Question

For common geriatric syndromes in the older population, be able to describe them, describe the essential care required, and the issues relating to transitions in care settings.

Answer 1

1a)Common geriatric syndromes are :-

- Falls

- Delirium

- Frailty

- Dizziness

- Sleep disorder

- Syncope

- Pressure ulcer

- Urinary incontinence

- Dementia

- Poly pharmacy

- Elders mistreatment

- Parkinson's syndrome

- Loss of sensory perception (vision ,hearing ,smell , temperature etc)

1b) Essential care required by the geriatric patients are :-

- Orientation of elderly patients to the surrounding environment

- Use of calender and clock to make the patient oriented to time and day

- Keeping the bed of the elderly patients at low height to avoid fall

- Keeping the floors of bathroom and toilet dry to avoid fall

- Provision of side rails in the bathroom and washroom for support .

- Keeping the alarm near by the patient so, that in case of emergency they can call us by ringing it

- Providing emotional and psychological support to the elders as they have multiple problems like isolation , depression due to isolation ,due to their disease like dementia in which they are unable to remember anything , decrease in self esteem etc .

- Provision of a home care nurse to take care of elder patient at home to take care in all the aspects like for avoiding poly pharmacy - intake of wrong drug ,or adverse effects of some drugs , drug to drug interactions , to provide basic care etc.

- Proper lightening of the rooms to avoid any injury due to improper visibility.

- Provision of hearing aids ,use of visual communication techniques to interact with the patient

- Providing bed sore care if any present ,by changing the position every two hourly , use of comfort devices , and daily assessment of site and dressing of the sore .

- Providing a diet which is according to their taste and likes because with age they loss their sense of taste and they don't feel foods tasty and become irritated . To avoid this provide diet according to their taste and demands .

- Don't leave elderly patients alone .

- With age muscles become weak , urinary incontinence is a major problem in elder patients which leads to pressure ulcers . Diapers must be used to avoid this discomfort and perineal care must be provided after every urination and bowel movement. Foley's catheterization if incontinence is severe and Foley's catheter care to be provided .

- Constipation is also a common problem ,for this elder patients must be encouraged to eat high fibre diet including fruit and vegetables ,plenty of fluids .

- Eye care and use of spectacules to improve visibility .

- Medications must be well labelled in big highlighted words visible to elders mentioning it's name ,route ,time to be taken .

1c) Issues relating to transition in the care setting are :-

- Elderly patients needs are different and it needs many resources because they have multiple of problems interconnected to each other.

- Lack of resources ( medical equipments)

- Individual patient care is needed ,means a staff per patient which is not possible due to shortage of staffs

- Lack of funds supplied in favour of geriatric care .