Risk of Falling
I will ask Alan or any other old if their pharmacist or doctors has reviewed all of their medication for possible side effects as well as potentially hazardous interaction. According to the case study, Alan usually leaves his house after every two months to visit his general practitioner GR who reviews his multiple prescriptions. Medication prescribed for Mr. Alan as a probability of causing side effects such as nausea, confusion leading to rise in the number of fall, loss of appetite among others (Bernoth, & Winker, 2016)
concerning mobility, I would ask Alan or any other old adult if they have reliable transport system to use when going to seek for medical attention, shopping, visit to friends and families as we as going for religious services. According to the case study, Alan stop driving due to visibility challenges that he was facing. Therefore, getting convenient and accessible transportation to the market of healthcare facilities without falling is essential. Due to poor vision of Alan, allowing him to drive can post a significant threat to his safety and that of the public since he can easily cause accident leading to injuries or death. Therefore, as a practicing nurse, it is usually good to know if the older adults have reliable as well as easily accessible transport system whenever they want to seek for medical attention or go shopping (Chassin, & Loeb, 2013)
Finally, concerning their activities, I would ask Alan if he needs assistance with household activities such as fixing of meal, cleaning among others. To ensure that Alan or other old people have healthy life and reduce number of falls, they need to stay in a clean place and eat a balanced diet.
Alan suffers from obesity since he has a BMI which is higher than 30. Obesity is associated with dangerous health problems such as high blood pressure, stroke and heart diseases as well as diabetes hence should be given priority by the nurses. Moreover, intake of imbalance nutrition is impacted by problems of impaired vision making it difficult to prepare meal and carry out different activities. Additionally, intake of imbalance nutrition is also impacted by lack of social support from the families and friends. Alan my find it difficult
One of the major issues that Alan is facing is the risk of falling Falling among older people has a potential of causing severe injuries and harm thereby causing threat to their life. Therefore, recognizing that Alan and other old people faces risk of falling is significant since it helps determine the primary cause of fall within their surroundings and how they can be prevented (Ungar, et al., 2013).
Imbalance Nutrition Intake
The second issue is the intake imbalanced nutrition Identification of imbalanced nutrition intake among the older population is also significant. Alan and other older adults are at a risk of suffering from malnutrition due to poor diet and lack of meals. Therefore, identifying such issue can help old people adhere to the right diet leading to quick healing process, right body mass index and good health in general
There is also lack of social as well as family support Lack of social as well as family support has severe consequences on the health of Alan and other old population. Loneliness is often tied to depression can among the older adults can results to loss of appetite, lack of sleep among others leading to poor health. Thus, identifying such problem is significant since it enable physicians to come up with appropriate ways of giving Alan and other old people company thereby dealing with stress and depression issues (Corcoran, et al., 2013).
Alan may also have problems with impaired physical mobility Additionally, recognizing the Alan and other old people are facing impaired physical mobility challenges is significant since it can helps come up with appropriate techniques of assisting them when they need to move the market or hospitals. Hence, problems such as falling and accident capable of inflicting injuries and harm to Alan and other old people can be minimized
Self-care deficit is also another issue that the patient is facing Iit is essential to recognize that old people are prone to facing self-care deficit since this can help health care workers to initiate programs such as home care for them thereby getting effective healthcare services
Physical injury is another issue that Alan is facing due to frequent falls Addressing physical injuries that most of the old people are suffering from due to fall is also significant (Cadore, Rodríguez-Mañas, Sinclair, & Izquierdo, 2013). Physical injuries cause pain and sleeping problems to the older adult. Thus, addressing them can help old generation to have improved health hence prolonging their lives
As reported by the case study, another big issue that Alan may be facing is financial problems since he quitted his job four years ago. Financial problems are also another issue that has vital importance when discussed. Majority of old people are unemployed, and therefore, they lack adequate finance to enable them get better healthcare services. Hence, addressing the issue of financial problems can help such population get aids from the government to assist them have better healthcare (Bernoth, & Winker, 2016).
Referral for Occupational and Physiotherapy
Finally, there is a probability the patient may be facing issue related to transportation difficulties due to impaired vision (Rantakokko, Mänty, & Rantanen, 2013). Finally, recognizing transportation problem among the old people can help them get supported by relevant healthcare services.
