Chapter31OlderAdults1.pptx

Chapter 31

Older Adults

1

Objectives

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Identify statistics related to aging in the United States.

01

Describe mental health disorders that may occur in older adults.

02

Discuss the importance of pain assessment and tools used to assess pain in older adults.

03

Explain the negative impact of ageism that is evident in discriminatory labels, public policy, and research.

04

Case Study

Mr. Nixon is being admitted to a short-term care facility because his wife, who had been his only caretaker, has recently died. His son, who lives about 250 miles away, has been staying with him for the past 4 weeks, but has to go home now to go back to work.

Mr. Nixon has COPD and has trouble getting around because he gets short of breath. He is still grieving, of course, but his son shares that he feels his dad has been depressed over his health “off and on” as well. You will be doing an intake assessment with Mr. Nixon.

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Statistics on Aging

5

Life expectancy and number of older adults growing

Common classifications for older adults:

Young-old: 65 to 74 years

Middle-old: 75 to 84 years

Old-old: 85 to 100 years

Centenarians: 100 to 104 years

Mental Health and Aging

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Late-life Mental Illness

Major Depressive Disorder

Suicide

Anxiety disorders

Delirium—secondary to general medical condition

Neurocognitive disorders

Alcohol use disorder

Pain

Pain

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Nonpharmacological treatments for pain include physical therapy, vagal nerve stimulation, exercise, hydrotherapy, heat and cold packs, chiropractic, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).

Yoga, biofeedback, hypnosis, acupuncture, massage, Reiki, guided imagery, reflexology, and therapeutic touch are integrative therapies for managing pain.

Herbal remedies include cayenne, capsaicin, ginger extract, echinacea, kava, and willow bark.

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Barriers to accurate pain assessment

Assessment tools

Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale

Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD) scale

Pain management

Pharmacotherapy

Non-opioids

Opioids

Nonpharmacological pain treatments

Healthcare Concerns of Older Adults

Financial burden

Medicare Part D for help with medications

Caregiver burden

Ageism

Language

Public policy

Research

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Discussion Topic

Ageism sometimes affects the care of older adult patients. The best way to help prevent this is to do a self-assessment and discuss your feelings and attitudes with others: What kinds of feelings, assumptions, or hesitations do you have when you think about working with an older adult?

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Healthcare Decision-Making

Advance Directives and Portable Medical Orders

Advance Directives and Portable Medical Orders

Guardianship

Court-ordered relationship in which the selected guardian acts on behalf of another individual (the ward)

The ward must be proven to lack capacity to manage personal and/or financial affairs

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Objectives

11

Explain the importance of a comprehensive assessment in older adults.

1

Recognize the significance of healthcare costs for older adults.

2

Compare the facts and myths about aging.

3

Analyze how ageism may affect attitudes and willingness to care for older adults.

4

Apply the nursing process to the care of older adults.

5

Objectives

12

Identify at least four priority nursing diagnoses in the care of older adults.

1

Discuss basic nursing interventions in the care of older adults.

2

Identify psychological therapies used in the treatment of older adults.

3

Identify treatment settings for the care of older adults.

4

Application of the Nursing Process

Assessment

Private interview space

Adequate lighting & low-level noise

Establish rapport & convey warmth

Physical Assessment

Medication reconciliation

Polypharmacy & prescribing cascades

Mental Status exam

Older adult drivers

Older adult abuse

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Assessing the use of multiple medications for the same condition (polypharmacy) includes prescription, over-the-counter drugs, and herbal agents. Adverse drug reactions or negative responses to drugs are common among the older adult.

Prescribing cascades happen when drug-induced symptoms are treated with another drug. The provider may assess the side effect of the first drug as part of the original medical problem or a new one.

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Case Study Discussion Question

You are preparing to interview Mr. Nixon. What are some techniques the nurse could use to help the patient feel more comfortable?

