As older adults live longer, there are key factors that nurses can address to make sure that this population has the tools available for healthy aging. Chronic disease management and the ability to self-manage are two factors to consider.

When self-management no longer seems possible, nurses should review options regarding care and advance directives with families and caregivers. Nurses must consider healthy aging and quality of life to be the overriding goals when offering education and other interventions.

self-management — person’s active involvement in their own health-care decisions and intervention to promote their own best possible wellness with the help of the medical team. healthy aging — supporting the body and well-being, including functional ability through aging. acute pain — caused by injury, surgery, illness, trauma, or by a medical procedure that is short term in duration. opioids — compound drug that is derived from or synthetically resembles opium and has addictive properties.