Physical Changes and Lifestyle
This population may experience physical changes that affect mobility, nutrition, elimination, communication, safety, and independence.
Older adults
Difficulty walking, weakness, stiffness, and limited range of motion are examples of this common older adult care problem.
Impaired mobility
Regular walking, range-of-motion exercises, and strengthening activities help promote this.
Mobility
Chronic incontinence can cause embarrassment, isolation, depression, and loss of this personal feeling.
Dignity or self-esteem
Nurses should not assume that older adults no longer have concerns about this part of life.
Sexuality
Decreased muscle strength, joint stiffness, slower reflexes, and balance changes may affect this part of an older adult’s lifestyle.
Mobility
This common problem may result from poor balance, medications, weakness, vision changes, or hazards in the home.
Falls
Canes, walkers, nonskid shoes, and grab bars are examples of these supports.
Skin breakdown, odor, urinary tract infections, and falls while rushing to the bathroom are possible physical consequences of this problem.
Incontinence
Chronic illness, pain, fatigue, medications, body image changes, and loss of a partner may affect this in older adults.
Sexual expression or sexual function
Vision loss, hearing loss, and decreased touch sensation are examples of these age-related changes.
Sensory changes
This problem involves involuntary loss of urine or stool and can affect dignity, skin integrity, and social life.
Incontinence
Encouraging the older adult to change positions slowly helps prevent dizziness from this blood pressure problem.
Orthostatic hypotension
Poor dentition, trouble swallowing, medication effects, limited income, grief, and depression may alter this in older adults.
Nutrition
Taking many medications at the same time is called this.
Polypharmacy
Physical changes in older adulthood may increase dependence on others for bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and these daily tasks.
Activities of daily living or ADLs
Poor appetite, difficulty chewing, limited income, loneliness, and chronic illness may contribute to this problem.
Altered nutrition or malnutrition
Removing throw rugs, improving lighting, clearing clutter, and securing cords help prevent this in the home.
Falls
Facing the patient, speaking clearly, reducing background noise, and checking hearing aids help communication with this sensory deficit.
Hearing loss
Multiple chronic illnesses, several prescribers, OTC drugs, herbal products, and medication changes increase the risk for this problem.
Polypharmacy
This nursing approach helps older adults maintain as much control, function, and self-care ability as possible.
Promoting independence
Hearing loss, vision changes, and decreased sensation are examples of this common category of older adult care problems.
Sensory deficits
Keeping frequently used items within reach helps prevent falls by reducing the need for this unsafe action.
Climbing, stretching, or overreaching
Large print, good lighting, contrasting colors, and keeping the environment organized help safety for patients with this sensory deficit.
Vision loss
Clue:
An older adult has poor vision, takes several medications, gets dizzy when standing, and has throw rugs throughout the home. The nurse teaches about lighting, removing hazards, changing positions slowly, reviewing medications, and using assistive devices.
Fall prevention and safety teaching