University:
The University of Texas at San Antonio
Course:
PSY 2503 | Developmental Psychology
Academic year:

2022
Views:

496

Pages:

12
Author:

Alma Stephenson

Health Concerns Health promotion and stress reduction Forming positive health habits Obesity Positive health habits Psychosocial health: Anxiety and depression Community health programs Acute and Restorative Care • Recovering from an injury or illness may take longer. • Chronic illnesses affect roles and responsibilities. • Your role in assessment includes determining the coping mechanisms of the patient and family, as well as adherence to treatment and rehabilitation regimens and the need for community and social services, with appropriate referrals. Older Adults Variability Among Older Adults • Physiological, cognitive, and psychosocial health • Levels of functional ability • Dependence vs. independence • Strengths and abilities Myths and Stereotypes • Older adults are: • • • • Ill, disabled, and unattractive Forgetful, confused, rigid, boring, unfriendly, and poor Unable to learn and understand new information Not interested in sex or sexual activities • These ideas demonstrate ageism, which is discrimination against people because of increasing age. Nurses’ Attitudes Toward Older Adults • Nurses must assess their own attitude toward older adults and their own aging. • Nurses need to gain knowledge about aging and health care needs of older adults: • Respect • Dignity • Involvement in care decision and activities Developmental Tasks for Older Adults • Associated with varying degrees of change and loss • Health, significant others, a sense of being useful, socialization, income, and independent living • Coping with • Retirement • Residence change • Death • Adult children Community-Based and Institutional Health Care Services • Nurses encounter older-adult patients in a wide variety of community and institutional health care settings: • Private homes, apartments, retirement communities, adult day care centers, assisted-living facilities, and nursing centers • Older adults need to help with decisions regarding which type of health care service is appropriate for them. Assessing the Needs of Older Adults • Nursing assessment to ensure an age-specific approach • The interrelation between physical and psychosocial aspects of aging • Effects of disease and disability on functional status • Tailoring the nursing assessment to an older person Physiological Changes • Older adults’ concepts of health generally depend on personal perceptions of functional ability. • General survey • • • • Begins during initial nurse-patient encounter Quick, but careful, head-to-toe scan Eye contact and facial expression Presence of universal aging changes Physiological Changes (Cont.) • Integumentary system • Skin • Lesions • Head and neck • • • • Facial features Visual acuity Auditory changes Salivary secretion Physiological Changes (Cont.) • Thorax and lungs • Respiratory muscle strength decreases • Anteroposterior diameter of thorax increases • Heart and vascular system • Decreased contractile strength of the myocardium results in decreased cardiac output • Breasts Physiological Changes (Cont.) • Gastrointestinal system and abdomen • Reproductive system • Urinary system • Musculoskeletal system • Neurological system