Older people and Public Health

Question 1

What current problems in the NHS make caring for the elderly difficult?

Answer 1

• Set up to tx acutely => not chronic disease
• 90% of funds go to secondary care
• Staffing too low for demand
• Lack of link between primary and secondary care
• Lack of link between health and social care

Question 2

Describe the population shift expected in the future

Answer 2

More elderly people

Less in all age groups <65

Question 3

Describe the Government’s 2020 Vision

Answer 3

“everyone is able to live longer healthier lives at home, or in a homely setting”

Question 4

What is the main disadvantage of the Health and Social Care Integration

Answer 4

Shared budgets which want to be spent on many different things

Question 5

What are the potential benefits of the Health and Social Care Integration?

Answer 5

• Shared aims
• Better communication across health and social care
• Faster discharge from hospital

Question 6

What is the purpose of Early Community Support in Dundee?

Answer 6

To prevent hospital admissions

- MDT provide intervention in community for patients who are at increased risk of admission

Question 7

How is care home medicine changing?

Answer 7

Consultants are being allocated to certain care homes and visiting to carry out their MDT meeting

Question 8

What is the purpose of Telecare?

Answer 8

Technological advancement to alert relatives to their family members completing certain ADLs (e.g. turning kettle on)

Question 9

What is FLO?

Answer 9

• platform for COPD patients

- they text in their score daily and get a reply

Question 10

What will happen to the rates of non-communicable diseases as the economies of low-middle income countries change?

Answer 10

More patients will develop non-communicable disease rather than previously dying of communicable disease

=> e.g. dementia and Cardiovascular

Question 11

What national screening programmes exist for the older population?

Answer 11

AAA
Bowel cancer
Breast cancer

Question 12

What is opportunistic screening?

Answer 12

Screening for common problems during a one-off consultation that may not be about the same thing

e.g. taking an elderly patients blood pressure although they have complained of another problem

Question 13

If patients have already developed a symptom, then you can no longer screen for the disease. TRUE/FALSE?

Answer 13

TRUE

it is no longer a screening as you now actually have a reason to be suspicious that the patient has the disease

Question 14

Who is screened for AAA and how is this done?

Answer 14

All men > 65 years old

US aorta

Question 15

At what age does home bowel screening begin, and how often does this take place?

Answer 15

Starts Age 50 (received in post)

Every 3 years

Question 16

Why does breast cancer screening only start at 50?

Answer 16

Mammogram isnt sensitive enough prior to this age

Question 17

What routine vaccinations are offered for older adults?

Answer 17

Influenza ≥ 65 years, annual

Pneumococcal vaccine ≥ 65 years old, one-off

Shingles vaccine - 70 years old, one-off

Question 18

What amount of physical activity is recommended for >65 year olds by the department of health

Answer 18

150 mins moderate or 75 mins vigorous intensity exercise per week
AND
strength exercises on ≥ 2 days per week

Question 19

What is meant by Mixed malnutrition?

Answer 19

Obese patients who have nutrient deficiencies and appear malnourished due to poor diet

Question 20

How can we support the elderly in housing and fuel poverty which affects their health?

Answer 20

Adaptations in own home
Proactive council house planning
Anticipatory planning of house moves/adaptations