Psychosocial Adaptation of the elderly Flashcards
Normative Transitions in later adulthood
- Adjustment to retirement
- Death of spouse, relatives &friends
- Declining health and mobility
- Grandparenthood
- Increased dependence on others
Psychosocial Adaptation
- Role Function
- self concept physical and personal self
- interdependence
How can nurses help the elderly achieve ego integrity?
- Encourage reminiscence (genogram!)
- Use of therapeutic communication techniques and counseling such as use of touch, relaxation techniques, being a confidant, helping patient work through present and past feelings, validates concerns and fears, and listen to life review
- Help the patient to remain as autonomous as possible
Successful aging?
- Positive Self- Esteem
- Control
- Life Satisfaction & Morale
- Happiness
- Relationships
- Self-acceptance
- Environmental mastery
- Personal growth & Purpose in Life
Frail vs Hardy
Frail vs. Hardy
- Hardy
- Control
- Commitment
- Challenge
A frail person:
- Has less resilience to loss, change, & illness.
- Is more susceptible to abuse, illness, fraud & accidents
Interventions to help the frail
- Nurses can assist the elderly to regain a sense of control over their lives
- To feel committed or involved in something that gives meaning
- To welcome change as exciting
Assessment tools
Braden scale
-predicts the patient’s risk of pressure ulcers
Mini- Mental Status Exam (MMSE)
-use to assess cognitive impairment
Mcgill Interdisciplinary Geriatric Profile
Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale- assesses person’s overall functioning such as social, psychological, occupational & school.
Depression scale test
S & S of relocation stress syndrome
- Anxiety
- apprehension
- increased or new confusion
- sadness or depression
- loneliness
- sleep
- g.i., disturbances
- anorexia
- restlessness
- withdrawal
- grief
- hopelessness & physical signs of stress
Pre location interventions
- Promote sense of control, autonomy, mastery be –involved in decisions
- connect older person with available resources
- assess the older person’s relocation needs
- individualize a realistic relocation plan
- promote coping
- assist with pre-move preparation
- facilitate continuity of care
Post location interventions
- promote a sense of control, autonomy, mastery
- provide social support and activities
- promote coping with relocation
- orient the person to their new surroundings
- maintain continuity of care
- ensure physical and psychosocial needs are met
Types of elder mistreatment
- Physical
- Sexual
- Psychological
- Financial
- Neglect
- Abandonment
- Course of Action
Typical abused elderly
- White woman
- Single
- Over 75
- Dependent on a caregiver for shelter and food
- Incontinent
- Frail or have an illness or mental disability
Abusers
- Family member
- Middle-aged or older
- Daughter or son of the elder
- Low self-esteem
- Impaired impulse control
Nursing interventions to maintain/promote psychosocial adaptation in aging
- promote positive and societal attitudes towards aging
- promote self esteem
- promotion of coping with life changes
- advocacy for elderly victims of abuse
Nursing intervention for caregiver burden
- providing info
- advocating
- arranging for respite care
- encouraging family member to express concerns
