The role of the geriatric nurse specialist as a key response in the care of the elderly, chronicity, complex chronicity and its consequences on dependence

Abstract

Aging together with multimorbidity, polymedication and various social factors are some of the determinants that lead to increasing complexity of care in the elderly, thus making it difficult for health systems to meet their needs. To approach this new and growing scenario of care for the elderly, the formal health and social care systems must define specific jobs for geriatric nursing specialists trained to address the needs of older people from a perspective of comprehensive care, both for healthy aging, and for the different health problems of this population group, characterized by the consequences of aging and chronicity, towards dependence, and develop the powers established by law in the framework of an interdisciplinary team, for those who have been trained and accredited, thus adding value to the response that health systems have to provide for this growing problem of the ‘aging-chronicity-dependence’ triad.