Question

After the simulation with Red Yoder,

1. How did you feel throughout the simulation experience?
2. Give a brief summary of this patient and what happened in the simulation.
3. What were the main problems that you identified?

Answer 1

While reading this simulation, the experience was both pitiful and concerning. The poor old farmer with barely any knowledge about his medical condition and the severity of diabetes encounters an open wound and eventually a life threatening case of sepsis. He takes his health very casually. We could blame him for negligence, pity him for his lack of medical awareness and education.

Summary

Red Yoder is an 80-year-old farmer who lives alone in the farmhouse. Red cooks for himself rarely and mainly eats packaged or processed foods and also consumes whisky quite often.Red’s current medical problems include insulin dependent diabetes complicated by an open foot wound. He also has some incontinence and difficulty sleeping. Red is awaiting a visit from the home health nurses to assess the open wound on his big toe after walking in new shoes. Two weeks after the home health nurse visits, Red misses his Monday morning coffee at the local VFW.The home health nurse wanted to make sure he didn’t get an infection in that toe and now she is back to change the bandage. Red tells her that he didn't eat his food and didn't take his insulin as well which caused his blood glucose to shoot up. He didn't take the antibiotics prescribed to him. Red requires admission to the hospital for sepsis of the wound. Even after discharge, he insists on living alone without help from his son Jon and daughter in law Judy who are concerned about him.

The main problems that I identified in this simulation of Red Yoder were as follows,

He was 80 years old and lived alone. There was no one to take care of the special needs due to decreased hearing and vision difficulties.

He is non-compliant with his diet.

Red appears to not understand his glucose numbers and how that relates to his diet and insulin administration. Red may have poor eyesight due to the diabetes and needs audio and demonstration with return demonstration. He may not be able to see the lines on the insulin syringe.

He has cognitive issues, physical barriers and definitely needs assistance on his Diet, habits, nutrition and medication but still urges to live alone neglecting the ulcer,the diabetes and related problems.