Nursing care of the elderly as a vulnerable population

Older Americans are a rapidly growing segment of our population and present unique health problems. Although life expectancy is increasing and disability is currently decreasing in the elder population as a whole, socioeconomic and environmental resources are lacking for many elders. This lack of resources added to physiologic decline places elders at increased risk for health problems. Nurses need to expand their traditional, individualistic view of health care and incorporate a broader, social perspective in order to provide adequate health care for the vulnerable population.