The problem of providing a high quality of care for older patients living in rural areas and diagnosed with such chronic conditions as type II diabetes is high on the agenda. Older adults who have limited access to health care services lack the appropriate level of health literacy to maintain their well-being as well as be useful in managing chronic conditions (Hash, Jurkowski, & Krout, 2014). Because of this, it is essential to provide this target population with educational resources that will facilitate their self-management as well as support consistent screening and follow-up. Proposing the solution of telehealth-based care can be of benefit for the target population because it will foster closer connections between patients and their care providers while also removing the access barrier that is inherent to life in rural areas.
Education represents the primary method of dealing with chronic conditions among elderly patients because it will empower them to become better at self-management. The contributions of such prevention projects, such as the CRDPP, will also improve the population’s health outcomes because they provide tools for screening and diagnosis that are not available to the identified population. It is essential to understand that support and advocacy are also necessary when it comes to dealing with chronic conditions among populations with limited abilities to access high-quality services. Nurses should act as both educators and advocates for such patients because the latter may not have the support of their families or be limited in their resources for health maintenance.
References
Hash, K., Jurkowski, E., & Krout, J. (2014). Aging in rural places: Programs, policies, and professional practice. New York, NY: Springer.