AGING FAMILY
Chapter 15 – Falls & Fall Risk Reduction.
Chapter 16 – Promoting Safety.
Question(s): Technological advances hold promises for improving quality of life, decreasing need for personal care assistance, and enhancing independence and ability to live safely. Choose one of the technologies mentioned in your textbook and discuss / explain it. Please, support your answer with a research study: Is there any research study of technological innovation related with your topic that promises advantages in the future of healthcare?
Guidelines: The answer should be based on the knowledge obtained from reading the book, no just your opinion. If there are 3 questions in the discussion, you must answer all of them. Your grade will be an average of all answers.
Grading Criteria: Student chose 1 technology for the book (25%) and discussed it (30%). Students support his / her answer with a research study (45%).
Chapter 16
Promoting Safety
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Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Must be multifaceted and individualized to the areas of identified risks
Particularly important for older adults who are at risk for falls and is recommended in evidence-based protocols for fall risk reduction
Home Safety Assessment
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Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Exposed to temperature extremes in dwellings can impose a serious risk to older persons with declining physical health
Older individuals are vulnerable to environmental temperatures
Thermoregulation
Hyperthermia
Hypothermia
Environmental Temperatures
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Influenced by
Neurosensory changes
Medications
Economic, behavioral, and environmental factors
Diminished thermoregulatory responses and abnormalities in production and response to pyrogens contribute to differences in fever responses between older and younger patients
Thermoregulation
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Body temperature increases above normal ranges because of environmental or metabolic heat loads
Risk factors
Administration of diuretics
Low fluid intake
Those with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or peripheral vascular disease
Certain medications
Hyperthermia
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Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Core temperature of less than 35°C (95°F)
Affects all body systems but most concern for cardiac and respiratory function
Older adults at risk for numerous reasons
Cardiac, respiratory, and musculoskeletal impairments
Excessive alcohol use
Poor nutrition
Inadequate housing
Certain medications
Surgery
Hypothermia
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Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Recognize clinical signs and severity of hypothermia and hyperthermia
Keep frail elders in environments with appropriate temperatures for comfort and prevention of problems
Monitor body temperature and pay particular attention to lower or higher than normal readings
Advocate for community resources
Implications for Gerontological Nursing and Healthy Aging
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Which patient assessment data does the nurse recognize could contribute to an older adult’s risk of hyperthermia?
Has a history of osteoarthritis
Takes furosemide 40 mg daily
Bathes daily with a hot shower
Keeps room temperature at 72°F
Question
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B—Patients receiving diuretic therapy have a higher risk of hyperthermia.
Answer
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Older adults are at great risk during and after disasters and have the highest casualty rate during disaster events
Older adults are vulnerable to natural disasters because of
Limited mobility
Social isolation
Cognitive impairment
Institutionalization
Natural Disasters
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Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Critical link in the ability to remain independent and functional
Lack of accessible transportation may contribute to social withdrawal, poor nutrition, depressive symptoms, and health decline
With age, the risk for impairments that affect driving skills increases because of disease-related and normal aging changes
Transportation Safety
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Assessment should include evaluation of whether an individual can drive, feels safe driving, and has a driver’s license
There is no gold standard for determining driving competency
Driving evaluations are offered by various community agencies
Implications for Gerontological Nursing and Healthy Aging
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Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Hold promise for improving quality of life, decreasing the need for personal care, and enhancing independence
Assistive technology is any device or system that allows a person to perform a task independently, easier, and safer
Gerotechnology describes assistive technologies for older people
Emerging Safety Technologies
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Use of electronic information and telecommunication technologies to support long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health, and health administration
Includes
Remote monitoring devices
Smart medical homes
Telehealth
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Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Advancements improve the quality of life, decrease need for personal care, and enhance the ability to live independently
Telemedicine allows for managing medical problems in the home or other settings, thereby reducing health care costs
Devices are available to monitor gait and to detect balance problems
Emerging Technologies
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Can lead to enhanced health and well-being
Components include
Addresses basic needs
Optimizes physical health and well-being
Maximizes independence
Provides social and civic engagement
Elder-Friendly Communities
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A nurse counseling an 85-year-old person regarding modifying driving habits would include
playing music will help keep you alert.
limit driving to familiar places close to home.
driving in heavy traffic is fine as long as it is not raining.
if you have a passenger, you may drive at any time of the day.
Question
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Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
B—Encourage older adults to modify their driving habits, such as not driving on unfamiliar roads, during rush hour, at dusk or at night, in inclement weather, or in heavy traffic. Distractions should be minimized.
Answer
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Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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