older people’s health issues
Settings for Care for Older People
Hospitals
 provide the most comprehensive medical care. For older people in particular, staying in a hospital increases the A doctor (who may be the person's primary care doctor, a specialist, or a staff doctor at the hospital) is in charge of the person’s care in the hospital. Sometimes several other doctors are involved. Nurses, who are available 24 hours a day, provide much of the care. A nurse is always available, but doctors may come and go at more irregular times. Many other people may help provide care in a hospital. They include Pharmacists None Dietitians None Physical Therapy (PT) None Occupational Therapy (OT) None Social workers None Medical technicians Nurses' aides Volunteers How long people stay in the hospital depends partly on how sick they are, what the diagnosis is, and, if needed, what arrangements for continuing care can be made after discharge. The health care practitioners involved determine whether and what type of continuing care is needed. This care may be provided in a Rehabilitation facilities , in a Observation careis care within a hospital for people who are not well enough to go home but are not ill enough to meet the requirements for actual hospital admission. With observation care, practitioners can do tests and give treatments for a day or two before deciding whether people need to be admitted. Such people are observed briefly in an emergency department, a special observation unit, or a regular hospital room, even though they are not actually admitted to the hospital. The difference between admission and observation is important because Medicare considers observation care an outpatient service. Thus, Medicare does not cover rehabilitation services after observation care. 