Prelims: Care with Perceptual and Coordination Problems Flashcards
perception and coordination
- nervous system
- sensory perceptual functions
- musculo-skeletal system
age related changes in the structure and function of central nervous system
physiologic changes
- loss of brain cells
- decreased blood flow
- decreased regulation of body temp
- decreased endorphins
loss of brain cells effect:
able to maintain function with remaining cells
decreased brain blood flow effect:
short term memory loss
decreased regulation of body temp effect:
hypothermia, hyperthermia risk
decreased endorphins effect:
increased depression
age related changes in the structure and function of peripheral nervous system
physiologic changes
- decreased sensations
- increased reaction times
- decreased motor coordination
decreased sensation effects:
risk for injury, burns
increased reaction time effects:
slow response, injury risk
decreased motor coordination effects:
unsteady, fall risk
assessment of conginitive function (screening tools)
- functional assessment
- mental status examination
- depression assessment
> screening tools are used to estimate, determine; does not diagnose
clinica manifestations
- slower to react and respond
- learning takes longer
- becomes confused with hospital admission
- faintness
- frequent falls
- postural hypotension
common neurologic system disorders
- altered thought processes (depression, delirium, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and other dementia related diseases)
- wandering, paranoia or suspiciousness, hallucinations and delusions and catastrophic reactions
alzheimers
more advanced, faster than dementia, progressive, degenerating
dementia
slower, then effectivity is altered
