Question

describe and discuss the nurse's role in health promotion and disease prevention in older adults.

Answer 1

Health promotion and disease prevention in older adults mainly focuses to keep them healthy. It helps older people to choose healthy behaviour and make changes in their lifestyles to reduce the risk of many morbidities. It mainly includes:

1, Regular health checkups: At least every 2months.In these days non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension, CAD etc are very common after the 50. Regular check-ups are the best option to detect these conditions at the earliest and minimise its occurrence.

2, Physical exercises: In this fast pace era, sedentary lifestyles paved way for many illnesses including heart attack and stroke. Regular exercise minimises the deposition of bad cholesterol in arteries, which is the major cause for these diseases. Exercises like jogging, walking and swimming will make them healthy and can be promoted.

3, Healthy diets: Encourage them to include healthy diets in their meal like vegetables and fruits( diets with more fibre) and encourage them to drink plenty of water(these will helps to reduce constipation in older adults ). It will be always safe to avoid junky and oily food.

4, Cessation of tobacco and alcohol: Tobacco in any age is harmful to human lungs. With the time it affects the capacity of lungs also. older adults with tobacco habit have more chances of lung diseases. Excessive consumption of alcohol will eventually lead to liver diseases.

5, Prevention of environmental hazards: Risk for fall is very common among geriatrics. Therefore avoid using the slippery floor, provide side rails in bedrooms and bathrooms. At the same time make them familiar with the surroundings, which will help in reducing the chances of fall. As age advances chances of Alzheimer's and dementia are quite common. It is the responsibility of caretakers to help them in their self-care activities. There are possibilities of consumption of more medicines by the older people which results in medicine toxicity. Close monitoring and supervision is essential

6, Promotion of mental health: Solidarity and loneliness are common among old people and a majority of them experience depression. Participate them in social activities, ventilate their feelings with fellow members, assign small goal-oriented tasks.

7, Prevention of road-related injuries: Monitor them and make sure someone is always accompanying them .