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A consumer survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shown that a majority of North Americans are not aware of the infectious diseases they are at risk neither of nor of the immunizations that can prevent them. The national survey found that only 2.1%of 18-64 year olds have been immunized for tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. Even more alarming was that immunization as a preventative against shingles for people over the age of 60 was as low as 1.9%. Further recognized was that influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates among the elderly have fallen very short of the 90% set for national targets.
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) has made a call for physicians to increase the use of immunizations amongst older citizens so that unnecessary illnesses do not develop which drain economic budgets for public health (Ebersole, Hess, Touhy, Jet, & Luggen, 2008). The CDC suggest that older adults be immunized against a variety of infectious diseases: chickenpox, diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus/cervical cancer (HPV), influenza, measles, meningococcal disease, mumps, pertussis (whooping cough), pneumococcal disease, rubella, shingles and tetanus.
It may be that the frequency for shots are part of the hurdle to meet national targets, with time being short people may not have adequate access to a GP to obtain or update their immunizations (Melillo, & Houde, 2005). For example, the vaccination against cervical cancer for women is a three-dose course. Whereas tetanus need only be re-given every 10 years; chickenpox, measles and mumps are considered to be one off vaccinations and influenza an annual one; hepatitis and meningococcal usually require more than 2 doses.
Turning now to preventative gerontology the focus shall be on telehealth or telemedicine. The USA has a rapidly increasing population of older citizens (Halter, 2009). More older people are seeking medical aid as compared to any other age group. As such, how the health care system and society in general care for the aged is a huge challenge for future health and social care systems (Field, 1996). Thus technological alternatives and automating of some processes to better enable independent living, safer living, more meaningful living and a high standard of coordination and information updating for nurses (Hazzard, 2005).
Information technology (IT) is now a given part of nurses training at university and in the field. Technology and networks of computers able to utilize a variety of software enable preventative medicine to be taken to a whole new level. Patients/clients can monitor themselves or the nurse has an alternative form of real-time measurements (Gardiner, 1995). It is no longer necessary for face-to-face consultations as tele-diagnostics and even operations can take place. Hence, future medicine in the USA is heavily dependant on the use of technology and the implementation of telehealth for preventative gerontology.
Telemedicine can help with GNP in educating patients and clients about lifestyle risk factors such as smoking, stress, alcohol and infectious disease (Lyder, 2005). The advancement of technology can also help patients to maintain adequate physical activities to bolster health such as using a WII or Sony Play station for real-time exercise programs; using the computer to plot waist measurements, food diaries, emotional journeys etc and accessing the Internet to share information, gain education, learn from up-to-date peer reviewed research and to discover how other older persons live independently and manage their health using technology. Ultimately, smart technology can aid older adults to remain living in their home independently whilst GBP is maintained over great distances (Lyder, 2005; Yellowlees & Kennedy, 1997).
References
Ebersole, P., Hess, P., Touhy, T.A., Jet, K. & Luggen, A.S. (2008) Toward healthy aging human needs and nursing response. (7th ed.) St. Louis: Mosby.
Field, M. et al, (1996) Telemedicine: A guide to assessing telecommunications in Healthcare. National Academy Press: Washington DC.
Fries, F. (1997) Can preventive gerontology be on the way?Am J Public Health 87(10): 15911593. Web.
Gardiner, M. (1995). Meeting the Home Health Care Needs of the Elderly in the 21st Century through Telecommunications: Report and Recommendations Consumer Interest Research Institute, Washington, DC.
Halter, J. (2009) Hazards geriatric medicine and gerontology. (6th ed.) New York: McGraw-Hill.
Hazzard, W. (2005) Preventive gerontology: Edging ever closer to the Barrier to Immortality. The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 60: 594-595. Web.
Lyder, C. (2005) Smart technology: Keeping our Elders Independent. Web.
Melillo, K. & Houde, S. (2005) Geropsychiatric and mental health nursing. Boston: Jones and Bartle.
Yellowlees, P. & Kennedy, C. (1997) Telemedicine: Here to stay, MJA, 166.
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