Conducting the interview in a private area

Introducing oneself and asking the patient what he or she would like to be called (use of the first name is rarely appropriate unless one is invited to do so)

Establishing rapport and putting the patient at ease by sitting or standing at the same level as the patient

Ensuring that lighting is adequate and noise level is low, in recognition of the fact that hearing and vision may be impaired

Using touch (with permission) to convey warmth, while at the same time respecting the patient's comfort level with personal touch

Summarizing the interaction, inviting feedback and questions, and thanking the patient for giving his or her time and information

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Quick Quiz 

Mr. Nixon, who has difficulty walking because of shortness of breath secondary to COPD says, “Every day is a struggle when you get old. No one cares about old people.” Select the best response.

“Rest periods are important. Don’t try to overexert yourself.”

“It sounds like you’re having a difficult time. Tell me about it.”

“Let’s not focus on the negative. Tell me something good.”

“You are still able to get around, and your mind is alert.”

ANS: B

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Nursing Diagnosis

The International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP) (International Council of Nurses)

Provides useful nursing diagnoses for older adults

Acute/chronic pain, impaired low nutrition intake, impaired fluid intake, constipation, and impaired sleep

Safety needs

Higher level needs

Caregiver stress/impaired family process

Outcomes Identification

Shared decision making; realistic goals

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Some essential safety diagnoses include risk for injury, risk for falls, impaired ability to manage medication regime, victim of older adult abuse, and confusion.

Higher level needs fall under Maslow’s categories of love and belonging needs, and esteem. Specific (ICNP) nursing diagnoses address those higher-level needs such as loneliness, hopelessness, impaired role performance, chronic low self-esteem, and disturbed personal identity.

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Implementation

Psychotherapeutic Methods

Empathetic, active listening to encourage ventilation of feelings & reestablish emotional equilibrium

Provide health education & alternatives

Assist in problem solving

Group counseling to help build relationships and reduce isolation

Pharmacotherapy skills & psychotherapy

Treatment Modalities

Psychological Therapies

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Reminiscence is a cognitive stimulation activity that engages individuals in socialization and rapport building. Assisting to evoke pleasant feelings or memories is an effective method to improve mood, particularly in those with memory impairment.

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Case Study

Mr. Nixon’s son drives back down the next weekend so they can meet to talk about his options for a more permanent living situation. As part of this process, the son has made an appointment for the two of them to meet with the nurse, who can help them explore their options.

His son asks, “So what kinds of choices does Dad have at this point?”

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Treatment Settings for Older Adults

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Hospital-Based Care

Partial hospitalization versus Inpatient

Home-Based Services

Day care programs

Home healthcare

Community support services

Respite care

Residential Care

Assisted living

Skilled nursing facilities

Case Study

Mr. Nixon’s son heads for home again and says, “I’ll be back again next weekend, Dad. Keep thinking about what sounds good to you. You can call me any time.” Mr. Nixon feels a little better about his future, but says, “It’s just a lot to think about. The nurse suggests that Mr. Nixon might benefit from group sessions with others who are trying to make similar plans. This may not only aid in decision making but help him to feel less alone in this big next step.

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Quick Quiz 

A community mental health nurse plans an educational program for the staff of a home health agency specializing in care of the elderly. A topic of high priority should be

identifying clinical depression in older adults.

identifying nutritional deficiencies in the elderly.

providing cost-effective foot care for the elderly.

psychosocial stimulation for those who live alone.

ANS: A

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Case Study & Quick Quiz 

Mr. Nixon needs help with his prescription ordering. Which component of Medicare assists seniors to pay for prescription drugs?

Part A

Part B

Part C

Part D

ANS: D

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Quick Quiz

A family member of a patient with advanced dementia says to the nurse, “I will sign the consent for my mother’s surgery.” What is the nurse’s best response?

“This should be a family decision. When will your siblings arrive?”

“Can you please show me the Court order designating you as guardian?”

“Thank you. Please use a black ballpoint pen to sign.”

“The patient is able to sign her own consent.”

ANS: B

 

A guardianship is a court-ordered relationship in which one party, the guardian, acts on behalf of an individual, the ward. Many people with mental illness, mental retardation, traumatic brain injuries, and organic brain disorders, such as dementia, have guardians. It is important that health care workers identify patients who have guardians and communicate with the guardians when health care decisions are being made.

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