NCM 214:
CARE OF THE OLDER ADULT
REQUIREMENTS:
GROUP:
● PLANNED STRUCTURE OF
ACTIVITIES (PSA)
INDIVIDUAL:
● READING
COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE: GERIATRICS
From the Greek geras meaning “old age”
1. Demonstrate respect by
remembering names and calling the ✔ The branch of medicine that deals
person by the name with the diseases and problems of
2. Face the person when speaking old age
3. Speak distinctly, slowly, clearly and ✔ Viewed by many nurses as having
in even tone limited application to nursing due to
4. Ask the patient politely if he/she can its medical and disease orientation
understand you.
5. Do not shout, increased frequency of
voice pitch makes hearing difficult GERONTOPHOBIA
6. Provide written instruction or repeat Refers to the fear and refusal to accept
instruction older people into the mainstream of society
7. Face the patient, sitting at eye level,
allowing the patient at all times to AGEISM
see your lips
8. Encourage them to express ✔ The negative stereotyping of aging
themselves and older persons
9. Go slowly, leaving enough time for ✔ A belief that aging makes people
the patient to answer unattractive, unintelligent, and
unproductive - it is an emotional
GERONTOLOGY prejudice
From the Greek geron meaning “old man”
CHRONOLOGICAL AGE
✔ The scientific study of the process of Refers to the number of years a person has
aging and the problems of aged lived
persons
✔ Includes biologic, sociologic, Young old (65-74 yrs old)
psychologic, and economic aspects Middle old (75-84 yrs old)
Old old (85-94 yrs old)
Elite old/chronologically old (95 yrs old
GERONTOLOGICAL NURSING and older)
✔ This specialty of nursing involves
assessing the health and functional
status of older adults
✔ The term most often used by nurses
specializing in this field
✔ It involves planning and
implementing health care and
services to meet the identified needs
and evaluating the effectiveness of
such care
THEORIES OF AGING the concerns of the patient, family, nursing,
and the rest of the interdisciplinary team
BIOLOGICAL
Theories of aging ADVOCATE
❐ Explain the physiologic processes Acts on behalf of older adults to promote
that change with aging their best interests and strengthen their
❐ The primary question being autonomy and decision making
addressed related to the factors that
trigger the actual aging process in RESEARCH CONSUMER
organisms Gerontological nurses must remain abreast
of current research literature, reading and
SOCIOLOGICAL putting into practice results of reliable and
Theories of aging valid studies
❐ Focus on changing roles and
relationships GOALS AND LEVELS OF CARE
❐ Relate to various social adaptations
in the lives of older adults AGGRESSIVE
GOAL:
PSYCHOLOGICAL Extension of life
Theories of aging INTERVENTION examples:
❐ The biggest assumption in the Aggressive chemotherapy, invasive testing,
psychological theories of aging is radical surgery
that development does not end
when a person reaches adulthood, MODIFIED
but remains a dynamic process GOAL:
throughout the lifespan Extension of life with consideration of the
❐ The nurse, by providing holistic care, burden of treatment
seeks to employ strategies to INTERVENTION examples:
enhance client’s quality of life Management of illness with medications,
minimally invasive surgery, non-invasive
ROLES OF A GERONTOLOGICAL testing
NURSE
PALLIATIVE
TEACHER GOAL:
Gerontological nurse focus their teaching in Patient comfort with life extension as
modifiable risk factors and health promotion secondary goal
INTERVENTION examples:
PROVIDER OF CARE Pain management, symptom control, gentle
Gives direct, hands-on care to older adults rehabilitation, holistic care
in a variety of settings
MANAGER
Gerontological nurses acts as managers
during everyday practice as they balance
HOSPICE CARE HOSPICE CARE
GOAL: ❐ Although many patients in the
Comfortable death hospice are not elderly, the majority
INTERVENTION examples: of the dying are older
Pain management, symptom control, holistic ❐ Requires a great deal of patience,
care expertise, understanding,
interdisciplinary communication, and
SETTINGS FOR CARE compassion from nurses
ASSISTED LIVING
ACUTE CARE ❐ Provide an alternative for those older
❐ The elderly use acute care hospitals adults who do not feel safe living
at a rate greater than any other age alone
group
❐ Often the point of entry into the PLANNED STRUCTURE OF ACTIVITIES
healthcare system (PSA)
ACUTE REHABILITATION
❐ The goals of rehabilitation are to
maximize independence, promote
maximum function, prevent
complications, and promote quality
of life within each person’s strengths
and limitations
HOME HEALTH CARE
❐ Independent living older adults
requiring a longer period of Meaningful Activities in the Residentia…
observation or care from nurses may [Link]
be candidates for home health care 4Hpc
services
❐ Also designed for those who are 1. Dancing with the starfs
homebound due to severity of illness 2. Bingo-cise
or immobility 3. Farms animals
4. Horticulture therapy
LONG TERM CARE FACILITY 5. Snoezelen room
❐ Traditionally referred to as nursing 6. Robotic pets
homes 7. Cognitive stimulation therapy
❐ Residents require 24 hour nursing
care
