04/20/23 ANCY KURIAN , I MSc.(N) 1
Gerontological Family Gerontological Family NursingNursing
By Dr. Nataliya Haliyash, MD, PhD, MSN
Institute of Nursing, TSMU
Ageing
• In almost every country, the proportion of people aged over 60 years is growing faster than any other age group, as a result of both longer life expectancy and declining fertility rates.
Classification of Older Adults• Older adults are 65-years-old
and older– 65-74 young old– 75-84 middle old– 85-99 old-old (fastest growing
subgroup)– 100 + elite old
Health Care of the Older Adult (continued)
• 50% of hospitalized clients on med-surg units are older than 65
• 8% of elderly have 1 or more chronic illnesses
• 50% have 2 or more chronic illnesses
• 5% live in institutional settings
Assessment Guidelines for Older Adults
• Adjust to physiologic changes– Be familiar with sensory changes,
changes in each body system
• Adapt assessment techniques to diminishing energy and ability– Allow for frequent breaks if a lengthy
assessment is needed
Assessment Guidelines (continued)
• In addition to physical assessment, the older adult may need assessment of:– Ability to perform ADL’s (Activities of
Daily Living - functional assessment)– Network of support (family and friends)– Health beliefs in nutrition, exercise, etc.– Sleep patterns– Living arrangements– Financial assessment– Self-esteem– View of life and acceptance of death
Reminiscence/Life Review• An adaptive function that allows
them to recall the past and assign meaning to these experiences
• Can be a nursing intervention to encourage self-esteem, increase communication skills, and increase social interaction
Pain and the Older Adult
• May not report pain as feels it is a part of aging
• 85% of patients in nursing homes have pain
• Pain response: have similar pain tolerance as young adults
Pain Assessment
• Use methods as with adults (pain scale)• Don’t assume that if patient is busy or
sleeping, they don’t have pain; need to ask them
• If cognitive impairment is present, watch for non-verbal cues– Agitation– Aggression– Wandering– Change in vital signs– Grimacing
Pain Management
• Ask what they usually use for pain and is it working
• If acute pain, can use narcotics but may need a decreased dose
Medications and the Older Adult• 25% of all prescriptions are
written for people older than 65
• Physiologic changes caused by aging affect the activity and response of drugs– Absorption, distribution,
metabolism, excretion
Polypharmacy
• Many older adults are using multiple medications, use multiple pharmacies, have multiple physicians
• Multiple drugs may lead to adverse reactions
Polypharmacy
• Most common adverse reaction in the elderly is confusion
• Confusion in the absence of disease is
not normal!!
Nursing Interventions for Polypharmacy
• Assess medications they are taking
• Encourage client to use one pharmacy for all medications
• Encourage client to review with primary caregiver all medications they are taking
Medication Noncompliance in the Older Adult
• May be non-compliant due to:– Not understanding how to take
medication– Forgetful– Don’t like the side effects– Don’t have the money to purchase
medications
Nutrition and the Older Adult
• Risk of nutritional problems increases with age
• Energy needs decrease but nutrient needs remain the same
Causes of Malnutrition in the Older Adult
• Loss of teeth• Digestive system changes• Loss/decrease of appetite• Lactose intolerance• Fixed income• Lack of socialization during
meals
Nursing Interventions to Improve Nutrition• Small, frequent meals• Assist with food choices• Identify causes of decreased
appetite• Refer to dentist for teeth issues• Refer to social services for
financial problems• Discuss ways to improve
socialization during meal time
Goals for Older Adults
• Follow therapeutic plan of care– Ensure transportation to MD visits– Ensure primary physician is aware
of all medications currently taking
• Maximize independence in self-care activities– Educate about resources to assist
them with care if needed
Goals (continued)
• Maintenance of ability to communicate– Educate about assistive devises such as
hearing aids – Assist with financial counseling to help
pay for these aids if needed
Goals (continued)
• Maintenance of positive self-image– Assist the patient to participate in
appropriate social activities to enhance the feeling of worth
– Encourage open expression of concerns such as feelings of hopelessness
Goals (continued)
• Remain free of injury– In the hospitalized patient
•Perform fall risk assessment•Orient to surroundings and re-orient as needed
•Provide assistance with ADL’s
Goals (continued)
• Maintain bowel and bladder elimination patterns– Discuss nutrition to promote
elimination– Discuss use of medications if
prescribed– Urinary incontinence (loss of
bladder control) is a symptom, not a disease.
