Long-Term Care Midterm Flashcards
True or False? It is estimated that 50% of the population has activity limitations related to one or more chronic illnesses.
True
Chronic health condition
any impairment or deviation from the normal that is permanent, causes some disability and often requires a long period of care (on-going)
Does chronic health conditions interfere one’s daily activities?
yes
List the most prevalent chronic conditions among seniors 65+:
- arthritis and rheumatism
- high blood pressure
- stroke
- chronic pain
- heart disease
- cataracts
- diabetes
- COPD
- asthma
- depression
- heart disease
- stroke
- COPD
- high blood pressure
- diabetes
- arthritis and rheumatism
- asthma
- chronic pain
- cataracts
- depression
What factors affect a senior’s function?
- acute illness
- psychosocial factors
- environmental conditions
- age-related changes
- development of a new chronic illness
- existing chronic illness
- adverse effects of medication and other treatments
Identify effects other than physical of a chronic condition.
- fatigue
- depression
- zest for life is gone
- each action takes lots of energy
True or false? Only seniors are allowed to be admitted into a long term care facility.
False. Any individual of any age is allowed if they have a chronic health problem or disability
What is the goal of a long term care facility?
provide a normal home-like environment while teaching the patient to become as independent as possible
Name the types of long term care facilities.
- personal care homes
- rehabilitation centers
- mental health centers
- drug and alcohol treatment centres
Why do patients enter a rehabilitation center?
- after a period of treatment in an acute-care hospital
- to assist in restoring normal levels of functioning to be able to care for themselves again
- patient has good potential for recovery
Identify the staff in a rehabilitation center
- physical therapist
- occupational therapist
- nurse
Why do patients enter a mental health center?
- specializes in providing care for psychiatric disorders
- upon discharge, patient may live in group home
What are the common concerns of people with chronic conditions?
- loss of control
- increased dependency
- strangers providing intimate care
- pain
- financial stress
- loss of relationships, love, approval
- loss of former roles
- heightened sense of mortality, uncertainty of future
- change in living arrangements
True or false? All chronically ill individuals must find ways to cope
True, otherwise you’ve given up
How does coping help?
- manage distress
- restore sense of worth
- maintain relationships
- generate hope and fulfillment
Summarize Miller’s coping tasks
- Striving to feel normal
- Modifying routines and lifestyles
- Obtaining knowledge and skill for continuing self-care
- Maintaining a positive concept of self
- Adjusting to altered social relationships
- Grieving over the losses of chronic illness
- Dealing with role change
- Handling physical discomfort
- Complying with the prescribed regimen
- Confronting the inevitability of one’s own death
- Dealing with social stigma
- Maintaining a feeling of being in control
- Maintaining hope
How is striving to feel normal accomplished?
- covering up
- keeping up
- pacing
True or false? Must allow the chronic disease to become the person’s identity.
False
How can a chronic illness lead to social isolation and loneliness?
- depleted energy reserve
- poor self-concept
- feelings of unworthiness
- physically unable to participate in social events
Identify the losses a chronically ill individual may experience.
- physical abilities
- familiar routines
- self-esteem and self-confidence
- role performance
- relationships
- possessions
- lifestyle
- financial security
True or false? Hope for life and the will to live is related to having something and someone to live for.
True
Discuss the role of the health care aide when caring for patients with chronic health conditions.
- Supportive care provider
- good and bad days
- type, amount and frequency of lifelong support will vary
- encourage coping strategies
- do not talk about patient in their presence
- allow expression and concerns
- alert of psychological state of patient
- realistic hope
- respect and accept individuals
- encourage social interaction and participation - Promoting sense of control
- involve them in decision making
- allow to choose between two alternatives
- knock on door and ask permission to enter
- call light accessible - Facilitating maximal ability and independence
- encourage independence
- ensure access to assistive devices and personal effects
- be patient
- environment adaptable to sensory loss and mobility needs
True or false? The majority of patients who need long-term care are older.
True.
True or false? Living longer decreases the likelihood for the development of a chronic health problem or permanent disability.
False. Living longer increases the likelihood for the development of a chronic health problem or permanent disability.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Facts
- leading cause of death in North America
- blocks breathing airways
- most common form is chronic bronchitis and emphysema
- cause in 80 to 90% of cases is smoking, exposure to chemical fumes and organic dusts
Chronic bronchitis
- most common form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder
- airways narrow and plugged with mucus
Emphysema
- most common form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder
- enlargement and destruction of air sacs in lungs
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): symptoms and cure
- shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing
- progresses slowly and worsens over time, no cure, permanent
- controlled by: stop smoking, promote energy conservation, avoid cold air, eat healthy, lose weight, avoid infected people, exercise, medication, oxygen therapy and breathing exercises
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): medication
- pills, liquids, inhalers
- bronchodilators, steroids, antibiotics
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): breathing exercises
Pursed Lip Breathing:
-breath slowly through nose for 1 count, purse lips, breathe out slowly through pursed lips for 2 counts, repeat until no longer short of breath
Diaphragmatic Breathing:
-put one hand on upper chest and other on abdomen just above waist, breath in slowly through nose so only one hand rises, breath out slowly through pursed lips
Stroke: Facts
- fourth leading cause of death in Canada (16000 die)
- more women die than men
- 40000 to 50000 strokes each year
- 300000 live with effects
- after age 55, risk of stroke doubles every 10 years
- 10% severely disabled and require long-term care
- bleeding or blockage of blood vessel in brain causing it to die and stop functioning
Stroke: Warning signs
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Trouble speaking
- Vision problems
- Weakness
Stroke: what to do
- turn them on their affected side
- bend head without flexing neck
- loosen tight clothes
- call 911
- keep the person awake
- be calm and reassure
True or false? The right side of the brain controls the functions of the right side of the body.
