Today, we are witnessing a demographic change significant: the number of older people is constantly increasing in our society. What is driving this change? Mainly, the decrease in birth rates and the increase in life expectancy.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are approximately 70 million people over the age of 80 in the world, and this number is expected to increase five-fold in the coming decades.
This situation poses a series of challenges that we must address. On the one hand, aging entails biological and functional changes that affect the health of older people. On the other hand, there is an increase in the incidence of chronic diseases, frailty and disability. In addition, we must take into account the emotional and social aspects that influence the well-being of our elders.
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It is essential to improve comprehensive care for older people. Everyone, from healthcare professionals to family members and caregivers, we must be prepared to provide appropriate support and assistance to this population. In this process, it is crucial to recognize the essential role that nurses play.
They are trained to care for the physical, emotional and social needs of older people, helping them enjoy a full and healthy life at all stages of aging.
However, we are faced with a worrying reality: the global nursing shortage. This problem is exacerbated by a variety of causes, including poor working conditions, lack of recognition and regulation, and insufficient government policies to support this essential profession.
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The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need to strengthen health personnel and especially nursing personnel. A recent WHO report reveals significant deficiencies in the nursing workforce and identifies investment in training, employment and leadership as a priority to improve the health of populations and guarantee quality care for older people.
It is imperative that measures be taken to improve the training and experience of nursing staff, thus ensuring optimal care focused on the needs of older people. Only in this way can we guarantee a dignified and quality old age for all our seniors.
Faced with this panorama, and in response to the growing need for specialized nursing care, training is the key. Specialized professionals have a comprehensive perspective on aging care, which guarantees quality, person-centered care.
*Director of the Diploma in Gerontological Nursing of the University Institute for Business Productive and Technological Development of Argentina (IUDPT)