idea
that there is better provision of care provided to the targeted population. Thus, it can be
clearly concluded that the healthcare facilities in Australia is improving and adopting a
holistic approach in the modes of healthcare

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