Caring about the elderly: opportunities and obligations

The number of people age 60 and older worldwide is expected to increase to 612 million by the year 2000. As a whole these individuals are much healthier and lead more active, independent lives than their ancestors. Health care for this growing population presents many challenges, opportunities, and obligations. Nurses who care about the elderly may be lacking the current information and specific educational preparation needed to care for them. The author discusses some important aspects of home care for elderly patients in the ambulatory surgery unit.