Facts About California’s Elderly, Term Paper Example

Introduction

In Mission Viejo and the surrounding areas, senior health and living are key components of local practice settings; however, they appear to be insufficient to accommodate the needs of patients who require services on a continuous basis. The target market for Golden Age Hospital is local adults over the age of 65 who are either experiencing steady or declining health and require ongoing wellness visits or treatment for health-related conditions. Over the next several years, the population of older adults is expected to grow at least 50 percent in these areas (California Department of Aging, 2012). Older adults in California possess considerable opportunities to secure insurance and to achieve greater health and wellbeing through providers such as Medicare and Medi-Cal, in addition to offerings available through Covered California and the Coordinated Care Initiative (California Department of Aging, 2012). These findings suggest that senior health is prominent in the minds of California residents and requires an ongoing approach that is supportive of their needs and concerns in maintaining a greater quality of life (California Department of Aging, 2012).

Analysis

The target market for Golden Age hospital is located in Mission Viejo and the surrounding areas. For the older adults of Orange County, there are a number of important health concerns that include mental health, substance and prescription drug abuse, proper nutrition, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and reducing re-hospitalizations in the chronically ill (Kaiser Foundation Hospital, 2013). From this perspective, older adults in the designated areas require ongoing support and guidance in their efforts to improve personal health, and this is best accomplished through local efforts to improve access to healthcare services and to be recognized for their health needs and the vital importance of healthcare for this population group (Kaiser Foundation Hospital, 2013). Local residents require ongoing services that will be effective in meeting their health needs, and in improving quality of life throughout the aging process.

In Orange County, outreach services are of critical importance for older adults and require continuous attention and focus, including areas that emphasize crisis evaluation, preventative health services, housing and residential care, and home visitation, among others (OCgov.com, 2014). For many seniors in Orange County, poverty is a critical issue that requires ongoing attention; however, many adults in this area classify their health in a positive state (Orange County Department of Children and Families, 2013). One of the most prominent issues to consider is Alzheimer’s disease, which has increased by 36 percent since 2006, along with Medicare and Medicaid payments associated with this condition (Orange County Department of Children and Families, 2013). Medi-Cal enrollment for seniors has increased by 23 percent since 2008, and those relying on food stamps has increased by 259 percent in the same period (Orange County Department of Children and Families, 2013). Finally, elder abuse cases in the county have increased by 18 percent since 2008, and this includes self-neglect for patients who intentionally ignore their health needs (Orange County Department of Children and Families, 2013). These factors demonstrate the importance of a greater focus on older adults in Mission Viejo and the surrounding communities so that they are able to obtain access to the services that are required to meet their needs effectively and to improve overall health in these communities.

In this area, it is likely that local seniors require an increased level of primary care and preventative services, including wellness screenings, in addition to specialty areas such as oncology, endocrinology, cardiology, and geriatrics. Each of these needs are prominent in the target areas and require further attention and consideration as a means of expanding knowledge, and preserving quality of life. In addition, these concerns require a greater understanding of the opportunities that are available to support senior health and wellbeing across all income levels and insurance status. It is believed that in these communities, older adults seek a variety of locations to obtain healthcare services that include primary care and specialty clinics, accompanied by a larger medical center environment that is able to provide comprehensive services for a variety of health conditions. These concerns support the development of new perspectives regarding the health and wellbeing of older adults who require a level of consistency in the services that they provide, along with other factors that support the growth of healthcare practice settings that are specifically designed to meet the needs of this population on a regular basis.

Conclusion

There are significant needs within Mission Viejo and the surrounding communities that require greater attention to the health and wellbeing of older adults. These concerns are common among members of this population throughout California and the United States. However, these concerns are prominent in the aforementioned communities and require ongoing support and resources in order to accomplish the desired objectives. Primary concerns such as chronic disease, long-term care, and primary care are prominent within this area; therefore, the emergence of Golden Age Hospital would be designed to accommodate these needs and to provide a framework for addressing the needs of older adults effectively and on a comprehensive basis. It is important for the seniors within these communities to have greater access to healthcare services that will impact their quality of life, and this is best accomplished through a framework that supports effective outcomes for this population that will continue for the foreseeable future. Therefore, the market demand for Golden Age Hospital is high and supports this project in an effective manner.

References

California Department of Aging (2012). Data & Statistics – facts about California’s elderly. Retrieved from http://www.aging.ca.gov/Data_and_Statistics/Facts_About_Elderly/

California Department of Aging (2012). Providers & Partners: Resources. Retrieved from http://www.aging.ca.gov/

Kaiser Foundation Hospital (2013). 2013 community health needs assessment. Retrieved from http://share.kaiserpermanente.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Irvine-CHNA_2013.pdf

Orange County Department of Children and Families (2013). Orange County 2013 Community  Indicators. Retrieved from http://www.occhildrenandfamilies.com/images/pdf/OCCIR_2013_Report_Web_Rev%20.pdf

OCgov.com (2014). Older adult services. Retrieved from http://ochealthinfo.com/bhs/about/amhs/oas