Aging & Chronic Illness

Question 1

Three examples of chronic illness

Answer 1

heart disease
cancer
chronic lower respiratory disease
stroke
alzheimers
flu/pnemonia
kidney disease
intentional self harm
obesity
arthritis
diabetes

Question 2

Nurses and chronically ill

Answer 2

teach patients about how to live the most fully with their disease

• monitor for complications, avoid crises due to disease
• manage how these diseases interact with daily life
• prevent/slow progression of damage

Question 3

Changes in aging

Answer 3

-decreased eyesight, hearing
-fat distribution
-skin dry, grey hair
-decreased CO
-decreased calcium in bones, muscle mass, strength and agility
-increased fatigue
-WOMEN: decreased estrogen –> increased risk of HD and osteoperosis
-MEN: decreased angroden levels
Cognition: response time increased
-Relationship

Question 4

Iatrogenic problems

Answer 4

illness/injury in hospital

Question 5

Causes of delirium in older adults

Answer 5

B12 deficiency and UTI

Question 6

Geriatric syndrome

Answer 6

common health conditions in the elderly with unique features
clinical conditions that do not fit into distinct categories
multifactorial: more than one cause and multiple parts of the body

Question 7

8 Geriatric Syndromes

Answer 7

• sleep disturbances
• malnutrition
• incontinence
• delirium
• dementia
• falls
• pressure ulcers
• frailty

Question 8

4 risk factors for Geriatric Syndromes

Answer 8

• older age
• baseline cognitive impairment
• baseline functional impairment
• impaired mobility

Question 9

SPICES tool

Answer 9

used to asses for geriatric syndromes
Sleep disorders
Problems eating or feeding
Incontinence
Confusion
Evidence of falls
Skin breakdown

**doe not cover constipation or depression
scored yes or no

Question 10

Goals of nursing care in elders

Answer 10

promote independent function
support individual strengths
prevent complications of illness
secure a safe and comfortable environment
promote return to health