General Aged Care Flashcards
how might we assess an elderly patient’s mobility?
TUG- timed up and go
the 6 minute Walk Test
what is happening structurally as the bladder stores urine?
bladder relaxation and internal + external urinary sphincter contraction
what examinations would you perform in an elderly patient who presents with a fall?
• Neurological examination- assessing for balance, coordination, gait, peipheral neuropathy
• Joint examination
• Visual acuity
• Postural hypotension- take the blood pressure
• Examine injured limb
• Look for mobility aids, glasses
• Look for deformities like kyphosis or lordosis
• Romberg’s test looking for impaired proprioreception
Dynamic and static balance testing with physiotherapist
-examine their footwear!
MMSE/RUDAs
describe the two micturition stages (storage and voiding) and the nerve fibres associated with it
storage of urine- hypogastric nerve sympathetically innervates detruser muscle relaxation and internal urinary sphincter contraction (via noradrenaline acting on alpha 1 receptors at bladder neck, and at beta adrenoreceptors in detruser muscle). Sympathetic nerve fibres inhibit parasympathetic nerve stimulation. Uninhibited somatic fibres in pudendal nerve release AcH on nicotinic receptors causing contraction of the external urethral sphincter.
As the bladder fills, stretch receptors increase afferent firing rates and is perceived by the CNS system
voluntary voiding- inhibition of the pudendal somatic nerve fibres (as directed by CNS) cause relaxation of the external urinary sphincter.
Parasympathetic fibres from the pelvic nerve coordinate bladder contraction and internal urinary sphincter relaxation–> voiding
what are some rehabilitation goals for patients following a stroke?
How might we achieve them?
- prevent complications e.g. PE/malnutrition/pressure sores/contractures etc
- optimise mobility
- optimise PADLs
- home visit by OT
- Assess driving capacity
- management of communication deficits e.g. dysarthria, aphasia
- application for community services e.g. meals on wheels, cleaning services etc
- provide education and support for carers/family
Multimodal approach requiring various allied health staff including OT, speech pathologist, physio, social worker and nursing staff. We can use splinting and certain positioning to prevent contractures (nursing) etc, we can practice progressive resistance exercises + strengthening exercises (physio), we can practice functional tasks such as cooking and use compensatory techniques such as altered cutlery (OT), we can seek extra community support services (social worker) for example.
what are the 5 elements of dementia?
- cognitive impairment
- chronic condition
- acquired condition
- change from previous level
- impact on function
what does an occupational therapist do?
they can assess cognition, functional assessment (ADLs/PADLs/CADLs), home + environment assessment
what extrinsic factor for falls in the elderly must we exclude?
polypharmacy- warrants medication review
consider anti-depressants, benzodiazepines, anti-hypertensives, digoxin and opioid medications
what are some treatments for dementia?
No curative treatment available, management is rather supportive in nature.
Anti-cholinesterase medications such as donezepil, rivastigmine can be used in mild-moderate AD. Only provides very slight cognitive benefit.
Memantine, an NMDA r antagonist can be used in moderate-severe AD. Again, clinical efficacy is limited.
adjuvant medications for psychotic symptoms/depression/anxiety etc
hallmark features of lewy body dementia?
- visual hallucinations
- fluctuating course- can vary from day to day and can mimic delirium
- parkinsonian features
- late onset memory loss
what are some bad prognostic factors for rehabilitation after stroke?
- difficulty isolating any movement in affected limb
- receptive dysphasia
- visual neglect/hemianopia
- urinary + faecal incontinence
who benefits from a CGA?
elderly patients with moderate disability
what RUDAs score suggests possible cognitive impairment?
RUDAs score equal to or less than 22 out of 30
what is fried’s criteria for frailty?
1 unintentional weight loss 2 slow walking speed 3 weakness 4 exhaustion 5 low physical activity
greater than 3= frailty
what is senakot and its usual dosing?
senna (bowel stimulant) twice a day
list the hip precautions post THR?
No hip adduction across the midline
No hip flexion beyond 90 degrees
No internal rotation of the hip
Caution when squatting or sitting
no driving for 6 weeks
hip precautions generally for 3 months post op
what is the risk assessment component of a CGA?
screening for falls risk (FRAT tool)
screening for risk of pressure sores (skin integrity scale)
risk factors for dementia?
age education level genetics (think AD) head injury cerebrovascular disease- e.g. obesity/diabetes/HT depression
what assessment tools can we use to assess an elderly patient’s functional independence (e.g. ADLS/PADLs etc)?
FIM- functional independence measure
Barthel index
how might constipation cause urinary incontinence?
