As of 2017, health care expenditures in the United States are near 17.9% of our gross domestic product (GDP), with a major portion of Medicare funding going toward chronic illness and care at the last 6 months of life. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has made some initial legislative changes in the U.S. health system, but not sufficient enough to address growing expenditures and caring for the large aging population. In this assignment, learners will synthesize issues in aging with health policy solutions by writing a paper on one health issue for older individuals addressed in the topic and offering a policy solution. Example of issue: In 2014, more than 50% of the costs of institutional long-term care for older persons was paid for with public funds from Medicaid.
General Guidelines:
Use the following information to ensure successful completion of the assignment:
- This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
- Doctoral learners are required to use APA style for their writing assignments. The APA Style Guide is located in the Student Success Center.
- This assignment requires that at least two additional scholarly research sources related to this topic and at least one in-text citation for each source be included.
- You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.
Directions:
Write a paper (1,000-1,250 words) that addresses a health issue for older individuals. Include the following:
- Evaluate what the literature suggests as a resolution to your chosen issue.
- Discuss any attempts to incorporate the solution into public policy.
- Determine the barriers to implementation of the solution.
- Analyze the options being discussed for public or private funding.
- Propose your own recommendation.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As health care expenditures continue to rise in the United States, it is important to address the specific health issues affecting older individuals who require chronic care and long-term care at the end of their lives. In this assignment, learners will explore one health issue for older individuals and offer a policy solution to address it. This paper will evaluate the literature that suggests possible solutions, discuss attempted policy incorporations, analyze barriers to implementation, and propose recommendations for public or private funding.
Answer:
The health issue for older individuals selected for this paper is the prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are currently 5.8 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s, and this number is expected to reach 14 million by 2050 (Alzheimer’s Association, 2021). The literature suggests that early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can lead to better outcomes for patients and reduce healthcare costs. One potential solution is to increase funding for research and development of early detection tools and treatments.
Attempts to incorporate this solution into public policy have been made through the Accelerating Medicines Partnership program and proposed policies such as the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act. However, implementation is hindered by the lack of dedicated funding towards Alzheimer’s disease research and healthcare. One major barrier is the lack of awareness and understanding of the disease among the general public and healthcare providers.
Options for public or private funding include increasing Medicare funding towards Alzheimer’s disease research and care, incentivizing private investment in research and development, and increasing funding towards caregiver support services. It is recommended that a combination of these options be pursued, as well as promoting public education and awareness of the disease. Furthermore, it is important to implement policies that support and incentivize caregiver support services to reduce the burden on family members and increase quality of care.
In conclusion, it is imperative to address the rising prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in the aging population through increased funding towards research and development, policy implementation, and caregiver support services. While there are barriers to implementation, it is important to continue to push for solutions to mitigate the healthcare and economic impact of this disease.
