Ch. 5 - Chronic Illness and Older Adults Flashcards
Define Acute Illness ?
Diseases that have a rapid onset and short duration
Examples of Acute Illnesses ?
- Colds
- Influenza
- Acute gastroenteritis
Characteristics of Acute Illnesses ?
- Usually self - limiting
- Responds readily to treatment
- Complications are Infrequent
- After illness, person returns to previous level of functioning
Define Chronic Illness ?
Diseases that are prolonged and do not resolve spontaneously, and are rarely cured completely
Characteristics of Chronic Illnesses ?
- Permanent impairments or deviations from normal
- Nonreversible pathologic changes
- Residual disability
- Special rehabilitation required
- Need for long-term medical and/or nursing management
_________ illnesses are found in ALL socioeconomic, ethnic, cultural, and racial groups ?
Chronic illnesses
Chronic illnesses are more common in who ?
Lower socioeconomic groups
What does the trajectory of Chronic Illness look like ?
- Onset
- Stable
- Acute decline
- Comeback
- Stable
- Crisis
- Stable
- Comeback
- Stable
- Downward decline
- Dying
Diagnosis and acute phase/acute exacerbations of chronic illnesses are managed where ?
In a Hospital
Aside from diagnosis/acute exacerbations of chronic illnesses, where are all others phases of chronic illnesses managed ?
In the community
Ex: Home, Nursing home, Assisted living
Nurses should never assume patients with chronic illnesses knows what ?
How to care for themselves
_____________ needs may change over time as disease trajectory changes ?
Educational
What age group is considered a Young-Old adult ?
65-74 years of age
What age group is considered an Old-old adult?
85 years of age
What constitutes a Frail Older Adult ?
- 3 or more of the following*
- unplanned weight loss (> or = 10lbs per yr)
- Weakness
- Poor endurance and energy
- Slowness
- Low activity
Frail Older Adults can also be considered whom ?
Older persons that have physical or mental disabilities that may interfere with the ability to independently perform ADL’s
Frail Older Adults are not directly related to ______, but it is a risk factor.
Age
Frail Older Adults are especially at risk for what ?
Malnutrition and dehydration
Fluid intelligence ___________ during middle age
Declines
Crystallized Intelligence __________ with aging ?
Improves
Vocabulary and verbal reasoning ________ with aging ?
Improves
Spatial perception remains _________ or _________ with aging ?
Constant or Improves
Synthesis of new information ___________ during middle age ?
Declines
Mental Performance speed __________ during middle age ?
Declines
Short-term recall memory ________ during old age ?
Declines
Long-term recall memory remains ________ with aging ?
Constant
- Older adults may _____ or ___________ for health issues ?
Hide or Compensate
With older adults, most accidents occur where ?
In and around the home
In older adults, disease symptoms are often _________ ?
atypical
Ex: “Aching in the joint” may really be a broken hip
In older adults what should you monitor for, in terms of medications ?
Polypharmacy
What things should you do before conducting an interview with an older adult ?
- Make sure they have all assistive devices
(Ex: hearing aids, dentures, glasses) - Offer toileting before you start
- May need to do interview in multiple small chunks to avoid fatigue
** Make sure to address the older adult ! DO NOT talk above them to other HCP or their families
if possible, how should you interview an older adult ?
privately
** Health care workers are mandated to report suspected or actual EM (Elder mistreatment) to Whom ?
Adult Protective Services
