Question

Health Assessment of the Older Adult, what are your thoughts on this topic? What nursing interventions might be appropriate?

Answer 1

Health assessment of the older adult is very important to perform to understand the older person's ability, functional ability, physical health, cognitive, mental, and socio-environmental needs. In this assessment, it includes physical assessment, psychosocial assessment, functional assessment, and fall assessment. In physical assessment, there is include head to toe examination in systmewise order. This helps to understand any abnormal in any system of the body. In psychosocial assessment, it includes the evaluation of mental, cognitive, environmental safeness, etc. In the functional assessment, it includes assessment of the ability to do daily activities by self or need of assistance to perform the activities. In fall assessment, it includes the assessment of any history of falls and the risk of falls.

The nursing interventions are

- The nurse should explain the procedure steps and its purposes to the patient before performing the assessment.

- Arrange all the articles needed during assessment.

- Document all the abnormal finding.

- Provide the assistance for the older person who are not able to perform daily activities alone.

- Ensure the environment is free from fall like avoid wet floor, holding bar should be present in the wall and in the bathroom.

- Ensure all the equipment needed for daily living should be keep near the older person.

- Supportive equipment while working like walker should be keep near the person.

- Provide counseling and psychological support to the person.

- ensure to raise the side rail while the person is in bed to prevent fall from bed.