NR 601 Week 4 Safety for the Older Adult

Sample Answer

By 2035, it is projected that the number of older persons in the United States will surpass the number of children and young adults, as around 10,000 individuals reach the age of 65 each day (Kennedy‐Malone & LaManna, 2023).

The greying of America necessitates an increased need for healthcare personnel capable of aiding the elderly population in coping with the persistent ailments and functional impairments associated with the aging process. The objective of this discussion is to facilitate the professional development of nurse practitioners in their role of ensuring the safety of older patients within their present living conditions.

Assessment

Two evaluations that may be used to ascertain the safety of clients in their present living surroundings are the Home Safety Self-Assessment for Older Adults and the Katz Independence in Activities of Daily Living (Zonsius et al., 2019). Utilizing the Home Safety Self-Assessment, one can ascertain whether a patient’s present living environment is secure. This process facilitates the identification of potential dangers and enables the implementation of modifications and suggestions to enhance their level of safety.

Compiling a comprehensive inventory of potential dangers inside the patient’s residence, such as slick flooring, loose carpets, or exposed cables, might facilitate the establishment of a more secure domestic setting. The Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living is a useful tool for assessing the functional capabilities of older individuals. This assessment may assist us in ensuring that dependent elderly individuals get the necessary assistance in their homes.

This includes questions on grooming, eating, using the restroom, transferring, bathing, and continence. Subsequently, the patient is asked to indicate whether they can carry out these tasks alone or with assistance, and their cumulative score is calculated at the conclusion.

Additional Assistance Or A Transition In The Care Environment

Indicators of the client’s need for further support include recurrent falls, inadequate cleanliness, inability to manage medicines, cognitive impairment, and unintended weight loss. When we see signs of forgetfulness or memory loss, we may use cognitive tests and instruments like BCAT to measure the extent of the condition’s severity (Zonsius et al., 2019).

I have seen a lot of usage of this instrument in assisted living and memory care environments to assess whether a patient needs to be in one of these facilities. Another method for detecting cognitive impairment is the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).

NP’s Role

During a patient’s and their family’s transition of care, a nurse practitioner’s job is to make sure that treatment is easily available and to help cut down on unnecessary trips to the emergency department and hospitalizations. The nurse practitioner encourages compliance with the treatment plan established by the patient, nurse practitioner, and family.

Liu et al. (2021) state that their services include medication reconciliation, barrier identification, enhancement of overall health, and referral of patients to community resources. The ultimate objective is to enhance patient health and diminish healthcare expenses.

Referrals

When discussing the transfer of a patient to a rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility, the necessary recommendations would typically include a social worker, physical therapist, and case manager. If it is judged that rehabilitation or a skilled nursing facility (SNF) is necessary, the social worker will help in organizing the placement for the individual.

Physical therapists would provide their assessment on areas where the patient might improve after being discharged from the hospital. Prior to hospital release, the patient’s requirements would be evaluated by the case manager. Another instance is when the patient is undergoing a transition to hospice care, in which case the main referral would be for hospice care.

The NP must make all necessary orders, add any necessary information, and ensure the patient is ready for the transition (Liu et al., 2021). The nurse practitioner facilitates the participation of all members of the multidisciplinary team and minimizes the likelihood of any conflicts or disagreements.

Resources/Conclusion

Two services that are accessible for older clients with little means in my targeted practice region are Helping Hands Senior Care and visiting nurse organizations. The visiting nurse association offers a range of services to patients at their homes, therefore reducing the need for frequent visits to the doctor.

The nurse may evaluate the patient’s condition at home and decide whether a visit to the doctor is necessary while also communicating with the healthcare provider. Assistance Elderly care services include 24-hour live-in assistance, food preparation, bathing, laundry, and housekeeping (Kennedy-Malone & LaManna, 2023).

Assistance from carers may enable patients to continue living in their own homes, thus prolonging their feeling of autonomy before eventually transitioning to assisted living.

References

• Kennedy‐Malone, L., & LaManna, J. B. (2023). Delivering nurse practitioner care in the decade of healthy aging. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 19(1), 104541. https //doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2023.104541 Links to an external site.
• Liu, P., Chilatra, J. a. H., & Phelan, A. (2021). Examining nurses’ role in Adult Protective Services related to safeguarding older people. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 77(5), 2481–2497. https //doi.org/10.1111/jan.14792
• Zonsius, M. C., Miller, J., & Lamb, K. (2019). An innovative course to prepare advanced practice registered nurses to spearhead quality and safety initiatives for older adults. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 33(1), 57–65. https //doi.org/10.1097/jxx.0000000000000314Links to an external site.