Interprofessional Collaborative Practice

Health promotion for older people

It is important to recognise that even when living with chronic conditions, and being dependent on others for some activities, older people want to feel well and be as healthy as possible. So it is increasingly important to support older people to maintain and regain independence and participate in health promoting activities. This encompasses their emotional and social health as well as physical. In the film Mr Rosa was very insistent that he be allowed to keep his dog. Pets provide more than just companionship and unconditional love they can also support general wellbeing¹.  Research has shown that animal interaction can improve depressive symptoms and decrease blood pressure².

 

Interprofessional collaborative practice

Supporting older people to remain as healthy as possible in the community requires health professionals to work together. Interprofessional collaboration that goes across agencies as well as disciplines is essential in providing a seamless and effective service to older people³. There is an extensive range of disciplines involved in supporting older people in the community some of which have been highlighted in this module.

The anticipated increase in the older population and associated increase in service demand will require the aged care workforce to expand significantly and as a result there will be many more career opportunities for health professionals in this sector.

 

 

 

 

References

1. Brodie SJ, Biley FC. An exploration of the potential benefits of pet-facilitated therapy. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 1999; 8(4) :329-337.
2. Stasi MF, Amati D, Costa C, Resta D, Senepa G, Scarafioti C, Aimonino N, Molaschi M. Pet-therapy: A trial for institutionalized frail elderly patients. Archives of Gerontology. Geriatric Supplement. 2004: 9: 407-412.
3. Leathard A. Interprofessional collaboration: From policy to practice in health and social care. Sussex UK: Routledge. 2003