노인건강문제와 간호의 방향

• Published in: 지역사회간호학회지 Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 89 - 103
• Main Author: 김희자(Hee Ja Kim)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 한국지역사회간호학회 1998
• Subjects: Health Care and Welfare of the Aged; 노인 보건의료 및 복지; Improvement on Geriatric Nursing; Geriatric Health Problem; 노인의 건강상태; 노인건강문제; 노인간호의 증진; Health Status of the Aged
• ISSN: 1225-9594; 2288-4203

The elderly population will increase from 5.8% in 1996 to 12.5% in 2020. The related problems of health will also become a very important issue in the future. Therefore it is important to address the problems of geriatric nursing and geriatric health. 87.6% of the aged were ill with chronic degenerative diseases in 1994. In 1995, hospital admission rates (86.8) for those aged 60 or older were higher than that (56.3) of the total age group. Such high medical utilization will increase national health costs. For the development of geriatric nursing, active nursing intervention in various settings combined with education and research should be developed. Considering the health and welfare of the aged and the present status and views in Korea, I suggest the following: First, the health needs of the elderly in the institution, must be met by a plan that fosters geriatric nurses and programmed service development. Second, health service for the residential elderly must be provided in day care centers, short stays, nursing homes and geriatric hospitals. Geriatric nursing services should be provided in home residential areas, public health centers, public health subcenters as well as having, community health practitioners in primary health care posts and home health nurses. Third, geriatric nursing curriculum must be developed adjust to situations and culture of Korea and be included in the nursing curriculum. And gerontological nurse practitioner or geriatric specialist must be fosteraged to provide the professional care for the aged. Geriatric nursing research should be also achived for geriatric nursing improvements.