NRS 434 Discuss the types of consideration a nurse must be mindful of while performing a health assessment on a geriatric patient as compared to a middle-aged adult

NRS 434 Discuss the types of consideration a nurse must be mindful of while performing a health assessment on a geriatric patient as compared to a middle-aged adult

Describe the characteristics of the aging process. Explain how some of the characteristics may lead to elder abuse (memory issues, vulnerability, etc.). Discuss the types of consideration a nurse must be mindful of while performing a health assessment on a geriatric patient as compared to a middle-aged adult.

. Older adults are looked to for guidance and wisdom from those younger and far less wise than they are. When the mind or body starts to deteriorate younger generations tend to seek that guidance less and less. Some individuals tend to take in his or her parents when they get to the point where the body or mind start to diminish. After a time, these family members that take in the older aging adult can begin feeling the frustration of caring for someone else and not having them be the same person the family member remembers from younger years. Some examples of this frustration can be expressed through negative outlets such as verbal abuse, physical trauma inflicted, or lack of attention needed for daily living (bathing, eating, toileting, moving).

. According to Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics, “The prediction is that older adults comprise 21% of the population by 2030” (2016). The aging process will likely bring about other chronic health conditions in that time. According to Green, “frailty includes the presence of biomedical factors that reduce the older adult’s ability to endure environmental stressors, such as hospitalization” (2018). Alarming numbers are reported by The World Health Organization in regards to elder-abuse or neglect; an estimated 1 out of 6 older adults fall victim. This is saddening because often times the abuser/ person neglecting is a close family member caring for the older adult. Memory loss and decrease physical abilities (different from findings of middle age adults) are a few reasons these older adults fall victim to the hands of caregivers, but identification of the fear and injuries is vital to ensure a safe and caring environment.

Nurses must utilize thorough assessment skills in order to identify signs and symptoms of elder abuse. Scattered bruising around the body that appear different colors. This indicates that the bruises are from different time periods. Elder abuse can also come in the form of malnourishment, pressure injuries, or the far less visible emotional/ verbal abuse. Though emotional and verbal abuse are less noticeable, asking many questions and just listening to the patient will que in certain details that nurses can likely pick up on to further evaluate the safety of his or her environment. . Patients and family members alike trust nurses and the care they provide; using that relationship and asking more personal detailed questions about findings is important to keep the patient(s) safe.

References:

Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics. (2016). Older Americans 2016: Key Indicators of

Well-Being. Retrieved from 

Key-Indicators-of-WellBeing.pdf

Green, S. Z. (2018). Health assessment of the aging adult. In Grand Canyon University (Eds.), Health

assessment: Foundations for effective practice. 

assessment-foundations-for-effective-practice/v1.1/#/chapter/5

World Health Organization. (2018). Elder abuse. Retrieved from 

room/fact-sheets/detail/elder-abuse

I agree with Florence, older adult patients may not provide proper history of their illness due to their age. Often times verbal and non verbal clues help nurses determine patient’s condition. eg, the way the story is told, tempo of speech, tone of voice, eye contacts can help provide information to the nurse. Older adult patients may omit or deny symptoms of anxiety or depression, but betray them by a lowered voice, subdued enthusiasm or even tears. Nurses should not any changes in weight by changes in the fit of clothing or denture.

Thanks for your detailed assignment. I completely agree with you that aging is inevitable. It is a graceful period characterized by many physical and psychological changes. Their health and body system changes. Hence, you see health issues dementia and amnesia. There is also decrease in function of most organs like the ears and eyes. The elderly is weak and usually dependent. Therefore, during assessment interview, the nurse should talk to the elderly alone and away from whoever brought them to the hospital. The nurse should provide privacy to be able to get the needed piece information from them especially when elder abuse is suspected. In addition, the nurse should be observant in order to get non-verbal cues in form of crying, checking to see if a relative is listening while trying to give an answer, etc. This is because the elderly is very scared of the loved ones and may not want to report them to healthcare providers so that they do not loss the care they get from such people.

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