...perform such activity.” What happens when someone loses functionality? This paper will address that question. The statement “often a loss of function will begin a so-called downward spiral in the life of an elderly person, affecting his or her independence and quality of life” will also be addressed. (Course materials, syllabus, U o P.) Significance of Loss of Function Young adults do not think twice about walking to the mailbox, reading the newspaper, or fixing a cold drink or hot meal. Many older adults may also take these for granted. However, for some adults aged 65 or older, even standing can be difficult. Some of the difficulty older adults have in performing daily activities can be attributed to “normal” losses of muscle strength and changes people go through as a part of aging. According to Greiner, et al, “loss of activities in daily living refers to the inability to perform a function within the range considered to be normal for independent living.” This can include bathing, dressing, walking, standing, cooking, and many other activities that occur frequently. When it becomes difficult or impossible to perform some of these functions, the person loses some portion of independence. It becomes necessary to rely on others for those tasks that are difficult or impossible. For some older adults, losing any aspect of independence may affect their “quality” of life....
Words: 1221 - Pages: 5
...perform such activity.” What happens when someone loses functionality? This paper will address that question. The statement “often a loss of function will begin a so-called downward spiral in the life of an elderly person, affecting his or her independence and quality of life” will also be addressed. (Course materials, syllabus, U o P.) Significance of Loss of Function Young adults do not think twice about walking to the mailbox, reading the newspaper, or fixing a cold drink or hot meal. Many older adults may also take these for granted. However, for some adults aged 65 or older, even standing can be difficult. Some of the difficulty older adults have in performing daily activities can be attributed to “normal” losses of muscle strength and changes people go through as a part of aging. According to Greiner, et al, “loss of activities in daily living refers to the inability to perform a function within the range considered to be normal for independent living.” This can include bathing, dressing, walking, standing, cooking, and many other activities that occur frequently. When it becomes difficult or impossible to perform some of these functions, the person loses some portion of independence. It becomes necessary to rely on others for those tasks that are difficult or impossible. For some older adults, losing any aspect of independence may affect their “quality” of life....
Words: 1221 - Pages: 5
...Supporting the Older Adult to Cope with Grief and Loss Grief and loss are inevitable experiences that affect the older adult. Grief is defined as “the emotional response to a loss or death” (Yancey & Hunter, 2014, p. 449). As adults age their friends gradually die, they may outlive older generations of their family, health may deteriorate, and abilities and independence may diminish. The loss of loved ones, health, and independence, among many other losses, can give rise to grief in the older adult. Grief is a natural response to loss. While some can adjust to the conditions of loss in others it can intensify to the point where the individual is unable to cope with the loss (Gibson, 2012). The inability to cope with grief can yield undesirable effects such as: depression, anxiety, insomnia, increased use of alcohol or drugs, and decreased social interaction (Potocky, 1993). This is why it is necessary for the nurse to facilitate the grieving process. Jean Watson’s theory contains relevant concepts that nurses can incorporate into their care of the older adult experiencing grief. Nurses can fulfill their role in facilitating the grief process through the application of therapeutic communication techniques in the appraisal of grief, by preventing isolation through social support, and promoting hope as a coping strategy. The use of therapeutic communication techniques will aid the nurse in making a valid appraisal of the patient’s grief. This involves assessing the value of...
Words: 1566 - Pages: 7
...STUDY GUIDE for C475 Care of Older Adult Objective Assessment Exam questions are taken from the Learning Objectives under the 9 Competencies: #1 Competency 742.1.1: Compassionate and Respectful Care of Older Adults The graduate integrates principles of compassion and respect for patients and their families into the planning and delivery of care to a diverse population of older adults and into advocacy for vulnerable older adults. This topic addresses the following learning objectives: * Recognize the impact of attitudes, values, and expectations about aging. * Describe how the RN’s personal beliefs and values may impact the care of older adults. * Articulate the concept of individualized care as the standard of practice with older adults, considering the right care, at the right time, in the right place and by the right provider of care. * Define Baby Boomers * What are the five racial groups listed in your text? * How would you perform discharge teaching to an Hispanic patient * Apply effective and respectful communication strategies in the care of older adults and their families. * List some of the changes of aging that could affect therapeutic communication * Note the ways to communicate or assist a patient with disabilities such as hearing deficits, vision impairments, or aphasia and dysarthria. Be familiar with the types of hearing devices. How should you address the older adult during therapeutic communication? ...
