Many elderly patients suffering from heart disease face challenges that they are unable to confront on their own. They rely on the support of various stakeholders to tackle these challenges and enhance their wellbeing. However, for most of these patients, adequate support is lacking. As a result of the limited support, these patients encounter difficulties in paying for care and accessing quality and affordable medical services. In response to the plight of these patients, various organizations have been developed. Among other things, these organizations help the patients to pay for care and gain access to quality care. Collaborating with established medical facilities, these organizations provide resources which help to restore the dignity and health of the elderly patients. These patients need to leverage the benefits and resources that these organizations offer.
Available Resources
In the United States, there are various resources that elderly patients can exploit for their wellbeing. In the following discussion, some of these resources and the benefits that they offer are examined.
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Religious Charities
Religious organizations are among the stakeholders that have demonstrated their desire to improve the situation of elderly citizens. By establishing charities, these organizations are able to deliver vital services. The Catholic Church and Jewish organizations are among those that have set up facilities where the elderly can access services (Coleman, Whitelaw & Schreiber, 2014). Through the senior medical nutrition therapy, the Catholic Church delivers such services as nutritious diets to elderly patients with conditions like heart disease and diabetes. To qualify for the services, individuals need to satisfy a number of conditions. These conditions include being at least 60 years old, be at risk of poor nutrition and grappling with health problems (“Senior Medical Nutrition”, n.d). In addition to providing patients with nutritious food, the catholic charities also conduct in-home assessments with the goal of determining the nutritional needs of patients. Counseling and education regarding the importance of nutrition are other services that the church offers through its network of charities. These charities also deliver supplements to the patients who need them. The services that the Catholic Church and other charities offer are designed to address the unique needs of elderly patients, particularly those with heart disease and other serious health conditions. It is worth noting that in addition to addressing the physical needs of heart disease patients, religious charities also offer spiritual nourishment (Shahrbabaki et al., 2017). This nourishment is important as it renews the hope and energies of these patients.
Nursing Homes
Nursing homes that are particularly designed for elderly patients are another resources that these patients can leverage. Pharmacological treatment, physical exercise, opportunities for social engagement and constant monitoring are among the services that the patients receive at these facilities (Gu et al., 2016). Most of these homes are for profit (CDC, 2017). Therefore, to qualify for the services, patients simply need to demonstrate their capacity to pay. While the services that these homes offer are vital, the high cost of their services discourages many, especially those who are poor and lack medical insurance. For the patients who are able to afford the services, the nursing homes are a reliable source of support and effective interventions. There are some nursing homes that provide transport services to patients who would otherwise be home-bound. The transport services are important as it offers the patients the opportunity to explore an environment beyond their homes.
Home Care
There is no doubt that religious charities and nursing homes play critical roles in enhancing the wellbeing of patients with heart disease. However, since their reach is usually confined to particular regions, their impact can be limited. Home care helps to feel the void left by the religious charities and the nursing homes. As the name suggests, home care is concerned with delivering services to patients in their homes. This resource is ideal for home-bound patients who are either unable to access services offered in established facilities or have been discharged but require constant monitoring. The immediate family of the patient usually plays the most critical role in home care (Jaarsma, Larsen & Stromberg, 2013). Offering company, administering medication and providing other forms of support are among the functions that the care providers perform. Since family members are usually limited in competence and knowledge regarding how to attend to the needs of senior citizens, they rely on support from such practitioners as nurses. Home care does not stipulate conditions that the patients need to meet.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Seeking Resources
Before selecting the resource to use, patients with heart disease need to examine the advantages and disadvantages of the resources discussed above. The main advantage of the religious charities is that they are based within communities, thereby allowing for easy access (Coleman, Whitelaw & Schreiber, 2014). Patients do not have to travel long distances to receive services. Another advantage of this resource is that it leverages the effort and contributions of local stakeholders. The local stakeholders understand such issues as the culture and the unique needs of patients. As a result, they are able to guide the religious charities in crafting individualized interventions. The long-term relationships that the patients develop with the charities are yet another advantage (Coleman, Whitelaw & Schreiber, 2014). Leveraging these relationships, the charities are able to gain deeper insights into the needs and concerns of the patients. Since they are community-based, the religious charities establish partnerships with other organizations which help to address the needs of patients. The main drawback of religious charities is that they rely on funding from sponsors. In the event that the funding is inadequate, the capacity of these facilities to deliver services is compromised. Another disadvantage that patients should be wary of is that physicians at these facilities attend to many patients and may therefore be unable to offer individualized care (Coleman, Whitelaw & Schreiber, 2014). Overall, the community-based religious charities help to drive service delivery to senior citizens with heart disease.
Nursing homes and home care are other resources that elderly patients with heart disease should consider. Allowing for active patient participation and the delivery of effective and evidence-based care are among the advantages that patients stand to enjoy when they seek nursing home services (Jaarsma, Larsen & Stromberg, 2013). These facilities are usually operated by qualified professionals who understand the value of quality care. High costs of care are among the drawbacks of the nursing homes. Many elderly patients with heart disease would find the services at these homes to be unaffordable. The high costs hinder access and promote inequality. Another disadvantage is the threat of elder abuse. It has been alleged that in a number of nursing homes, residents suffer abuse and mistreatment (Arens, Fierz & Zuniga, 2017). The drawbacks of nursing homes could persuade patients to embrace home care. The main advantage of home care is that one receives free services from close friends and family. Another advantage is that the nursing community and other medical professionals become involved in home care. For example, nurses could make home visits to monitor the progress the patient makes. One of the disadvantages of home care is that patients may not receive the best possible quality of care. This is because the family caregivers are usually not qualified to deliver proper care. Another disadvantage is that home care imposes a burden on the family caregivers.
In conclusion, the US has made commendable progress in attending to the needs of elderly patients with heart disease. Thanks to the effort and dedication of various stakeholders, these patients now enjoy access to various resources. Religious charities, home care and nursing homes are among the resources that are available to the patients. Through these resources, the patients receive such services as nutrition and medication. While these resources have drawbacks, they are generally beneficial to the patients. Therefore, all stakeholders should work together to boost the capacity, reach and effectiveness of the resources.
References
Ariens, B. O., Fierz, K., & Zuniga, F. (2017). Elder abuse in nursing homes: do special care units make a difference? A secondary data analysis of the Swiss nursing homes human resources project. Gerontology, 63 , 167-179.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2017). Nursing home care. Retrieved July 14, 2018 from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/nursing-home-care.htm
Coleman, E. A., Whitelaw, N. A., & Schreiber, R. (2014). Caring for seniors: how community-based organizations can help. Family Practice Management, 21 (5), 13-17.
Gu, M., Ma, Y., Zhou, T., & Xia, Y. (2016). Evaluation of a community health service center-based intervention program for managing chronic heart failure. Balkan Medical Journal, 33 (1), 45-51.
Jaarsma, T., Larsen, T., & Stromberg, A. (2013). Practical guide to home health in heart failure Patients. International Journal of Integrated Care, 13 , e043.
Senior Medical Nutrition Therapy . (n.d). Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada. Retrieved July 14, 2018 from https://www.catholiccharities.com/service_details/senior-nutrition/
Shahrbabaki, P. M., Nouhi, E., Kazemi, M., & Ahmadi, F. (2017). Spirituality: a panacea for Patients coping with heart failure. International Journal of Community Based Nursing And Midwifery, 5 (1), 38-48.