False. The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body.
Stroke: Effects to right brain damage
- loss of hand, arm, leg or body control on left side (hemiplegia)
- left sided neglect
- space and perception deficits
- tends to minimize problems
- rapid movements and short attention span
- impulsive
- impaired judgement and time concepts
Stroke: Effects of left brain damage
- loss of hand, arm, leg or body control on right side (hemiplegia)
- impaired speech and language
- impaired right and left decimation
- slow performance
- aware of deficits therefore more prone to depression
- impaired comprehension especially language and math
Stroke: Treatment
- begin immediately
- goal to stop further damage to brain and maintain/restore ability
Stroke: Care measures of the health care aide
Dealing with communication difficulties:
-speak slowly and clearly, pausing between sentences, repeat or rephrase
-use gestures, facial expressions, pictures
-ask for communication tips used by therapist
Dealing with sensory-perceptual deficits:
-remind patient to check the position of their affected arm or leg
-encourage the client to look for objects towards the affected side
Dealing with emotional problems:
-be patient and understanding
-focus on patient’s accomplishments and strengths
Parkinson’s disease: Facts
- shaking palsy
- progressive movement disorder affecting part of the brain controlling voluntary movement
- affects men and women over 50 years
- parts of body affected and how badly depends from person to person
Parkinson’s disease: Symptoms
- tremors
- stiffness and rigidity of limbs and trunks
- slowness of movement
- gait or balance problems
- swallowing
- constipation
- sleep problems
- depression
- lack of facial expression
Parkinson’s disease: list difficulties that could result from the symptoms and how a health care aide can help
- difficulty with buttons and snaps on clothing ; choose clothing without buttons or zippers or Velcro
- difficulty opening doors; keep door open when patient is moving around
- difficulty walking; provide walking devices to help out
- difficulty writing; help to write letters for example
Parkinson’s disease: Symptoms that would affect an individual’s ability to interact with others
- lack of facial expression
- dementia (not remembering who the person is)
- emotional changes
- slurred speech (difficulty understanding)
- talking too fast
Parkinson’s disease: Cure and minimizing effects
- no cure
- use of medications
- exercise
- activity
- rest
- diet, increasing calories since weight loss is common
- positive attitude, keep calm and keep trying
Multiple sclerosis: Facts
- MS
- chronic, degenerative disease of the nervous system
- body attacks itself, causing damage to brain nerves and spinal cord, interfering with normal nerve signal
- cause severe disability
- does not shorten life
- 50 000 Canadians have MS
- more likely in women and in colder parts of world
- begins in young adulthood
Multiple sclerosis: Symptoms
- double vision, blind spots, blurred vision
- extreme fatigue
- loss of balance, dizziness, difficulty walking, clumsiness
- muscle weakness and stiffness
- tingling, numbness, burning feeling
- sensitivity to heat
- difficulty speaking
- difficulty swallowing
- tend to come and go
Multiple sclerosis: Factors contributing to returning symptoms
- infections
- warm weather
- fatigue
- stress
- anxiety
Multiple sclerosis: Practical tips offered by the MS Society of Canada
- beat the heat: dress lightly, eat cool foods, use fans, air conditioning, take cool baths/showers
- safety in the home: place regularly used items within reach, use microwave instead of oven, wear rubber gloves when using dishes, sit down when showering, use rubber bath mat, turn cold water on first, use night lights, keep floor free of obstacles, wear well fitting shoes, use handrails
Multiple sclerosis: Role of the health care aide
- ensure items are within reach
- provide bell nearby in case patient needs help
- ensure floors are free of obstacles
Arthritis: Facts
- wearing down of cartilage in joints
- men and women affected but in different ways (women in hands, knees, ankles and feet; men in hips, wrist and spine)
Arthritis: Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis
Osteoarthritis: breakdown of the cartilage that covers and protects the ends of bones; indicated by joint pain, swelling and stiffness
Rheumatoid arthritis: inflammation of the lining of joints or internal organs; painful and restrict movement
Arthritis: Symptoms
- swelling
- redness
- heat
- pain
- decreased mobility
Arthritis: Interventions of the health care aide
- alternating rest with activity
- encourage maintenance of independence
- hot/cold therapy
- protect and position joints
- pillows should never be placed under knees
Arthritis: Interventions (others not by health care aide)
- regular individualized exercise program
- medication
- weight reduction
- relaxation therapy
- surgery (hip and knee replacements)