Words: 3902 - Pages: 16
...GUIDE for C475 Care of Older Adult Objective Assessment Exam questions are taken from the Learning Objectives under the 9 Competencies: #1 Competency 742.1.1: Compassionate and Respectful Care of Older Adults The graduate integrates principles of compassion and respect for patients and their families into the planning and delivery of care to a diverse population of older adults and into advocacy for vulnerable older adults. This topic addresses the following learning objectives: * Recognize the impact of attitudes, values, and expectations about aging. * Describe how the RN’s personal beliefs and values may impact the care of older adults. * Articulate the concept of individualized care as the standard of practice with older adults, considering the right care, at the right time, in the right place and by the right provider of care. * Define Baby Boomers (those born from 1946–1964) reach retirement age (as of 2011) A large group of people born between 1946 and 1964, in the time after the Second World War. * What are the five racial groups listed in your text? African American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Asian, Hispanic, White * How would you perform discharge teaching to an Hispanic patient Teach the family as well because more than likely, pt is going home and family is his/her primary caregivers. * Apply effective and respectful communication strategies in the care of older adults and their families...
Words: 4068 - Pages: 17
...Running head: OLDER ADULT PATIENT EDUCATION ISSUES Older Adult Patient Education Issues Lisa D. Johnican Grand Canyon University Older Adult Patient Education Issues The more a patient knows about his or her disease and understands reasons and methods for treatment, the better off s/he will be in the long run even if that long run is fatal. Patient education has significant benefits, including the improved ability of the patient to cope with the inevitable, more satisfaction with the care s/he receives, fewer complications and better recovery. Teaching older patients about their illness and strategies to cope with it will help them to feel more in control and better able to make decisions. Elderly people want to maintain independence and control their own lives and deaths. One of the best ways for older patients to have control over their health care options is through education. However, due to normal physiological aging, medical care professionals may have to change their teaching styles to adapt to the way older patients learn. Many older people deal with loss of functions that affect learning such as hearing and sight. When Alvin was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), he was aware of and understood the diagnosis. However, because of some hearing loss, those who spoke with him about it could not be sure if he understood. A few years later when he received the even deadlier diagnosis of bone cancer, his ability to understand what was...
Words: 820 - Pages: 4
...Independence of older people The older people’s health and wellbeing Framework reference group was established on 21 June 2010. It is a group of older people with experience as users and carers of health and social care services. Its guide is to provide comments and recommendations on a draft service framework document commissioned by the department of health, social services and public safety on the health and wellbeing of older people. For older people, independence is about choice and control. They value helping others as well as receiving help themselves. They also value good housing in safe, friendly neighbourhoods; getting out and about and keeping busy; an adequate income, good information and good access to healthcare. National policies already offer many opportunities to refocus local services in order to promote greater independence and well-being for older people, although better organisation is needed. Mr Ronald (age 81) was referred to the hospital social work team for older people following his admission to the acute psychiatric ward for older people; under section 2 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (an approved social worker from the adult mental health team undertook the assessment). The admission followed a worsening in Mr Wilson’s mental health and an incident in which he apparently threatened his home help with a knife. Mr Wilson had been diagnosed three years previously with Alzheimer’s and at that time the community-based social work team had arranged home...
Words: 6659 - Pages: 27
...of depression (Frank, 2014, as cited in Harrigan & Lyons, 2015). The issue of depression in the older adult population is especially complex as causes and outcomes are inter-related and interactive; nurses must consider many variables when assessing and carrying out care for these individuals. Untreated depression can have significant consequences such as poor pain control, poor recovery from illness or surgery, cognitive deficits, increased risk for falls, impaired ability to carry out ADLs leading to a loss of independence, worsening physical health problems, substance use, social isolation, and suicide (Harrigan...
Words: 779 - Pages: 4
...their life; it’s not only adults who age ,teenagers age from when they were a baby to becoming a teenager ,also babies age from being a baby to becoming a child. Age does not begin at any particular age. For example when people say we age or your ageing, they don’t man it literally, they may mean that you are developing, or growing up. Every life stage of an individual involves ageing. One of the theories that I am going to be talking about is the activity theory, which was created by Bromley in 1966; this theory is the opposite of the disengagement theory. Bromley believed that older adults would have to disengage but for them to also remain active to prevent disengagement from occurring he believed that older adults will age suitably if they take part in activities and live a more animated and lively lifestyle, which would prevent themselves from experiencing disengagement. According to Bromley he says that older adult’s excellence of life would get better however it depends on the older adult’s attitude, the activities that was carried out by the older adult and their interaction made with others. Bromley also added on to his theory that as long as older adults remain to be active they will be involved with the society. Bromley also stated that older adults should have access to all types of services which will make them have a positive view point on life whilst they are involving themselves with the company of others. He also said that older adults should keep mentally and...
