HealthyPeople 2020 is a government initiative designed to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the American people. This program identifies health goals and objectives that the American government works with healthcare providers to attain. The elderly people are among the groups that the program targets. It is true that the US has taken steps to improve the situation of its elderly. However, many health needs of this group have remained unaddressed. The elderly in the US continue to grapple with challenges that range from loneliness and ill health. Heart disease is one of the chronic illnesses that erode the wellbeing of America’s elderly. If the country is truly committed to protecting this group, greater investment should be committed to tackling this illness.
Heart Disease and the Elderly
It is true that the elderly population in the US faces a number of health issues. This fact raises the question of why the decision was made to address heart disease within this group. Personal motivation and experiences are the main reason for selecting this group. I have witnessed firsthand as elderly members of my family waste away due to heart disease. I find that the American society is not doing enough to enhance the wellbeing of its elderly. By discussing how heart disease ravages the elderly, I hope to challenge the country to allocate greater amounts for the care of the elderly. I also find that many Americans do not fully understand the damage that heart disease causes to the health of the elderly and the nation’s economy. Every year, the US spends huge amounts in the treatment of heart disease (Einarson et al., 2018). Furthermore, heart disease is a risk factor for such conditions as diabetes. If the US is to find success in its quest to secure the health of its elderly, the American people need to understand the burden that heart disease imposes.
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Questionnaire
As part of this assignment and efforts to understand the impacts of heart disease, a questionnaire was constructed. The questionnaire was designed for respondents who are at least 65 years old and diagnosed with heart disease, and their families. Listed below are the questions included in the questionnaire:
What was your response upon learning that you were suffering from heart disease?
How has this illness affected the quality of your life?
Would you say that support from the government has been adequate?
What role does your family play in helping you cope with the disease?
Has your illness proved to be a burden on your family?
By posing the questions above, it was hoped that a deeper understanding of the impacts of heart disease on the welfare of the elderly would be gained.
Heart Disease as a Chronic Illness
Heart disease is a general term for a number of illnesses which include angina and heart attacks. This illness is identified as the main culprit behind the deaths of the elderly in the United States. In 2010 alone, as many as 500,000 deaths of elderly people were attributed to heart disease (Carroll & Miller, 2013). There are various factors that make the elderly especially vulnerable to suffering from heart disease. High cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, being overweight and diabetes are some of these factors (Carroll & Miller, 2013). In addition to leading to deaths and eroding the quality of life of the elderly, heart disease also imposes an economic burden. It is important for all stakeholders to join forces to insulate the elderly against this illness.
Morbidity and Comorbidity
It has already been stated that heart disease is one of the medical conditions that ravage the elderly population in the US. To gain a better understanding of the extent of this condition, it is necessary to consider its morbidity and comorbidity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death among the elderly (CDC, 2017). It is estimated that as many as 37.2% of elderly Americans are suffering from heart disease (Carroll & Miller, 2013). This high morbidity rate is clear evidence that heart disease is a serious medical issue that requires urgent action from all stakeholders. It is worth noting that heart disease usually accompanies other illnesses which constitute its comorbidity. These illnesses include hypertension, stress, diabetes, high cholesterol and diabetes, among others (Carroll & Miller, 2013). As it tackles heart disease, the US should focus its efforts on these illnesses as well.
Impact of Heart Disease
Heart disease presents various adverse effects for the elderly. Reduced quality of life is among these effects (Rich et al., 2016). This illness makes it difficult for the elderly to engage in affairs that give their lives meaning. Causing the elderly to be placed in residences and nursing homes is another adverse impact of heart disease (Rich et al., 2016). Many families in the US lack the resources and knowledge to attend to the needs of elderly people with heart disease. The families are forced to seek the intervention of institutions whose primary mandate is to deliver care to the elderly. While being institutionalized in nursing homes provides the elderly with access to medical care, it robs them of the warmth and presence of their families. Consequently, the quality of their lives declines further. Heart disease also strips the elderly of their independence and sense of worth. The risk of death and debilitating symptoms are other negative outcomes that the elderly grapple with (Rich et al., 2016). The negative effects of heart disease are not limited to the elderly who are the direct victims. The national health of the US also suffers as a result of this illness. As already noted, the US spends huge amounts in the treatment of elderly patients with heart disease. These amounts could be used to improve the quality of care offered to patients grappling with other conditions. Heart disease also places a burden on families which are required to act as caregivers for the elderly with this illness. Overall, heart disease erodes the quality of health of the entire American nation.
Healthy People 2020 Goals and Objectives
In the introduction, it was stated that the HealthyPeople 2020 initiative is designed to enhance the health of the American people. As part of its mission, this initiative has identified key health goals and objectives. The initiative has also identified specific objectives intended to secure the wellbeing of elderly Americans. As regards the elderly population, the stated objective of this initiative reads as follows: “improve the health, function, and quality of life of older adults” (HealthyPeople, n.d). In a bid to achieve this goal, HealthyPeople has identified key objectives. These include empowering caregivers, monitoring the health conditions of the elderly, and delivering training to healthcare professionals. When the HealthyPeople initiative attaints is goals, elderly Americans will gain access to enhanced care. It is critical for all stakeholders to support the HealthyPeople 2020 program.
In conclusion, the efforts that the US has displayed in securing the wellbeing of elderly Americans are commendable. Through such programs as the HealthyPeople 2020 initiative, the government seeks to protect all Americans against health hazards. Despite this initiative, such groups as the elderly continue to deal with various health challenges. Heart disease is among the chronic illnesses which pose serious challenges to the elderly and the nation as a whole. Millions of elderly Americans have been diagnosed with this condition. In addition to heart disease, these individuals suffer from such other conditions as diabetes and hypertension. That the US needs to develop health approaches which address the comorbid conditions as well as heart disease is not in question. The government should collaborate with such stakeholders as healthcare providers and families of the elderly to limit the damage that heart disease causes.
References
Carroll, W., & Miller, G. E. (2013). Heart disease among elderly Americans: estimates for the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population, 2010 . Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality . Retrieved July 10, 2018 from https://meps.ahrq.gov/data_files/publications/st409/stat409.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2017). Older person’s health. Retrieved July 10, 2018 from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/older-american-health.htm
Einarson, T. R., Acs, A., Ludwig, C., & Panton, U. H. (2018). Economic burden of Cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review. Value in Health,
21 (7), 881-890.
HealthyPeople. (n.d). Older adults. Retrieved July 10, 2018 from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/older-adults
Rich, M. W., Chyun, D. A., Skolnick, A. H. et al. (2016). Knowledge gaps in cardiovascular Care of the older adult population: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and American Geriatrics Society. Journal Of the American College of Cardiology, 67 (20), 2419-2440.
