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NS5604:03

Contemporary Issues in Ageing and Health

External

HECS Band 1

Semester 2.

Applicants are required to be registered nurses; to hold a degree in nursing or a related discipline; or to have gained entry by exception at the discretion of the Head of School.

In this subject the students are introduced to the current discourse on a number of issues relevant to the role of caring for the aged in Australian society. The content will involve reviewing the ethical, cultural, legal and political perspectives on contemporary problems; these include: ageism and its effects on the aged in Australia, the ethical dilemma of resource distributions, the needs of the Aboriginal aged, health care access and the rural aged. It also explores how `holistic nursing' can be applied to maintain a quality of life in relation to practice in primary health care in the acute setting and long-term care in a clinical setting and to care in the community.

Learning Objectives:

outline the impact of demographic trends in caring for the aged in Australia;

describe the major policies which have influenced the provision of care for the aged in Australia;

recognise the `myths of ageing' and explain the effects of stereotyping of the aged in the health and well being of older members of society;

utilise ethical models and principles as frame works for ethical decision making when caring for the aged;

identify the needs of specific groups of the elderly; the rural elderly, Aboriginal aged and the aged in other cultural communities;

apply the principles of health promotion and teaching to the life situations of the aged person;

analyse the concept of `holistic nursing' as it relates to models of care, quality of life and a dignified death in caring for the aged.

On-course assessment (100%).