Part 1: Any discussion regarding healthcare for individuals age 65 and older must include Medicare. Medicare is the federally-funded healthcare program for individuals age 65 and older. Medicare has been at the center of many healthcare debates and its vitality is a major concern for Medicare beneficiaries. Another prevailing issue that may affect older adults is long term care services especially those services designed for older adults that require more support and assistance in such things as daily functioning (e.g. grooming, bathing, dressing, dining) and/or medical care.) Some common terms that are used to describe these services are aging-in-place and continuum-of-care.Some years ago, the term nursing home was changed to skilled nursing facility, in part due to the negative connotation of the name nursing home. Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are primarily reimbursed (paid) through Medicare and Medicaid (a government-funded program whose recipients are determined on the basis of financial need and other requirements).

• Research some of the issues regarding Medicare. Explain how these issues have impacted older adults from a social and psychological perspective. Describe how older adults are dealing with perceived turmoil regarding Medicare.
• Research skilled nursing facilities in your state or region. How do SNFs provide the needed psychosocial level of support for their residents? Describe some of the ways in which a facility can excel in providing these services (Hint: Research programs or initiatives (quality initiatives) to find out more information in this area).

Justify your answers with appropriate reasoning and research from your text and course readings. Comment on the postings of at least two peers, and provide an analysis of each peer's postings while also suggesting specific additions or clarifications for improving the discussion question response.

Part 2: One of the major themes of this course was the aging of the US population. By 2030, all of the baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1965) will have reached the age of 65. The aging population will also present challenges for many industries, especially healthcare. Advances in technology, particularly in medical technology, are likely to provide solutions for those challenges.

• Based on what you have learned in this course, what are the most important issues facing older adults between now and the year 2030? Identify some specific areas which are being addressed now, in order to meet the challenges of a larger, older population in the future.
• Research the use of technology in regards to services for older adults. As consumers, how will older adults benefit from new services and technologies? Identify some specific areas in which new services and technologies would be used.