Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/11054/1102
Title: Premature and preventable deaths in frail, older people: a new perspective.
Author: Hitchen, Tatiana
Ibrahim, Joseph E.
Woolford, Marta
Bugeja, Lyndal
Ranson, David
Issue Date: 2017
Publication Title: Ageing and Society
Volume: 37
Issue: 8
Start Page: 1531
End Page: 1542
Abstract: The concept and potential implications of a premature death of an older person are under-recognised and misunderstood by society. Clinical, forensic and public health practitioners need to redress this gap to prepare society better for a future where an increasing proportion of the population are vulnerable older people. Reliable and valid information is paramount for understanding how many older people have premature, preventable deaths, with implications for aged care services, health-care expenditure, quality and safety, and human rights. Our aim is to: (a) provide discourse on the limitations and challenges to the use of the concepts ‘premature’ and ‘preventable’ deaths, examining the situation for nursing home residents; and (b) propose the use of a novel classification system of ‘treated’, ‘un-treated’ and ‘untreatable’ causes of death that is more sophisticated and reflects the demographic reality of our ageing population. Accepting that preventable, premature deaths may happen to older people and adopting a new classification is a novel approach that has considerable benefits for health and life care of older persons. Improved assessment of the quality of care provided, including identification of health or life care practices that are unsafe or deleterious, can be identified and addressed.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/11054/1102
ISSN: 0144-686X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X16000428
Internal ID Number: 01080
Health Subject: MORTALITY PREMATURE
HEALTH EXPENDITURE
DEMOGRAPHY
DEATH
CAUSE OF DEATH
HUMAN RIGHTS
AGED
Type: Journal Article
Article
Appears in Collections:Research Output

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