Question

Comprehensive Gerontology Assessment of 81years old woman living in a long term facility based on the following components;
1. functional capacity
2. fall risk
3. cognition
4. mood
5. polypharmacy
6. social support
7. financial concerns
8. Goals of care
9. Advanced care preferences
10. Nutrition/ weight change
11. Urinary continence
12. sexual function
13. vision/hearing
14. dentition
15. living situation

Answer 1

Gerontological Assessment of 81 year old woman in a long term facility :

1. Functional capacity : There is a decreased levels of functional capacity in a 81 year old woman. Activities of daily living is impaired and she may need assistance of the nurses in the long term facility.

2 . Fall risk : There is high risk of fall particularly in wet areas like rest room . This is due to decreased bone density as we age.

3 . Cognition : There is decreased memory, forgetfulness due to increased rate of demyleination.

4 . Mood : Depending upon the behaviour of the woman , mood varies. If there is illness and pain , mood is quite irritable at this age.

5 . Polypharmacy : There will be certain medications which are been taken by this woman regularly and some add ons resulting in polypharmacy .

6 . Social support : Support from friends and other members support is good as she is communicative with all the members in the hospital team.

7 . Financial concerns : She may be having constraints financially as she is not earning and saved money is used on long term facility she resides.

8. Goals of care : To lead a good quality of life with minimal pain .

9 . Advanced care preferences : If there are complications, advanced care involving resuscitation, airway and ventilation may be required.

10 . Nutrition/ weight change : Assessing weight records to check for weight change and nutritional status.

11. Urinary incontinence : Increased urinary incontinence related to lax pelvic muscles due to old age. Therefore, adult diapers have to be used incase of severe incontinence.

12. Sexual function : There is decreased libido related to hormonal decline .

13 . Vision / hearing : Vision is impaired and also opacity of the lens can be seen along with decreased hearing related to age changes.

14 . Dentition : There is artificial dentition which has to be taken care off to chew abit of hard substances

15. Living situation : She is living in a long term facility and now that she is used to this environment she enjoys living here.

Thank you..