- weakened detrusor muscles due to straining
2. impacted rectum may compress the bladder- leading to the sensation that the bladder is full
what parts of the CNS are involved in the micturition reflex?
pons
PAG
spinal cord
what happens to the bladder during micturition?
external urinary sphincter relaxes
bladder (detruser muscles) contracts
ddx for dementia?
delirium, depression, mild/moderate intellectual disability, drugs
side effects of cholinesterase inhibitors
GI disturbances (N+V, anorexia), vivid dreams, low heart rate, dizziness
describe fronto-temporal dementia?
early behavioural changes
executive dysfunction
language disturbance
there may be an associated family history
new learning is preserved until later stages
functions of frontal lobes
- inhibitory signals
- planning and organisation (anteriolateral side- most important function)
- motivator
what are some less common causes of dementia?
alcohol, HD, hydrocephalus, hypothyroidism, B12 deficiency, neurosyphilis
what is a normal residual bladder volume?
less than 50mls, but if they are older you can accept up to 100mls
components of CGA
medical history
functional ability
cognitive and psychological function
socioenviromental circumstances
define dementia
acquired chronic decline in high mental functioning that results in significant cognitive and social impairment
what is macrogol?
movicol- bulking agent for constipation
what does contained incontinence mean?
despite all the modifications/meds used, incontinence still occurs. So we just need to manage it (contain it) using pads etc
what do we mean by ‘cognitive impairment’ in dementia?
problems with: memory aphasia apraxia agnosia
what are the types of urinary incontinence?
stress
urge
overflow
mixed
what are some factors that determines a patient’s suitability for rehabilitation?
- medical stability
- cognition status
- level of motivation
- availability of supportive family/carers/environment
- reasonable timeframe?
if non-pharmacological and pharmacological methods for urge urinary incontinence fail, what can we do next?
what risks are involved?
intra-detruser botox injection
risk of self-catheterisation 10% of patients
what does a social worker do in terms of rehab?
assesses finances, social situation, living arrangements etc
what cognitive dysfunctions are seen in AD
learning abilities
memory/amnesia
apraxia
language difficulty
what does MMSE miss out on?
does not test frontal lobe function
what does dependent continence mean?
patient is continent if uses meds/behavioural modifications etc
what drugs can cause confusion?
levodopa/other parkinsonian drugs, steroids, anti-cholinergics, antibiotics, opioids
what are some ix you will order for an elderly patient who presents with a fall?
ECG DEXA scan Fingerprick glucose Urine drug screen x-ray if suspect fracture B12, folate, FBE/UEC/lipids etc vitamin D, CMP levels
a female patient presents with complaints of urinary incontinence. what are the key things to look for on examination?
All women presenting with incontinence need a pelvic examination with special attention to evaluate for vaginal atrophy, pelvic masses, and pelvic organ prolapse
+/- neuro exam
what drugs exacerbate urinary incontinence symptoms and why?
- hypnotics e.g. temazepam- will slow arousal and make it difficult to get to the toilet quickly
- ace inhibitors- chronic cough–> increased abdominal pressure
- calcium channel blockers e.g. verapamil–> constipation–> incontinence
- caffeine/alcohol–> direct bladder stimulant + diuretic
- alpha blockers- reduce outflow resistance–> exacerbates stress incontinence
what do we mean by ‘hot falls’
acutely unwell but present with a fall as a nonspecific marker of ill health
how do we test praxia?
ask the patient to copy drawing/diagrams
what are some causes of urinary incontinence that we cannot miss?
• Spinal cord compression
• MS
• Stroke
Diabetes
RUDAs stands for?
and how is it different from MMSE?
rowland universal dementia assessment scale
can cater for non-english speaking patients (bridges language barrier) and also tests some executive function
how do we choose patients for CGA?
opportunistic screening in hospital
GP referral to ACAS
describe the TUG test
timed up and go
patient needs to get up from chair, walk 3 m from chair and then back to the chair. Sit back in chair.
measured in secs and patient allowed normal gait aids.
Normal is less than 10secs
how might we manage urge incontinence?
Fluid restrict to 1.5L, avoid ETOH/caffeine, weight loss, bladder retraining with physiotherapy;
pharmacotherapy= anti-cholinergics- e.g. oxybutyrin, vaginal oestrogen (if atrophic vaginitis), TCA, beta 3 agonist (mirabegron)
botox injection for detruser muscles
referral to continence clinic/nurse
protective factors for dementia?
education
physical activity
social engagement
cognitive engagement
what ix do we need to consider in a CGA for an elderly patient?
there are no routine investigations.
test as indicated
what is a mechanical fall?
Falls due to major external factors
how might we assess an elderly patient’s nutrition?
mini nutritional assessment MNA
what nervous systems control the micturition reflex?
sympathetic T10-L2 (storage of urine)
parasympathetic S2-4 (voiding)
somatic S2-4 (voluntary voiding)
tell me about GDS?
geriatric depression screen
yes or no questionnaire, out of 15
>5 is suggestive of depression
risk factors for AD?
increasing age, down syndrome (extra chromosome 21= more APP), genetic predisposition (apolipoprotein E4)