Topic 1 - The implications of long-term care Flashcards
Life expectancy (mortality) ) in the UK increased between
1980–82 and 2015–17 from… for males and from… for females
Who was this information provided by and when?
70.8 years to 79.2 years (Males)
76.8 years to 82.9 years (Females)
Office for National Statistics (ONS), 2018
In 2021, how many people were aged over 65 in the UK, and what was this expected to increase to by 2050? (ONS 2023)
11 million, 19 million
How many people were aged over 85 or over in 2020, and what is this expected to be by 2045?
1.7 million, 3.1 million
What is Gerontology
Gerontology is the scientific study of ageing and the problems it brings.
Gerontology is the study of the effects of the ageing process on people. It is a
multidisciplinary field that brings together several areas of study, such as biology, sociology and psychology. It looks at the impact of ageing, not only on individuals in areas such as social exclusion and the different effects across the sexes, but also on society overall and the implications for public policy.
What areas does Gerontology cover?
It covers a wide range of areas, including demographics, environment, lifestyle, health and well-being.
It not only looks at the impact on individuals but also the social, economic and policy implications of ageing.
What is the key difference between Gerontology and Geriatrics
Gerontology and geriatrics are closely linked, but geriatrics is more closely focused on the care of elderly people.
On what months is the annual conference held for Gerontology, who is there and what happens after the meeting?
July or September, hosted by members from different centres and institutions in the UK, the society posts a regular journal reviewing their work and findings.
What is the difference between Morbidity and Mortality?
Where mortality measures the likelihood of dying at a specific age, morbidity is the
measurement of how likely someone is to become ill and from what disease.
Why is Morbidity important for insurance providers?
It is an essential part of the pricingprocess for LTC products.
Who discussed the opposing theories for Morbidity vs Mortality, and when?
Howse (2006)
What are the two competing theories detailed by Howse (2006) of the effects of improving Mortality, and what effect this may have one Morbidity on later life?
Expansion of Morb. - People will survive longer whilst still fighting advanced degenerative diseases, so more time in later life spent in state of ill-health
Compression of Morb. - If improved mortality comes from changes in the underlying diseases and also medical advances, there should be a compression in Morb. and less illness in later life.
These are competing as they contradict eachother, one theory saying it could be better, the other saying it could be worse. Depends on what drives the change in Mortality!
However, despite the competing theories (Howse 2006) , increasing UK life expectancy indicates that there is a … probability of people suffering from … in later life , particularly after age 80.
Higher
A chronic illness
The Department of Health and Social Care reported that in 2015 around… people in England has a longt-term condition that was incurable
15 million
The Health Foundation (2023) published a report that estimated … people will be living with a major illness by 2040. Most of the increase being attributed by the … generation.
9.1 million, baby boomer
ONS put forward a range of factors that will improve Mortality, which are…
- Greater understanding of biomedical ageing process, leading to better ani-ageing strategies
- Better understanding of carcinogenic processes leading to less deaths from cancer
- Medical advances so previously life threatening diseases becoming containable
- Progress in preventive medicine
- Better information about health
- Decrease in smoking
- Increasing mental and social activities in old age
- Effective and cheap technologies
ONS put forward a range of factors that will diminish Mortality, which are…
Increasing drug resistance to known diseases
Negative impact on health due to stress levels
Increasing immigration from countries with a higher mortality rate than the UK
Long-term care may be defined as:
(Laing, 1994)
“all forms of continuing personal or nursing care and
associated domestic services for people who are unable to look after themselves without
some degree of support, whether provided in their own homes, at a day centre, or in an
NHS or care home setting’’ (Laing, 1994).
The rising need for LTC stems from?
Longer working lives
Changes in the way people live
Changes in working patterns
What effect does the reducing number of DB schemes being supplied have on an ageing population?
It increases the amount of time people need to work to be able to live in retirement
What are the different types of care?
Residential
Sheltered accommodation
Domicilliary
Intermediate
Respite
Nursing
Hospital
Integrated
What is residential care?
Provided in a long-stay home for elderly people that are frail rather than ill. Help with everyday activities due to age not health.
Classed as social care not health care, privately or local-authority funded.
What is sheltered accommodation?
Provides independent living in privately owned or rented accommodation, with a resident warden to help.
What is domicilliary care?
Provided in the individual’s home by nurses and other care professionals.
What is intermediate care?
Short-term therapy or treatment in a home, either following a stay in hopsital or to avoid the need to go to hospital. If they are happy to rely on state provision, this is usually free of charge and is time-limited for up to 6 weeks.
