In: Nursing
Your supervisor needs to make sure that each of the in-service topics will be covered by someone, so she is asking the staff to communicate their topic preference. Below is the list of problems your supervisor wants the nursing staff to be able to teach older adult clients (and/or their family members) about.
In-service Topic Options:
Your supervisor has asked you to submit a 1-page proposal, written using proper spelling, grammar, and APA, which addresses the following:
Ans.
1 )some of the major issues that can affect an elderly person's health status-
Heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes are among the most common and costly chronic health conditions causing two-thirds of deaths each year. ... Obesity is a growing problem among older adults and engaging in these lifestyle behaviors can help reduce obesity and associated chronic conditions.
Studies have shown that people who are healthy in old age have more established networks of family and friends than those who don't, and it's because they keep these networks going that their mental and physical health is better. Eat well – elderly people are often undernourished.
There are certain health conditions that are expected to be a challenge to our health care system with the increasing aging population. These conditions include cancer, dementia, increase in the number of falls, obesity, and diabetes.
The research indicates that the main drivers of quality of life in older age are psychological (social comparison and expectations, an optimistic or pessimistic outlook on life); health (good health and mobility, physical functioning); social (social participation and support); and neighbourhood social capital.
2 ) 7 Common Problems to Check for and Address for Healthier Aging
1. Falls
Why: Falls are very common in older adults. Many falls cause only minor injuries, but they are scary and can cause older adults to restrict their activities. In fact, fear of falling is common and has been linked to decreased involvement in activities; it’s also a risk factor for future falls.
More substantial falls can cause life-changing injuries such as broken hips and head injuries, and are a major reason for people having to leave their homes.
Note: Most falls in older adults are due to a combination of underlying risk factors or health problems. Insufficient strength or balance is usually one of the problems — which can be addressed with the right exercises — but it’s good to check for other factors, such as medication side-effects or even a new illness.
2. Memory concerns
Why: Memory concerns often cause anxiety for older adults and families. They may — or may not — reflect substantial decreases in thinking abilities. Evaluation helps by providing a more objective measure of whether a person is cognitively impaired, and to what extent. Even more importantly, evaluation can uncover treatable causes of decreased brain function, such as medication side-effects, thyroid problems, and a variety of other problems which are common in older adults.
3. Depression
Why: Although healthy older adults have lower rates of depression than the general public, depression is still a common problem that is easily missed. It’s more common in those who are struggling with illness, involved in caregiving, or socially isolated. It’s important to spot and treat depression, as this is key to better quality of life and greater involvement in social activities. It can also enable older adults to better manage any health problems they have, such as chronic diseases or pain.
4. Urinary Incontinence
Why: Having chronic difficulties controlling one’s bladder is a common problem for older adults, and tends to get worse with aging. It affects both men and women, although it may have different underlying causes, such as prostate enlargement in men. It is often embarrassing, can cause seniors to restrict their social or physical activities, and has been linked to depression.
5. Pain
Why: Surveys suggest that about 50% of all adults aged 65+ experience bothersome pain every month, often in multiple parts of the body. Persisting pain is linked with decreased social and physical activity, depression, and taking worse care of one’s own health. Pain can also be the sign of a new health problem that needs attention or a chronic problem that’s being inadequately managed.
6. Isolation and loneliness
Why: Both isolation (not having a lot of social contact with others) and loneliness (the feeling of lacking social connection) have been linked to declines in physical health. A 2012 study found that 43% of older adults reported feeling lonely; over the next 6 years, they were more likely to lose physical abilities or die. Loneliness and isolation have also been linked to decreased immune function and greater risk of depression.
7. Polypharmacy (Taking Multiple Medications)
Why: Polypharmacy means taking multiple medications. It’s a problem mainly because as people get older, they become especially at risk for harm from medication side-effects or interactions. According to the CDC, every year 177,000 older adults visit the emergency room due to medication problems.
Polypharmacy also burdens older adults because purchasing all those drugs can be costly, plus it can be a real hassle to have to take medications at several times every day. Last but not least, when people have been prescribed many medications, it’s harder for them to take them correctly. This can lead to worsening of a chronic condition, or even misguided medical care as doctors may fail to realize that a patient hasn’t been able to take all medication as directed.
3 )
Advertisement. Type 2 diabetes used to be known as adult-onset diabetes, but today more children are being diagnosed with the disorder, probably due to the rise in childhood obesity. There's no cure for type 2 diabetes, but losing weight, eating well and exercising can help manage the disease.
Symptoms You Should Know and a Prevention Plan
Prediabetes doesn't usually have any
signs or symptoms. One possible sign of
prediabetes is darkened skin on certain parts of
the body. Affected areas can include the neck, armpits, elbows,
knees and knuckles.
...
Symptoms
Sugar consumption will not directly cause either type. However, eating too much can cause weight gain. Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. ... Once a person has diabetes, eating too much sugar can make symptoms worse, as diabetes makes it more difficult for the body to manage blood sugar levels.
Diagnosis
It's not always easy to tell if you have type 1 diabetes when you're an adult. There are a number of reasons for this.
For one thing, symptoms take longer to show up in grownups than they do in kids. This can make it harder for doctors to know what's going on, especially if they don't specialize in the condition.
Another confusing part of getting a diagnosis is that many people with type 1 diabetes are lean or have a normal weight. Your doctor might rule out diabetes, since most people with type 2 diabetes are overweight.
Your doctor may suggest several tests that can tell you if you have diabetes, although you won't know if it's type 1 or type 2.
Glycated hemoglobin (A1c) test. It measures your average blood glucose level for 2 to 3 months. If you have an A1c level of 6.5 or higher on two separate exams, you have diabetes.
Random blood sugar test. It checks your blood glucose at a random time of day. A level of 200 mg/dL or higher is a sign that you have diabetes.
Fasting blood sugar test. Your doctor does this first thing in the morning, before you've eaten. You have diabetes if your level is 126 mg/dL or higher on two separate tests.
Besides those exams, your doctor may also test your blood for certain antibodies that are common in type 1 diabetes.
And he might check your pee for ketones, or fat by-products. If these are in your sample, you probably have type 1 diabetes
Treatment
Because your body no longer makes insulin, your treatment plan will include giving yourself insulin shots every day. You'll also need to monitor your blood glucose levels.
Your doctor will probably encourage you to get regular exercise. It can help you stay at a healthy weight and keep your blood glucose levels within a normal range.
He'll also work with you to come up with healthy, nutritious menu options that will help you keep your blood glucose under control.