Information on a Person with Chronic Illness: Mr. Barnard West

Today, approximately 300,000 adults in the United States, representing less than 1% of the American adult population, suffer from ankylosing spondylitis, also known as inflammatory back disease (Ankylosing Spondylitis, 2022). One adult American who has lived with this chronic illness for more than 30 years is Mr. Barnard Barney West of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a 70-year-old married Vietnam veteran who is rated 100% service-connected disabled for this condition and multiple others. The purpose of this paper is to provide information on this individual, including a list of his support needs in descending order and a discussion concerning how to implement relevant objectives of the Healthy People 2030 initiative to increase health in similarly situated individuals. In addition, the paper provides a discussion concerning the nursing role from the perspective of an advocate for Barneys acceptance of his ankylosing spondylitis diagnosis as well as needed treatments. Finally, a discussion concerning the impact of the environment on this patients health is followed by a summary of the research and key findings concerning the foregoing issues in the conclusion.

Review and Discussion

List of the support needs of Barney in descending order

Ankylosing spondylitis is a debilitating condition that adversely affects Barneys ability to perform many of his basic activities of daily living (Tymmes et al., 2022). The patient reports that he was not diagnosed with this disorder by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) after his honorable discharge in 1973 following a vehicular accident in Vietnam (a jeep in which he was a passenger overturned). In fact, Barney reports that it was not until 1989 that the VA determined that he was also suffering from ankylosing spondylitis after he underwent a compensation and rating examination for other disabilities, including a fused right ankle and a shortening of his left femur to even out his leg lengths due to excruciating back pain. The ankle fusion resulted in a loss of about 1-1/2 inches of length in Barneys right leg and the leg-length differences exacerbated his back condition to the point where he opted to have his left leg shortened in 1991 to alleviate the pain.

Besides support for his basic activities of daily living, Barney also requires assistance in participating in recreational activities outside the home. In the past, the patient reports enjoying hikes in the woods with his wife and bargain hunting in local garage sales for books and unusual (but cheap) artwork, but his ability to take part in these activities has been severely limited in recent years to the point where a drive around the lake as a passenger or a visit to his daughters houses to visit with his grandsons are the only regular outings he participates in at present. Barney, however, also reports still enjoying playing video games on his personal computer including participating...

Discussion concerning the impact of the environment on this patients health

Like many other sufferers of ankylosing spondylitis, Barney requires a domicile that does not require climbing too many stairs or an inordinate amount of physical exertion to reach his routine destinations in the home (i.e., the bathroom, kitchen and living room) which requires a bedroom with close proximity. In addition, Barney also requires a home environment that is comparatively free of trip hazards as well as ready access to his regular medications and physical therapy when needed.

Conclusion

The research showed that ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic and debilitating disorder that affects about 1% of the American adult population at present. Although every patient is unique, some of the support needs for adults who suffer from this disorder include assistance with their basic activities of daily living as well as aggressive pain management strategies which are congruent with the objectives of the Healthy People 2030 initiative. In addition, the research also showed that while the patient of interest has accepted his diagnosis of his ankylosing spondylitis condition, he could benefit from the advocacy of his primary care nursing staff as well as environmental enhancements such as a walk-in whirlpool tub at home and a ramp to avoid climbing stairs to his front…