Words: 604 - Pages: 3
...ADESOLA JOSEPH, BTEC LEVEL 3 HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE. DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE LIFE STAGES. P5) Explain the physical and psychological changes which may be associated with ageing. The ageing process does not begin at a particular age as people age throughout their lives. We start to age from when we are young, but the real aging process does not start until our cells stop to divide and physiological decline sets in. Different older adults age in different ways. Some older adults develop serious problems due to aging in their 60s, while others can be as old as 90 years old and not have any serious problems. There are different theories proposed as to why we age and why we have a limited lifespan. It seems that our body cells have a limited ability to renew themselves. If cells cannot renew themselves then we cannot repair ourselves and stay healthy. A doctor Hayflick proposed that most body cells can only renew themselves fifty times or so, and when cells can no longer renew themselves, body processes breakdown, body tissue becomes wasted and eventually we die. This limit to cell life is called the Hayflick limit. A theory that links with the Hayflick limit is one which suggests that cell DNA contains a region at each end called a telomere. Each time a cell renews itself, the DNA inside is copied and part of the telomere is lost. By old age, all the telomere can be used up and DNA can no longer be replicated. This results in cell death. Hormone production decreases with age...
Words: 2939 - Pages: 12
...THE CHANGES IN LATER ADULTHOOD VIRGIE BALL WEEK 4 Late adulthood can bring on many changes in your loved one’s life. These changes can range from retirement, physical and mental issues and/or loss of a spouse, children1 or close friend; however, these changes can be very terrifying. Later adulthood can be divided into two groups, the young old which are the ages of 65-74 and many of them still work, travel and have regular social lifestyles. Old old ages 75+ and many struggle with keeping their independence, loss of social interaction, activities and all the medical issues that have arose in their life. These changes can also open the door for many psychological changes, but not all bad. The good changes can lead one to feel free to finally really live their lives and do some of the things they’ve only dreamed of, some call it a bucket list. Others suffer from these changes with worrying, depression and fear which can cause other medical issues such as heart attacks and high blood pressure. Physically, an older adult’s activity level can slowly decrease. Walking can become difficult, eye sight, hear and intellectual functions can change leaving them to lose their presence in society. Older adults can continue to live in their own homes with very little incidents or worries. Others, due to severe medical and/or physical issues will need 24 hour care and assistance. This kind of care and help can either be impossible to provide in the home or very expensive....
Words: 617 - Pages: 3
...My target population for a hypothyroidism awareness promotion is women in senior centers. According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), senior centers are recognized by the Older Americans Act, and have become one of the most widely used services among older adults. In addition, NCOA states that nearly 70% of participants in senior centers are Caucasian, African American, Hispanic, and Asian women (Participants section). Senior centers provide an integral means to promote health. In fact, according to NCOA, research showed that older adults who participate in senior center programs can learn to manage and delay the onset of chronic disease, and improve their overall well-being (Benefits and impact section). Senior centers provide a setting...
Words: 314 - Pages: 2
...Later Adulthood Development Report Adults that are faced with the transition between adulthood and later adulthood, reaching their “golden years”, are faced with social, physical and mental changes. These changes affect them in every area of their lives. Moving from adult to the category of “senior citizen”, can be a difficult transition for many people. The age of 65 has usually been cited as the dividing line between middle age and old age (Santrock, 2008). It is during this crucial age that people will begin to experience life changes, it is important to note that there are resources, tools that can be used to make this transition easier for both the client and the family. There is a very permanent stereotype that assumes that because a person is reaching older age, they are in both physical and metal decline. This is not necessarily true, as there are people that can live independently well into later adulthood, without ongoing medical care or supervision. Older adults will be subject to discrimination by others, especially in the workforce, they are deemed to be slower and with dwindling critical thinking capabilities, this stereotype perpetuates discrimination in the workforce. Aging adults can also fall victim to increased levels of crime. Others may take advantage of them, as they, along with children, are some of the most vulnerable in our community. There is another set of aging adults who are under difficult circumstance and do need extra help and assistance in...
Words: 1459 - Pages: 6
...|Driven towards a goal by accommodation and coordination|Social awareness heightens | | |Gross motor skills improve |of reflexes |Emotionally responsive to familiar people or strangers | | |Head circumference increases to accommodate brain |Active exploration through experimenting |Self-awareness improves | | |development. |Anticipate solving problems |Learns synchrony, attachment and independence. | | | |Speak in full sentences | | | | |Responding to people and objects | | |Early Childhood |Baby fat turns to muscles and lower body lengthens |Very talkative and ask a lot of questions |Emotions are regulated and controlled | | |Small appetite and now start...
Words: 1400 - Pages: 6
...The older adult population differs from other age groups that we as nurses provided care for; this should not mean they are treated any different as far as the care, compassion and respect they receive. This paper will review age related challenges that the elderly progress though as they age. Next I will describe a general overview of literature and how this relates to the challenges I explained. Following this I will identity physical and emotional changes that make quality improvement a challenge and continue with barriers and solutions to quality improvement programs. Concluding this paper I will discuss what the quality of care look like for the elderly in the future. As we grow and mature the human body goes through many physical and...
Words: 1586 - Pages: 7
