¶ … Geriatric patients between the ages of 70 and 95 have very different needs from those of their younger counterparts. In part, these are due to differences that have clear physiological bases. These structural and physiological differences necessitate different assessment and interview techniques. It is necessary to ensure that one gets all the correct and up-to-date information about any patient, and in the cases of both children and geriatric adults, this can become problematic. Cognitive deficits that may be related to dementia are one possible hurdle that must be overcome in the case of interviewing older patients. It is important to recall that not all dementia is Alzheimer's-related, and many cases are a natural result of the aging brain. (It is useful for the health care professional to recall that the original disease diagnosed by Dr. Alzheimer related to pre-senile dementia: in other words, a dementia occurring physiologically much earlier than one would expect. As a result, we may expect such naturally-occurring forms of senile, rather than pre-senile, dementia to become increasingly prevalent within the aging population.) In order to be certain that the patient can hear and understand everything you ask, it is necessary to make eye contact, speaking face-to-face at all times. You should pay careful attention to their reactions and make sure that they respond appropriately to questions and that they understand them. Because older patients are also more likely to have hearing- and vision-related problems,...
For this reason, it can be useful to ask a patient to bring all of their pill bottles with them, or else to write a list. If you ask them to recount all of their medications on the spot, some may forget some, which would obviously be a problem. In fact, written lists are helpful in general, including with their health histories. If possible, ask them to bring in a written document that describes their health history and medication.
One of the observable trends that emerges from a review of literature and research on gerontology nursing is the increasing development of specific frameworks and perspectives for use in the learning and practice of gerontology nursing (Deschodt et al. 2010; Toslon et al. 2011; Foreman et al. 2010). By developing specific educational programs for gerontology nursing and establishing learning environments that are dedicated to the specialization, the practice of gerontology
(McCormack, 2003, p.1) V. Seven Concepts that are 'Key' to Client Centered Practice The work of Law et al. (1995) relates seven concepts that are stated to be 'key to client centered practice' as follows: (1) Autonomy and Choice (2) Partnership & Responsibility (3) Enablement (4) Contextual Congruence (5) Accessibility (6) Flexibility (7) Respect for diversity. (McCormack, 2003, p.1) VI. Patient and Informal Expertise and Knowledge The work of Loeb, et al. (2003) entitled: "Supporting Older Adults with Multiple Chronic
Gerontology The interview subject is from Germantown, Pennsylvania, the third of seven children. For the purposes of this report and to preserve her anonymity, we will call her Ms. S. Ms. S's mother did everything she could to keep her family together through difficult financial times. They had to squeeze the entire household into their grandmother's house, and even had to go "junking," sifting through trash to find valuable things people
Niacin and Increased Cholesterol Levels For most people struggling with undesirable levels of cholesterol that cannot be enhanced sufficiently through diet and exercise, prescribed statin drugs are usually the recommended treatment options. One of the most commonly recommended treatment options is niacin, which is a vitamin that is also known as B3 that is administered in very large doses. This vitamin is recommended because it can enhance the levels of cholesterol
Nursing Students Attitude Towards the Elderly: Literature Review The changing demographics in many of the populations in industrialized countries has changed the aggregate needs of the nursing workforce and this trend is expected to continue into the future as the population continues to age. One issue that has arisen is that the younger generation of nurses have demonstrated through various means that their preference for their nursing roles within organizations is
Nursing Interview One of the remarkable things about the nursing profession is the wide variety of work opportunities available to nurses. This paper highlights information about a unique nursing career. Jenny J. is a nurse who works for NASA at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. In her career as a nurse working for NASA, Jenny's work experience may seem to be outside of the realm that one traditionally associates
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