Volume 5, Issue 4

In This Issue: Letter from the President | Featured Articles | Making the Most of Your Membership | Honor Society of Nursing Launches Geriatric Nursing Leadership Academy with $1.6 million grant from John A. Hartford Foundation

Learn more about geriatric nursing in this issue of Create the Future. This issue of Create the Future sponsored by the Geriatric Nursing Leadership Institute.

Letter from the President

Dear members,

The theme for this issue of Create the Future is geriatric nursing. Katharine Graham once said, “No one can avoid aging, but aging productively is something else.” In addition, Barbara Hershey said, “I am not afraid of aging, but more afraid of people's reactions to my aging.” Both of these quotes suggest that the aging process, while universal, can be both a time of growth and anxiety for the aged as well as their families, friends and caregivers.

Understanding aging and how to help the aged live healthy and productive lives has never been more important, since the number of aged individuals continues to increase worldwide. Lutz, Sanderson Scherbov (2008) suggest there will be a continuous aging of the world's population throughout the 21^st century, both as a result of increased life expectancy rates and declining fertility rates. The report Why Population Aging Matters: A Global Perspective (2007), using data from the United Nations, US Census Bureau, the Statistical Office of the European Communities and regional surveys concurs, suggesting that in 2006 almost 500 million people worldwide were age 65 or older. That same report suggests that by 2030, that total is projected to increase to one billion — one in every eight of the earth’s inhabitants, with the most rapid increases occurring in developing countries. This is a projected jump of 140% by 2030.

What are the implications of this aging of the worlds’ populations? The Global Burden of Disease, a study conducted by the World Health Organization and the World Bank, with partial support from the US National Institute on Aging, predicts this will lead to a large increase in disability associated with age-related chronic diseases in all regions of the world (as cited in Why Population Aging Matters: A Global Perspective, 2007). Within a few decades, the study also suggested that loss of health and life worldwide will be greater from non-communicable or chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, arthritis and diabetes than from infectious diseases, childhood diseases and accidents.

These projections reinforce the need for more nurses with expertise in geriatric nursing. The World Health Organization (2007) suggests that global aging poses special health challenges for the 21st century — including preparing health providers and societies to meet the needs of elderly people; training health professionals on old-age care; preventing and managing age-associated chronic diseases; designing sustainable policies for long-term care; and developing age-friendly services and settings.

Fortunately, organizations such as the John A. Hartford foundation have created programs such like the Hartford Geriatric Nursing Initiative to enhance the care of older adults through innovations in nursing practice, education, research, leadership and policy. Recently, the honor society announced it received a 1.6 million dollar grant from the John A. Hartford Foundation to offer a Geriatric Nursing Leadership Academy beginning in June 2008. The purpose of this academy will be to prepare and develop the leadership skills of nurses in leadership roles in health care delivery settings to lead interprofessional teams that will improve geriatric health care practice outcomes. The academy will be an 18-month program open to honor society members and nonmembers who have a BSN or higher degree in nursing, a demonstrated knowledge ad competence in geriatric nursing and work in settings providing care to older adults.

I strongly encourage those of you who have a passion for geriatric nursing to take advantage of this opportunity. The deadline for applications is 11 April 2008. For an application or more information about the Geriatric Nursing Leadership Academy, please go to www.nursingsociety.org/LeadershipInstitute/GeriatricAcademy. You can also contact Mary Rita Hurley at maryr@stti.iupui.edu or +1.317.634.8171. As always, I invite your input and ideas.

Carol J. Huston
Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International
2007-2009 President

Feature Articles

Honor Society of Nursing Launches Geriatric Nursing Leadership Academy with $1.6 million grant from John A. Hartford Foundation
The honor society announced it is accepting applications to the first national Geriatric Nursing Leadership Academy. The academy will develop the leadership skills of nurses at key health care institutions to improve care of older adults across the United States. Read more.