Question

1a: Discuss the assessment techniques of an older adult and present the warning signs of Alzheimer's disease.

2a: Discuss the assessment techniques of abdomen in an infant and include one usual abnormal finding.

3a: Discuss the assessment techniques of the musculoskeletal system of an older adult, focusing on ambulation, and include one usual abnormal finding.

Answer 1

1a.)THE ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES OF AN OLDER ADULT:

• IDENTIFICATION OF THE FACTORS WHICH INCREASE THE CHANCE OF RISK OF FALL.
• ASSESSMENT AND ANALYZING THE PATIENT'S ENVIRONMENT FOR THE RISK OF FALL.

WARNING SIGNS OF THE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE:

• DIFFICULTY IN ACCOMPLISHING REGULAR TASKS.
• DIFFICULTY IN SOLVING PROBLEMS AND PLANNING.
• MEMORY LOSS THAT INTERFERES WITH THE DAILY ACTIVITIES.
• CONFUSION WITH TIME OR PLACE.
• DIFFICULTY IN SPEECH AND WRITING.

2a.) ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES OF ABDOMEN IN AN INFANT:

• THERE ARE THREE TECHNIQUES INVOLVED IN THE ASSESSMENT OF ABDOMEN IN AN INFANT: OBSERVATION, AUSCULTATION AND PALPATION.
• OBSERVATION: SHAPE AND SIZE OF THE ABDOMEN-FLAT OR DISTENDED .COLOUR OF THE UMBILICAL CORD WHICH IS NORMALLY WHITE IN COLOUR. IF IT IS GREEN IN COLOUR THEN THERE MAY BE INFECTION.IF IT IS RED IN COLOUR AROUND THE CORD THEN IT SHOWS THE SIGN OF OMPHALITIS .
• AUSCULTATION: IT SHOULD BE PERFORMED PRIOR TO PALPATION TO HEAR NORMAL BREATH SOUNDS AND TO AVOID THE INFANT GETTING EXCITED.THE INFANT SHOULD BE QUIET AND USE WARM STETHOSCOPE FOR AUSCULTATION.
• PALPATION: IT IS THE LAST AND THE FINAL STEP OF ABDOMINAL ASSESSMENT AS IT WILL AGITATE THE INFANT.MUSCLE TONE IS EVALUATED AND IF THERE IS HYPERTONICITY THEN IT INDICATES THE PRESENCE OF PAIN OR PERITONEAL IRRITATION.

ONE USUAL ABNORMAL FINDING IN THE ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN:

• THE MOST COMMON ABNORMAL FINDING IS THE DISTENTION AND THE SYMMETRY OF THE ABDOMEN.IT INDICATES THE PRESENCE OF ANY MASS OR PROTRUSIONS .

3a.)ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES OF THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM OF AN OLDER ADULT, FOCUSING ON AMBULATION:

• ASSESSMENT OF THE GAIT, BALANCE AND THE MOBILITY OF AN OLDER ADULT.GAIT SPEED, ENDURANCE AND SYMMETRY ARE EVALUATED.
• THE BERG BALANCE SCALE IS USED TO ASSESS THE FUNCTIONAL BALANCE IN OLDER ADULTS.
• PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED MOBILITY ASSESSMENTAND THE FALLS-EFFICACY SCALE INTERNATIONAL ARE IMPLEMENTED TO EVALUATE THE BALANCE AND AMBULATION.

ONE USUAL ABNORMAL FINDING IN THE MUSCULOSKELETAL ASSESSMENT OF AN OLDER ADULT:

• ABNORMAL GAIT: INDICATES THE PRESENCE OF ABNORMALITY IN THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEMS IN RESPONSE TO ANY FALL OR INJURY.