NRS 434 Describe the characteristics of the aging process
NRS 434 Describe the characteristics of the aging process
NRS 434 Describe the characteristics of the aging process
Aging is an unavoidable part of our lives. Those younger and far less wise than them look to older adults for guidance and wisdom. When one’s mind or body begins to deteriorate, younger generations seek guidance less and less. When a person’s body or mind begins to fail, he or she may seek the assistance of his or her parents. After a while, these family members who take in the older aging adult may become frustrated with caring for someone else and not seeing them as the person the family member remembers from their younger years. Some negative outlets for this frustration include verbal abuse, inflicted physical trauma, and a lack of attention required for daily living (bathing, eating, toileting, moving).
In recent years, the population of older adults 65 and older has steadily increased. “The prediction is that older adults will comprise 21 percent of the population by 2030,” according to the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics (2016). Other chronic health conditions are likely to emerge as a result of the aging process. “Frailty includes the presence of biomedical factors that reduce the older adult’s ability to endure environmental stressors, such as hospitalization,” writes Green (2018). The World Health Organization reports alarming statistics on elder abuse or neglect, with one out of every six older adults falling victim. This is heartbreaking because the abuser/negligent person is frequently a close family member caring for the older adult. Memory loss and decreased physical abilities (which differ from findings in middle-aged adults) are a few of the reasons why these older adults fall victim to caregivers, but identifying the fear and injuries is critical to ensuring a safe and caring environment.
In order to identify signs and symptoms of elder abuse, nurses must conduct thorough assessments. Scattered bruising of various colors all over the body. This indicates that the bruises date from different periods of time. Malnourishment, pressure injuries, and the far less visible emotional/ verbal abuse are all forms of elder abuse. Though emotional and verbal abuse are less obvious, asking many questions and simply listening to the patient will reveal certain details that nurses can likely pick up on to further evaluate the patient’s environment’s safety. Recognize that the elderly person is unlikely to report any mistreatment. Patients and family members alike have faith in nurses and the care they provide; leveraging that trust and asking more personal, detailed questions about findings is critical to keeping the patient(s) safe.
I agree with Florence that, due to their age, older adult patients may not provide a complete history of their illness. Often, both verbal and nonverbal communication is used.
NRS 434 Describe the features of the aging process.
Verbal cues assist nurses in determining the patient’s condition. For example, the manner in which the story is told, the tempo of speech, the tone of voice, and eye contact can all aid in providing information to the nurse. Older adult patients may omit or deny anxiety or depression symptoms, but they are revealed by a lowered voice, subdued enthusiasm, or even tears. Nurses should not make weight changes based on changes in clothing or denture fit.
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Do you understand how to report elder abuse in your workplace?
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Thank you for your thorough assignment. I completely agree that aging is unavoidable. It is a graceful time marked by numerous physical and psychological changes. Their health and body systems undergo modifications. As a result, there are health issues such as dementia and amnesia. Most organs, such as the ears and eyes, are also less functional. The elderly are typically frail and reliant. As a result, during the assessment interview, the nurse should speak to the elderly alone, away from the person who brought them to the hospital. When elder abuse is suspected, the nurse should provide privacy in order to obtain the necessary information from them. Furthermore, the nurse should be alert to nonverbal cues such as crying, checking to see if a relative is listening while trying to give an answer, and so on. This is because the elderly are often afraid of their loved ones and may be reluctant to report them to healthcare providers in order to maintain the care they receive from them.
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