Community Nursing and Public Health

Geriatric Nursing

There are many reasons why people are living longer. Advances in medications to treat diseases, immunizations to prevent disease, and new diagnostic techniques to assist in the early detection and treatment of disease are among the major reasons for the increase in longevity. The development of new medications occurs daily and aids in the treatment of illnesses that once resulted in disability and death, such as heart disease and cancer. Moreover, the ability to prevent diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, and polio plays a great role in allowing children and young adults to enter older adulthood. In addition, improved economic conditions and nutrition, as well as a stronger emphasis on health promotion, have undoubtedly resulted in decreases in both illness and death among the population.