Health and Wellness Through the Life Span—Late Adulthood: Getting the Right Nursing Care

Adults over 85 are the fastest-growing population in the United States, and one in five Americans will be over 65 by the year 2050. That makes training nurses to care for older adults more important than ever, according to Beth Heydemann, clinical assistant professor in the College of Nursing and Public Health.

“As an age group, older adults are addressed in just about every course,” she explained. But the focused training student nurses receive in the course she teaches, Nursing Care of Older Adults, is what truly grounds Adelphi nursing students in the practice of gerontology.

Everything from the unique aspects of physical examination of older adults to theories of aging, geriatric syndromes and cultural aspects of care are covered. For students who are drawn to the work, there are many different opportunities; in particular, Heydemann sees a growing demand for care coordinators in both inpatient and outpatient settings. “A care coordinator is someone who helps to manage all the complex needs of older adults, and nurses are the perfect people to fill this role,” she said.