The U.S. population is aging, and as a result there is a significant increase in the number of chronic diseases, such as DIABETES, hypertension and kidney disease. According to a study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, almost half of all Americans (145 million people) live with a chronic condition, and many people with chronic conditions have multiple chronic conditions.
This flood of older adults with chronic diseases will strain hospitals as the health care system shifts its focus from treating acute illnesses to managing chronic diseases, according to an American Medical Association report. Nurses will play more of a role in educating patients and caregivers on how to MANAGE and prevent chronic conditions.