The Needs Of The Elderly Patient - 1662 Words

The Administration on Aging predicts that by the year 2060, the U.S. population will top 98 million (Administration on Aging, 2016). As our population of aging adults increases, it’s essential that nurses understand how to care for this population. A key part of that care is lessening the risk for injury in this vulnerable population. This paper is the first in a three-part assignment in which I will interview an individual, over the age of 70, use assessment tools to measure their risk of injury, provide my overall impression of my findings, determine their medication knowledge and identify at least one actual or potential nursing problem. My client for this assignment is a 70 year old woman who I will refer to as J.B. Assessment tools In the field of gerontology, nurses must use a comprehensive process to collect information to fully understand the needs of the elderly patient. This assessment should be holistic covering the individual’s physical, social, psychological and spiritual aspects. It’s also crucial that the nurse evaluate the patient’s level of function and ability to perform self-care activities. This enables the nurse to identify strengths that may enhance the patient’s independence and diminish their disability. For the first part of this assignment, I am using tools and scales to evaluate J.B.’s social history, nutrition, cognitive function, fall risk, and ability to perform activities of daily living. Social History J.B. is a 70 year old womanShow MoreRelatedProper Patient Care Of The Elderly 2875 Words   |  4 Pages PROPER PATIENT CARE OF THE ELDERLY 2 Introduction: Many people come through the doors of health care facilities for numerous reasons. They come, sometimes scared of the news they are about to receive or with extra baggage like financial issues, personal issues etc. These things problems cannot be separated from the physical problems that plague human beings. Doctors and health care providers must wear numerous hats in order to provide a complete health care. This is aRead MoreIs Biology A Role For Caring For The Elderly?1630 Words   |  7 Pagesthat will discuss elderly patient care. Biology means the study of life, but it also has much more to the definition. â€Å"Biology stresses the value of classification and experimental control. The latter is the means of identifying true causes, and therefore privileges experimental methods over all other methods of obtaining information† (Repko, 2008). There are many ways that show how biology plays a role in caring for the elderly. Age has been a good indicator of health. The eld erly face additionalRead MoreNursing Paper: Gerontological and Geriatric Nursing1702 Words   |  7 PagesAssignment 18 December 2012 1. End of Life Issues and the Elderly (2) Identify and discuss the role of the nurse in providing family centred care to an elderly client who is palliative and living at home with his/her spouse or another family member. Palliative care is an approach to provide a coordinated medical, nursing, and allied health service to address the patients physical, social emotional and spiritual needs for people with progressive incurable illness. Palliative care seeksRead MoreThe Dangers Of Elderly At Risk And Solutions759 Words   |  4 PagesThis post is about the elderly and the risks that make them be a vulnerable group in our society. I will discuss the causes that put elderly at risk and solutions to avoid some of those risks. Our nation is experiencing an increased growth in the older adult population, this brings the concern for their well-being since they are usually at risk for injuries and poor health in general. The elderly often have decreased and impaired mobility, visual or hearing deficit, numerous chronic health conditionsRead MorePreventions of falls866 Words   |  4 PagesNursing Care of the Older Adult 07/30/2014 Assignment 5- Prevention of falls When dealing with the elderly population it’s important to make sure they are cared for properly. Usually by this age it is hard for the elderly adult to care for themselves and need extra help around the house or need help with activities of daily living. Usually elderly patients are very resistant to getting help because they feel like they are becoming helpless and if they can’t do it themselves,Read MoreAging Bias For The Elderly1446 Words   |  6 PagesIt is important to understand that patients have been experiencing aging bias for a very long time. It is also evident in the medical profession as well, and one needs to do more to ensure that everyone is treated fairly especially the elderly patients. The elderly patients need to treat with the utmost respect and dignity. One needs to understand that the elderly are the ones who pave the way for the younger generation. Therefore, it is important that one takes the time out of their busy assignmentsRead MoreInflue nza in the Elderly1248 Words   |  5 Pages Influenza in the elderly: What you need to know Access to health care services Influenza is a serious but common respiratory illness. The flu usually occurs in 15-25% of the worlds human population each year. This illness typically has a low death rate, with average overall mortality rates of 0.1% (Pierce Black 2008: 1). However, the elderly are one of the more susceptible populations to contracting influenza and suffer more severe consequences than healthy adults as a result of beingRead MoreChallenges of Caring for Elderly Patients1839 Words   |  7 Pagesboomers goes into the older adult phase, the number of elderly individuals requiring medical services will certainly magnify (Topaz, Maxim Doron, 2013). Older patients who come to the emergency department usually have more complicated conditions than younger patients. The older persons typically have multiple co-existing diseases, take different medications and present with atypical symptoms (Peters, 2010). The management of elderly patients is further complicated by numerous aging-related changesRead Mo reFall Prevention on Elderly Patients in a Surgical Ward768 Words   |  4 PagesFALL PREVENTION ON ELDERLY PATIENTS IN A SURGICAL WARD There are various reasons why elderly patients in a surgical ward may fall, injuring them even more almost instantly, the issue of patient’s safety and security have been the primary concern of most hospital and clinical institution but elders do fall unpredictably. Elderly patients at the age of 65 falling is a serious problem, medical professionals has realized the needs to develop a plan to purposely prevent such incidents from happeningRead MoreEssay about Communication1499 Words   |  6 PagesThis assignment discusses barriers to, and methods of, effective communication with people who are confused by reflecting on my experience in communicating with an elderly confused patient. Specifically, and within the scope of this assignment, I reflect on two methods of effective communication with elderly confused patients; one verbal (reality orientation) and one non-verbal (touch). During my first placement I was asked to assist in the care of Elsie (pseudonym), an 86 year old lady admitted