Question

- An older adult suffers sleep disturbances and pain. What are the benefits of sleep and what are three effective and acceptable interventions for older adults in that case?

2-- A 78 year-old male is losing bowel and bladder control. What are three effective and acceptable interventions, for each system, for this older adult?

3-- Skin integrity and sensory alterations are, at times, closely interrelated for the older adult. Discuss three effective interventions that may be implemented for an older adult with limited

Answer 1

Q.N.1

What are the benefits of sleep?

Sleep is a normal physiological activity, where most of the body organs delay their activity, except heart and some vital organs, and the individual enter in to a state of rest. Sleep is essential for all, includinh human,animals, plants etc. Without adequate sleep, the individual may feel tired and they lack adequate energy for day to day activities. Lets see what are the benefits of getting good sleep.

• It promote a sense of well being
• Body organs get adequate rest
• Improves circulation through out the body, since the body is resting.
• Improves cardiac functions by decreasing the workload of the heart.
• It helps to reduce anxiety and tension
• Improves mental helath
• Helps to improve immunity
• It promote the energy level of an individual
• Helps to reduce stress, depression etc associated with job ,house hold activities atc
• Adequate sleep helps yo improve memory by improving the brain function
• Helps to prevent life style diseases

What are three effective and acceptable interventions for older adults to induce sleep.

• The nurse can increse the day time activities of the patient, that may induce early sleep during night.
• Avoid all nursing procedures that may cause sleep disturbance during night like injections,etc.
• Provide comfortable position as per patients need.
• Provide extra comforatble devices inorder to reduce pain and to induce sleep.
• Advise not to drink too much amount of water befor bed time, as it may cause in between awakening to toilet.
• Provide a glass of hot milk befor sleep. L-tryptophan in the hot milk helps to induce sleep.
• Provide psychological support
• Play light music, so that they can sleep.
• Guided imagery can be taught to the patient, this helps to reduce pain.
• Reduce the unnecessary light source.
• Keep the side rails of the bed up to prevent falls during sleep.
• In case of severe pain, trrespective of all measures, discuss with physician and administer analgesics as per their prescription. But always remember do not administer any sleeping pills to elderly. Which can cause drug induced dementia, delerium etc.

Q.N.2

For effective bladder control

1. Teach kegel exercise, this may helps to improve the bladder capacity as well as bladder control.

2. Restrict the fluid intake during night time, hence it cannot interfere with sleep. During day time adequate amount of water can be taken and also taught them to go for intermittent urination. hence the complaints of incontinence can be avoided.

3.Insert a condom cathether, and avoid indwelling catheter to avoid direct bladder infections.

4.Health educate regarding the importance of intermittent urination. and teach the techniques using a condom catheter in case of any walking difficulties.

5.Advise to avoid lifting, shifting any heavy objects to avoid the risk of urge and stress incontinence.

6.Use of water absorbing pads can be promoted .

For effective bowel control

1. Restrict the intake of high fiber rich diet.

2. Teach pelvic floor exercise to improve the bowel capacity

3. Make a routine toilet habbit.

4. Avoid the over use of laxative drugs and drugs that may cause gastric irritation.

5. Restrict the intake of gastric irritants food items like spicy food, potatoes, green leafy vegetables etc. This can induce diarrhoea.

Q.N.3

Discuss three effective interventions that may be implemented for an older adult for improving skin intyegrity

1.Frequently change the clients position in the bed, everly 2 hourly. This may helps to improve the blood supply to the dependent body parts and improves skin tone.

2. Meticulous skin care while bathing to be provided.

3.Wipe off the extra moisture from the body following a sponge bath. Moisture content in body can increase the risk of pressure ulcers.

4. Cut short the nails, it may cause itching and skin irritation.

5. Check the temperature of water used for bathing to avoid skin injury.

6.Never allow them to work with fire.

7. Assess the skin daily for any rashes, petechiae, blisters etc and report to the physician.

8. Make sure that they are drinking adequate amount of water.

9. Assess the skin tone, skin turgor and capillary refill every day.