Gero Ch. 17

Question 1

acute illness

Answer 1

• generally develop suddenly and last a short time, often only a few days or weeks
• Because of age-related changes, it takes longer to “bounce back,” or the person never fully returns to the prior state of health afterwards
• Sudden changes in an older adult call for prompt assessment to determine the possibility of a reversible condition.

Question 2

chronic illness

Answer 2

• develop slowly and may worsen over an extended period of time—months to years
• often worsens when an acute illness occurs
• defined broadly as conditions that last 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both. Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, anddiabetes are the leading causes of death anddisability in the United States. They are also leading drivers of the nation’s $3.5 trillion in annualhealth care costs.
• Many chronic diseases are caused by a short list of risk behaviors:
• Tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Poor nutrition, including diets low in fruits and vegetables and high in sodium and saturated fats.
• Lack of physical activity.
• Excessive alcohol use.

Question 3

Both chronic and acute are what?

Answer 3

They are both intricately intertwined.

Question 4

Major nursing function when it comes to chronic conditions

Answer 4

educate on how to avoid them, such as how to avoid diabetes, HTN, or COPD

Question 5

Function of chronic condition

Answer 5

Continues day after day

Occurs and progresses slowly

Level of impairment varies greatly.

Symptoms may interfere with many normal activities and routines.

Two out of every three older Americans have multiple chronic conditions.

Consequences include physical suffering, loss, worry, grief, depression, functional impairment, and increased dependence.

Can impair in an older adult’s ability to perform ADLs to function for themselves

Question 6

ADLs

Answer 6

activities of daily living

• bathing
• dental hygiene
• eating
• dressing
• transfer and mobility

Question 7

Education based on ADLs

Answer 7

Nurses have to educate patients on how to prevent worsening of condition and seek resources the patient will need.

We have to emphasize self-care management to these patients or they will not have a quality of life for long.

Question 8

IADLs

Answer 8

Instrumental activities of daily living

• shopping
• cooking and cleaning
• using telephone or transportation
• managing money and medications

Question 9

Geriatric syndromes

Answer 9

• associated with reduced life expectancy
• involves a number of conditions, such as such as dementia, depression, delirium, incontinence, vertigo, falls, spontaneous bone fractures, failure to thrive, and neglect and abuse.

Other conditions include frailty, sleep disorders, pressure ulcers, sarcopenia, and malnutrition

conditions have to interfere with a person’s daily life in order for it to be identified

Question 10

Nursing roles that have to be performed

Answer 10

• counselor
• educator
• direct caregiver
• coordinator
• advocate

Question 11

counselor

Answer 11

Listen to their story and see their potential

Question 12

educator

Answer 12

Educate about everything you do (med admin, nursing actions)

Question 13

direct caregiver

Answer 13

Caring for the patient and providing direct care at the bedside

Question 14

coordinator

Answer 14

Seeking the appropriate resources and communicating with everyone on their team

Question 15

advocate

Answer 15

Know the patient’s needs even when they are not aware of them and seek to get them met