Nursing care of older adult/pt with delirium and dementia Flashcards
How is the older population divided?
65-74 - young old
75-84 - old
85+ - old old
What are developmental tasks of the older adult?
Adjust to decreasing health, strength, retirement/reduced/fixed income, death of spouse, accepting self as an aging person, redefining relationships with adult children, maintaining quality of life
What is Erikson’s Ego vs. Despair?
If you don’t meet objectives, you won’t have happiness/achievement of what is necessary; increased potential for depression
What are psychosocial issues of aging?
Social isolation, financial constraints, living with illness and disability, living arrangements
What is MOLST?
Medical orders for life sustaining treatment - standardized form to be accepted everywhere in the case of a life/death emergency situation
When is validation therapy appropriate?
During the late stages of AD and during delirium
What are common physiological changes with aging?
Decrease in connective tissue in the skin, cataracts, floaters, farsightedness, hearing loss, decrease of proprioception, sleep changes (need less), decreased sense of taste/snell, BPH, incontinence, STDs; S&S of diseases being absent, blunted, or atypical
What are characteristics of an older adult with acute illness?
Change in mental status Falls Dehydration Decreased appetite Decreased function Dizziness Incontinence
How does memory change as one ages?
Full cognitive function
Mild, short term memory loss is common
Memory loss leading to change in functional status is not normal
What are symptoms of altered cognitive functioning?
Disorientation Loss of language skills Loss of judgment Dementia (chronic) Delirium (acute)
What is the MMSE? What is it used for?
Mini-Mental State Exam
Used to assess cognitive functioning
Draw a clock
What is dementia?
Gradual and progressive irreversible loss of cognition
AD is most common form
What are warning signs of AD?
Memory loss, especially of recent events, names, placement of objects
Difficulty with complex mental assignments (balancing checkbook)
Disorientation
Struggling to complete familiar actions
Lack of judgment
Loss of language
Misplacing things (wristwatch in sugar bowl)
Changes in mood and personality
Rapid mood changes
Personality changes
What are symptoms of early AD?
Short-term memory loss
Misplacing things
Decreased ability to plan
What are symptoms of mid AD?
Personality changes
Unable to recall important details
Memory of self and family remains intact
Disorientation
