Task description Students are required to apply the concepts explored throughout the unit and respond to the following question: How can you partner with older people in the planning, delivery and...

PARTNERING WITH OLDER PEOPLE IN THE PLANNING, DELIVERY AND EVALUATION OF INTEGRATED HEALTH MANAGEMENT-
The older population results in significant social care and health consumption due to increased risk of frailty and multi-morbidities. This increased complexity leads to sub optimal care outcomes and increased fragmentation of care. Integrated care for older people should be implemented as a policy response. The improvements are to be made in the integrated care system and requires a shift to be made in the complex adaptive system (1).
Integrated care is the focal point of delivering quality care for older populations. The ageing people may benefit from integrated care as they have continuously changeing and complex needs. There are no guidelines or models for integrated care available thus making their delivery to the older populations more challenging. Therefore, the integrated health management requires multiple initiatives through different professions and services of the health system.
The core components of integrated care for the elderly populations include-
1. Effective communication- Regular communication is necessary for the success of integrated care interventions. Joint meetings and training sessions can be conducted between the medical and care staff for the appropriate exchange and flow of information.
2. Governance and formal policy- Formal policy is essential as providers can coordinate work and services within common governance. It may facilitate leadership, shared values, professional engagement and credibility.
3. Person-centered care- Patient centeredness is a desirable aspect of the care system.
4. Case management- Case managers like the social worker and the nurses are the main coordinator in multi-disciplinary teams of the integrated services. It is associated with the better clinical outcomes, improved function, increased use of community services and improved use of medications.
5. Needs assessment for discharge and care planning- By the use of comprehensive geriatric assessment, needs are evaluated and care plans can be developed (2).
Promoting self-determination in older people-
Self-determination is highly essential for ageing population to experience better quality of life. Self-determination refers to the capacity of deciding and acting according to one’s own wishes. It is a process by which a person has ethical/legal rights and has the capacity to make his own personal choices.
By practicing self-determination, the older adults feel safer and are free to control and choose their everyday life. They can influence and are involved in their decisions. Moreover, they can fulfill their needs and have a positive impact on their lives. On the other hand, little self-determination leads to lack of control and a sense of insecurity among the aged population. They are caught in their own isolated world and are careful about taking risks.
There are many ways to promote self-determination in the older generation. One is to maintain meaningful relationships with the aged person, leaders and colleagues within the...