Goals (continued)
• Maintain adequate nutritional status– When hospitalized
• Intake and output• Daily weight• Dietary referral for preferences• Socialization• Assist with feeding• Liquid supplements as needed
Goals (continued)
• Maintain adequate fluid and electrolyte status– Place water within easy reach of
the client– Offer fluids every 1-2 hours– Monitor electrolytes– Intake and output– Administer and monitor IV fluids if
needed
End-of-Life Issues
• Death and Dying– Nurses must recognize influences
on the dying process• Legal• Ethical• Religious• Spiritual• Biological
– Provide sensitive, skilled and supportive care
End-of-Life Issues (continued)
• Both the patient who is dying and the family members grieve as they recognize the loss
• Nursing Diagnosis of Anticipatory Grieving includes:– Denial
worthlessness– Anger
concentrate
Feelings of guilt Inability to concentrate
End-of-Life Legal Issues • Medical Directive to Physician (Living
Will)– Addresses only the withholding or
withdrawal of medical treatment that would artificially prolong life
– Becomes effective when the primary physician and one other doctor say in writing that an individual is in a terminal or irreversible condition and that death will occur if life-sustaining medical care is not given
– Some states allow for personal instructions Some states allow for personal instructions to be added to this documentto be added to this document
End-of-Life Legal Issues (continued)
• Advanced Health Care Directive– Used to be called Durable Power of Attorney– An Advance Directive that allows an
individual to appoint representatives to make health care decisions if they become incapacitated
– This document affects only health care and should not be confused with granting power of attorney for other matters
– Becomes effective when the person becomes terminally ill or incapacitated.
Nursing Responsibility for Advance Directives
• Each state varies; nurses need to be aware of requirements for their state
• Be prepared to answer questions from the patient about these directives
• Ask if your patient has these and make sure copies are placed in their charts
• Advance Directives must be honored
End-of-Life Issues (continued)
• Artificial Nutrition and Hydration is another important ethical and legal issue
• Feelings about withholding food and fluids are emotionally charged and often have religious connotations.
• U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the right of patients to accept or reject the administration of artificial nutrition and hydration.
End-of-Life Issues (continued)
• Hospice Care– Focuses on support and care of
the dying person and family– Goal: to facilitate a peaceful and
dignified death– Based on holistic concepts
• Improve quality of life rather than cure
• Support patient and family
Hospice Care (continued)
• Principles of hospice care can be carried out in a variety of settings
• Home and hospital are the most common settings
• Palliative care: differs from hospice in that the client is not necessarily believed to be dying
Nursing Care of the Dying Patient
• Provide personal hygiene measures
• Relieve pain– Essential for patient to maintain
some quality in their life
• Assist with movement, nutrition, hydration, elimination
Nursing Care (continued)
• Provide spiritual support– Arrange access to individuals
who can provide spiritual care– Facilitate prayer, meditation and
discussion with appropriate clergy or spiritual advisor
Nursing Care (continued)
• Support patient’s family– Use therapeutic communication to
facilitate their feelings– Display empathy and caring– Educate family on what is
happening and what the family can expect
– Encourage family members to participate in the physical care of the patient
Do Not Resuscitate
• Also called DNR, No Code• Must be written• Must be reviewed regularly as
per policy• May have specific requests
– Example: may okay vasopressors and fluids but no chest compressions or intubation
Q & A ?
This population ageing can be seen as a success story for public health policies and for socioeconomic development,
but it also challenges society to adapt, in order to maximize the health and
functional capacity of older people as well as their social participation and
security.