Assessing The Elderly Case Study
Kaplan University
Assessing the Elderly Case Study Project
Evelyn Surelle Holmes
Nu416 Nursing Care of the Older Adult
Instructor Barbara Gunderson
May 26, 2011
Ms. Lee is a 96 year old female who lives alone. Lately she has become a hazard to herself. She leaves pots on the stove and they could possibly burn her apartment down. She needs assistance with a cane but refuses to use it. Ms. Lee is a potential hazard to herself and possible to others who live in her building. Ms. Lee could possibly overdose from several pills being laid out and scattered everyone.
Falls can result in injury, loss of independence, reduced quality of life, and death in the elderly (Mauk 2010). According to the Hendrich II Falls Risk Model, Ms. Lee is at great risk. Confusion, disorientation and impulsivity are showed by Ms. Lee. She forgets that she is cooking and leaves the stove on and burns pots and pans. It is unable to tell if Ms. Lee is taking her medications as scheduled because pills are scattered out of the containers. Ms. Lee often forgets and uses a tape recorder to remind her of several tasks. Ms. Lee shows signs of depression because she lives alone and never speaks of engaging in activities. She does not mention of friends or other family members who stop by to see her. Ms. Lee does not have any …show more content…
problems with elimination. Ms. Lee is unstable because she needs the assistance of a cane. Ms. Lee could fall and fracture her hip. The most common fractures are vertebrae, hip, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm, and hand. At least 50% of elderly persons who were ambulatory before fracturing a hip do not recover their pre fracture level of mobility (Mauk 2010). Ms. Lee fall risk assessment is a score of seven which puts her at high risk.
Ms. Lee has a substantial health history. Her Coronary Artery disease is managed by several medications that could lower her blood pressure. A low blood pressure or a high blood pressure could kill her if she takes to many pills. Ms. Lee also needs to monitor her blood pressure along with her diet. Ms. Lee is on Coumadin so a potential for bleeding is at risk. Ms. Lee could cut herself and bleed to death. Managing Coumadin is detrimental if she engages in high risk activity. Physician appointments should be maintain and transportation available to help Ms. Lee. Ms. Lee has Parkinson disease and this could be a potential harm for falling. Cancer is volatile in Ms. Lee family so she should have regular check ups with her physician.
Ms. Lee often falls and blacks out several times during the day. This is very unsafe and should be evaluated by a physician or home health nurse. Physical therapy and Occupational therapy should evaluate Ms. Lee home situation. Unsafe obstacles should be moved from Ms. Lee home. Ms. Lee physical examination shows she is not taking her medications. Ms. Lee has an increase in blood pressure, slurred speech, left sided weakness and unsteady gait. These symptoms suggest Ms. Lee has had a stroke and she should seek medical attention.
Ms.
Lee does not want to go to the hospital. As a nurse I would kindly tell her in a firm voice she is at risk for dying. Her symptoms do not look good and she needs medical attention. I would offer to take her to the hospital and be by her side. Ms. Lee can have a quality of life with home health. She could also have an excellent quality of life in an assisted living facility. Nurses around the clock could make sure Ms. Lee is taking her medications as scheduled. Ms. Lee would receive excellent nutrition and engage in activities with her age group. Ms Lee probably would meet new friends. The life expectancy for Ms. Lee would increase. Happiness increases
longevity.
In conclusion, Ms. Lee has a lot of choices to prolong her life. Ms. Lee needs assistance with her activities of daily living. Ms. Lee is a prime example of how the elderly live in our society today. It’s everyone’s job to take care of the elderly because they can teach us on what they have experienced in life.
Reference
Hendrich II Fall Risk Model. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.consultgerirn.org.
Mauk, K. L. (2010). Gerontological Nursing Competencies For Care 2nd Edition. Mississauga, Ontario Canada: Jones and Bartlett.
Assessing the Elderly Case Study Project
Evelyn Surelle Holmes
Nu416 Nursing Care of the Older Adult
Instructor Barbara Gunderson
May 26, 2011
Ms. Lee is a 96 year old female who lives alone. Lately she has become a hazard to herself. She leaves pots on the stove and they could possibly burn her apartment down. She needs assistance with a cane but refuses to use it. Ms. Lee is a potential hazard to herself and possible to others who live in her building. Ms. Lee could possibly overdose from several pills being laid out and scattered everyone.
Falls can result in injury, loss of independence, reduced quality of life, and death in the elderly (Mauk 2010). According to the Hendrich II Falls Risk Model, Ms. Lee is at great risk. Confusion, disorientation and impulsivity are showed by Ms. Lee. She forgets that she is cooking and leaves the stove on and burns pots and pans. It is unable to tell if Ms. Lee is taking her medications as scheduled because pills are scattered out of the containers. Ms. Lee often forgets and uses a tape recorder to remind her of several tasks. Ms. Lee shows signs of depression because she lives alone and never speaks of engaging in activities. She does not mention of friends or other family members who stop by to see her. Ms. Lee does not have any …show more content…
problems with elimination. Ms. Lee is unstable because she needs the assistance of a cane. Ms. Lee could fall and fracture her hip. The most common fractures are vertebrae, hip, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm, and hand. At least 50% of elderly persons who were ambulatory before fracturing a hip do not recover their pre fracture level of mobility (Mauk 2010). Ms. Lee fall risk assessment is a score of seven which puts her at high risk.
Ms. Lee has a substantial health history. Her Coronary Artery disease is managed by several medications that could lower her blood pressure. A low blood pressure or a high blood pressure could kill her if she takes to many pills. Ms. Lee also needs to monitor her blood pressure along with her diet. Ms. Lee is on Coumadin so a potential for bleeding is at risk. Ms. Lee could cut herself and bleed to death. Managing Coumadin is detrimental if she engages in high risk activity. Physician appointments should be maintain and transportation available to help Ms. Lee. Ms. Lee has Parkinson disease and this could be a potential harm for falling. Cancer is volatile in Ms. Lee family so she should have regular check ups with her physician.
Ms. Lee often falls and blacks out several times during the day. This is very unsafe and should be evaluated by a physician or home health nurse. Physical therapy and Occupational therapy should evaluate Ms. Lee home situation. Unsafe obstacles should be moved from Ms. Lee home. Ms. Lee physical examination shows she is not taking her medications. Ms. Lee has an increase in blood pressure, slurred speech, left sided weakness and unsteady gait. These symptoms suggest Ms. Lee has had a stroke and she should seek medical attention.
Ms.
Lee does not want to go to the hospital. As a nurse I would kindly tell her in a firm voice she is at risk for dying. Her symptoms do not look good and she needs medical attention. I would offer to take her to the hospital and be by her side. Ms. Lee can have a quality of life with home health. She could also have an excellent quality of life in an assisted living facility. Nurses around the clock could make sure Ms. Lee is taking her medications as scheduled. Ms. Lee would receive excellent nutrition and engage in activities with her age group. Ms Lee probably would meet new friends. The life expectancy for Ms. Lee would increase. Happiness increases
longevity.
In conclusion, Ms. Lee has a lot of choices to prolong her life. Ms. Lee needs assistance with her activities of daily living. Ms. Lee is a prime example of how the elderly live in our society today. It’s everyone’s job to take care of the elderly because they can teach us on what they have experienced in life.
Reference
Hendrich II Fall Risk Model. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.consultgerirn.org.
Mauk, K. L. (2010). Gerontological Nursing Competencies For Care 2nd Edition. Mississauga, Ontario Canada: Jones and Bartlett.