Vyresnio amžiaus žmonių sveikatos priežiūra: situacija ir perspektyvos

Abstract

By increase of elderly population all over the world countries face not only percentage increase of 65 years old residents’ number. Ageing of public raises political, economical and social changes, which also influence health indexes and that condition changing demands of patients directed towards health care services. Therefore health care situation of the elderly, raising problems and future trends are analyzed in this paper of master degree. Demand of specialized health care services and current situation in Lithuania are discussed. Juridical health and social policy base is analyzed. By attempt to increase reliability of theoretical part empirical research is executed, where attention is paid to current situation and demand of the elderly for health care services, also there is determined which health care services are the most acceptable for the elderly and what reasons of their selection are. Also it is tried to find out what are the things which dissatisfy the elderly in health care and what they would like to change. After analysis of research results it was revealed that the worse state of older people is, and the older people are, the higher demand for health care is. Results of research show that in the case of health impairment, firstly the elderly turn to family, and when this kind of help becomes insufficient or when there is no possibility to get it, the elderly seek for health institution help. Most of respondents do not seek for help of social workers, and those who do, are older than 70 years. Also those older people, who seek for help from social workers, expressed great demand for psychologist services. As the most important thing in health care respondents pointed competence of doctor in diseases of older people and understanding of older age peculiarities. Also there was emphasized that older people rather choose steady-state than ambulatory treatment, because they think, that hospitals offer better healing. Demand for often visits of doctors at home was determined by majority of respondents, and while talking about things which strongly dissatisfy in health care of the elderly, respondents pointed the most important economical aspect – that are expensive medicine, too little part of it is compensated.