Module One Overview – Nursing Care of the Older Adult
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1. History and Evolution
a. Older adults are one of the largest group of patients in acute care,
long term care facilities, and rehabilitation facilities.
b. As Baby Boomers age and the number of people living longer
increases, the need for those with an aging expertise grows.
c. The field of gerontological nursing has evolved over the past
decades and its specialty is in greater demand more now than
ever before.
d. The history and evolution of gerontological nursing encompasses
major milestones from the day of primary care or private duty
nursing to acute care and now a shift to community based care.
e. The Nursing Competence in Aging initiative advocated for all
nurses to have greater knowledge, skills, and broader attitudes
toward the older adult primarily due to the prevalence and incidence
of chronic health and functional issues in older adult clientele.
f. The provision of quality healthcare and the complexities of the
older adult are ever growing challenges for the healthcare system.
g. Present day gerontological nursing
1. The present day of geriatrics as a specialized science,
has never presented a more opportune time to embrace
gerontological nursing as the healthcare system has
considerably shifted due to increased life expectancies, the
aging of the baby boomer population, increased complexities
and rise of chronic disease in older adult client care.
2. Nurses can expect to care for a large number geriatric
patients in every clinical setting over the next decades.
3. Nurses are in prime positions to manage the
complexities of older adult client care and to promote health,
wellness and disease prevention Efforts should be directed
toward health prevention, health screening, and health