Risk of Falling: Alan lives alone without anybody to take care of him at his home. Due to impaired vision, he is at high risk of falling. Risk of falling that Alan faces is negatively impacted with his obesity. According to the case study, Alan is having body mass index of 34.9. Thus such BMI make it easier for him to fall even on slight mishap. Consequently, self-care deficits also contributed negatively to Alan risk of fall. Lack of proper healthcare services to examines Alan muscle strength and ensures adequate medication increases risk of falling.
f.Priority issue two
Imbalance nutrition Intake: Alan has an increase in the body mass index than the normal one. Due to poor balanced diet, Alan suffers from obesity since he has a BMI which is higher than 30. Obesity is associated with dangerous health problems such as high blood pressure, stroke and heart diseases as well as diabetes hence should be given priority by the nurses. Moreover, intake of imbalance nutrition is impacted by problems of impaired vision. Therefore, this makes it difficult for Mr. Alan to go for shopping and meal preparation. Additionally, intake of imbalance nutrition is also impacted by lack of social support from the families and friends. Alan my find it difficult to eat by himself leading to poor diet
g.Referral one
The health support services where Alan goes for renewal of multiple prescriptions should assist the patient with occupational and physiotherapy. Since this assist strengthen his muscle hence reducing risks of falling (El-Khoury, Cassou, Charles, & Dargent-Molina, 2013).
h.Referral two
The healthcare facilities where Alan seeks for his medication should offer him food services to help him observed a balanced diet. From the case study, Alan seems to be unable to make appropriate shopping and food for him-self leading to obesity. Therefore, through service of the hospital, Mr. Alan can have nutritional food that is prepared and store for him to consume to minimize fall incidences (Reedy, et al., 2014).
Acute ward refers to secondary healthcare brunch where short but active treatment is given to the patients who suffer from severe injuries, those who need urgent medical attention as well as recovery from surgery (Maher, et al., 2013). Falling risks is a burden to the healthcare system since it affect the cost as well as availability of healthcare for people. Falling leads to increase in use of hospital resources and emergency rooms. Moreover, fall also leads to healthcare admission cost as well as extension of staying duration (Allard, et al., 2016). On the other hand, intake of imbalance nutrition can result to slow recovery of Mr. Alan from the sickness. Additionally, poor diet may also leads to risk of developing illnesses as well as others health problem like blood pressure overweight among others. In the acute ward, Mr. Alan may also suffer from depression, type-2 diabetes, cancer and high cholesterol due to intake of imbalance nutrition (Sinclair, Dunning, & Rodriguez-Mañas, 2015). Therefore, this can results to long periods of recovery from injuries caused by falling. Finally, intake of imbalanced nutrition can leads to the development of impaired mental condition as well as death while at the acute ward.
Referral for Nutritional Food Services
Consequently, during admission of Mr. Alan at the acute ward, a Registered Nurse plays an essential role in ensuring that the patients do not suffer from malnutrition. RN assesses as well as monitors condition of the patients to ensure that they do not suffer from conditions caused by intake of poor nutrition. Additionally, RNs are responsible for development of care plans to minimize fall risk associated with old age thereby leading to quick recovery from injuries and diseases. Finally, RNs are mandated with the ability to check for symptoms as well as vital signs of malnutrition and internal injuries associated with fall through diagnostic tests
- nursing intervention
The two appropriate services that can be used to assist Mr. Alan are counseling as well as fall risk assessment. Counseling refers to the professional assistance of a person through utilization of psychological techniques particularly in collection of case history data, testing interest as well as aptitude (Nykänen, Rissanen, Sulkava, & Hartikainen, 2014). Since Mr. Alan stays alone, lack of social and family support can results to depression, stress and this may increase cases of fall. Therefore, providing counseling to Mr. Alan at his home may make him feel loves, developed greater awareness concerning his life and achieve personal goals. Through counseling Mr. Alan can start activities like exercise, socializing with people and observing balanced thereby ensuring healthy ageing life. Secondly, risk assessment refers to the thorough examination of where Mr. Alan is staying to identify potential hazards capable of causing fall and injury to the patient. Risk assessment is necessary because since it forms an integral part when it comes to safety and health of Mr. Alan. Risk assessment helps to create awareness concerning factors that are associated with fall (Ambrose, Paul, & Hausdorff, 2013). Additionally, it also creates awareness thereby reducing the accidents related to fall among the old population thereby enhancing healthy ageing for Mr. Alan.
Conclusion
Risk for falling is a significant threat to the healthcare of old people. Ageing process is often affects physical, social, spiritual and psychological aspects of an old person. Old people are prone to falling because degenerative changes in all system of human being are usually at peak at old age. Therefore, there is a need for team efforts of healthcare providers, families and the government to come up with measure that can help reduce fall among the old people. Some of the mechanisms may include; social and family support, proper counseling, effective medication as well as provision of financial aid to the old people by the government.
Importance of Acute Ward in Treating Fall-Related Injuries
References
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