Essay - Models of Healthcare Delivery: Dementia Patients Identification of the Patient...

Models of healthcare delivery: Dementia patients

Identification ***** the patient population being served

***** fourth most common disorder among the elderly in America is dementia, usually caused by Alzheimer's d*****ease. It is estimated that this ***** amounts to a total cost of $100 billion annually ***** ***** United States. (Shankle et al) It is also estimated ***** "Proper treatment can reduce th***** cost by up to 25%" and that "Early detection of dementia and correct staging of the severity of dementia is critical ***** selecting the optimal treatment ***** saving money." (***** et al) These figures and views also point to ***** seriousness ***** this ailment and the importance of this patient population to ***** healthcare sec*****r; especially with regard to the development of healthcare systems and management.

Numerous studies and reports indicate that ***** prevalence ***** this ***** and its importance in terms of nursing management ***** protocols. Senile dementia has become one of the ***** problematic and widespread healthcare problems facing modern industrialized societies. It also has an effect on medical resources and management as well as on the area of ***** protocols. It is estimated that Senile dementia affects "...some 60% of nursing home ***** and of pers*****s residing in the community. " Senile dementia, Alzheimer's type: the family and the health care delivery system. " (Aronson MK, Lipkowitz R. 1981)

In addition, to add to ***** ***** of ***** ***** profile, the ***** patient is affected on a number of different levels, which necessit*****tes a complex model ***** healthcare delivery. For example, the ***** is often ***** not only ***** medical complications and age factors, but also by the necessity for community and caregivers proximity. Furthermore, both dementia sufferers and their caregivers represent a high-risk popul*****tion. " Over 54% of care recipients and 25% ***** caregivers reported poor health days, and entry into the formal health care system is generally precipitated ***** a crisis." (Lemieux-Charles, L. 2002)

An important part of understanding this patient population in terms of models ***** healthcare delivery is that at present numerous reports claim ***** the healthcare ***** does ***** cater adequately for these **********. " An estimated 500,000 people die every year in the ***** States suffering from Alzheimer's or related diseases and many of them receive inadequate pain control, are subjected to ineffective and invasive therapies such as tube feedings, and do not receive the benefits of hospice care." (Major overhaul needed in end-***** life ***** for patients with dementia)

The problematic that this patient population re*****s is further exacerbated by the fact that the general population over 65 *****s of ***** is "projected to double from ***** current 35 million ***** 70 ***** ***** the year 2030." (STREIM J.E. 2003) This means that the number ***** older adults with mental illness is expected to increase proportionately to 15 million persons. (STREIM J.E) The implication of this is obvious in terms of the need to improve ***** healthcare *****.

2. Organizations that comprise the health care delivery system

The