Geriatric nursing is a nursing subfield which involves caring for older adults.

Older adults have special needs which can become very complex, making employment prospects in the field of geriatric nursing very good. As people live longer with the assistance of modern medical developments, many older people require extended special care from members of the health profession who specialize in geriatric health issues. To become a geriatric nurse, someone must generally qualify as a nurse and take additional courses in geriatric nursing to learn to meet the specific needs of older patients. You may also hear this nursing field referred to as gerontological nursing, depending on regional preferences. Numerous professional organizations for geriatric nursing can be found around the world, offering additional training, certification, and support for people who work in this field. Geriatric nurses can also take advantage of trade journals, research programs, conferences, and other things which are designed to promote knowledge and cooperation in the field.

Caring for the Elderly - Who Are They? Caring for the elderly is an important issue facing the baby-boomer generation, now approximately 45-65 years of age. Current statistics suggest that many of today's working force will live well beyond the expected limits of the past. The Federal Agency and Forum on Statistics1projects that over twenty million seniors over the age of eighty-five will populate the United States by the year 2050. This is an increase of almost seventeen-million seniors compared to the three million that were living in 2000. In the early 1900's, less than five million Americans reached the age of sixty-five. As of 2005, almost forty million men and women are attaining the age of sixty-five, and beyond. Caring for the Elderly - What is Involved? Caring for the elderly is multi-faceted and often emotionally difficult for the caregiver. It requires that forgiveness be freely given and old hurts be dealt with. The caregiver (often a son or daughter) must be the one who is able to "get over" emotional hurdles and move on with providing quality care for the aging parent. Issues unresolved during their vital and productive years are unlikely to be confronted now by parents facing a myriad of issues related to growing older. Caring for the elderly often involves the following: y y y y y y y Provide a home Offer legal help and support Help with financial responsibilities Arrange resident nursing care Deal with mental health and medical issues related to aging such as dementia, Alzheimer's, etc. Meet their socialization needs Help the elderly make decisions, including those about dying, i.e. living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc.

How will you shoulder this enormous responsibility? Will you be able to see beyond old hurts as you make necessary preparations to care for your aged parents? How will you help an elderly member of your family deal with declining health and aging issues while still maintaining respect and preserving dignity? How will you face the challenges of caring for the elderly? Caring for the Elderly - Where do you turn? My mom was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in June of 2005. Her doctors predicted she would live 1 year if she had radiation treatments or 2 months without the treatments. She chose the treatments. As her primary caregiver, I was responsible to see that she got to her radiation treatments and doctors appointments. I also fixed her meals and cleaned her house because she was not able to do so. My mother lost the ability to walk and the control of her right arm, so she relied on me for most daily tasks. In January, she had a stroke, which changed the remainder of her life. She was unable to get out of bed, so I fed her, changed her, and bathed her. Other than on the weekend when my dad was home, I had sole responsibility for her needs.

What advice would I give to people who are taking on the role of caregiver? y If you are caring for a loved one with a terminal illness, I encourage you to call in Hospice. It is a wonderful organization and I found that they not only cared for my mother, but also for our entire family. Another important aspect of care-giving is to take a few days, when possible. Taking care of a loved one is a huge responsibility and you need a break from the demands. For seven months, I cared for my mom without much of a break. I don't advise you to do that. It is not only very difficult physically, but also mentally and emotionally. Rely on God for strength. I relied on God to get through each day and I learned to take life one day at a time. As a caregiver, you never know what each new day will bring. There were days when I sat by mom's bed reading the Bible and praying because it gave us both some measure of comfort. When she could no longer communicate, I relied on God to translate what she was trying to tell me. All I could do was ask for understanding to know how to make her as comfortable as possible. Without God, I could have never made it through. Pray. At times, I couldn't pray more than "Oh God, help us!" God can be your refuge and strength too; all you have to do is ask. Concentrate on the eternal. When mom passed away, I had peace because I knew she was in God's hands. I knew this because my mother had accepted Jesus gift of salvation.

Having gone through the rough season of care-giving, the best advice I can give is let God be your all in all. He can get you through anything, no matter how hard the task is. Just call out to Him. Only God can calm your anxiety and offer peace and assurance of life after death. In John 14:1-3, 27 we read these words: Don't be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. . .I am leaving you with a gift -- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid. God wants to infuse even your most difficult circumstances with His promise of peace.

1. What Are The Common Elderly Diseases? Researchers say that common elderly diseases may include one or more of the following: Arthritis, Cancer, Cardiovascular (Blood Pressure and Heart Disease), Cerebrovascular (Strokes), Dementia, Depression,Diabetes, Falls and Injuries, Gastrointestinal Disorders, Hearing impairment, Memory, Nutrition, Osteoporosis, Parkinson's Disease, Respiratory Disease, Pressure ulcers, Sleep problems, Thyroid Disease, Urinary Disorders and Visual impairment. However, age may not always go with disease or disability. In fact, several centenarians around the world have none of these ailments. 2. Does Disease Strike Elderly Men and Women Alike? Not quite, according to a report published in the British Medical Journal. Surprising as it may sound, heart disease is more common in elderly women than in any other category. Researchers only say that it may not be readily obvious. It may take a decade more before women show the signs of heart disease. Research again reveals that, postmenopausal women in the United States are 10 times more likely to die of heart disease than of breast cancer or hip fracture. However, with adequate care most of these elderly diseases have been successfully managed. Advances in novel drug development are paving the way for women to lead a healthy lifestyle into ripe old age. 3. Is Disease Burden the Same Everywhere? According to the World Health Organization, elderly individuals account for a substantial proportion of the world population. And 75 percent of them may be in the Third World alone. In fact, elderly diseases may be more conspicuous in 7 of the 10 nations with the largest elderly populations. China and India top the list with the largest share of elderly diseases. Even so, the rapid economic progress in recent years has seen cost-effective health care systems in these countries on par with developed nations.

4. Prompt Attention for the Elderly Researchers have been successful in developing new drugs and interventions tailored to elderly patients. Increasingly, women are being screened and followed up. For example, breast and cervical cancer and postmenopausal osteoporosis are considered top priorities in several parts of the world. New guidelines have been developed to offer screening for colorectal cancer and diabetes among elderly men and women. Prevention of injuries or health risk based on heredity and genes is on the top burner. Seniors everywhere are being addressed by the caregivers at hospitals and clinics at a discounted rate. Public health insurance in certain parts of the world favors elderly patients by providing access to life-saving drugs, often for free or at a minimal expense. 5. Delaying Death and Disease Advances in medicine and health care should mean better living conditions and longer life. Certain drugs can help prevent dementia and cancer and there are antioxidants available that may protect against various age-related disorders. Changes in diet and lifestyle should help control or treat high blood pressure. A planned exercise program and a well-balanced home health care should bring new order into the life of elderly people and reduce hospital admissions. Creative new ways of delaying the onset of disease and disability are creating a huge impact in reducing the morbidity and mortality among the elderly.