Teaching should be individualized and based on a thorough assessment of the patient's abilities to administer medication safely and the specific medication regimen. By involving older adults as active partners in their health care, many errors and medication-related health problems can be prevented.
Full Answer
What makes an effective teaching-learning plan for older adults?
In order for the teaching-learning plan to be effective, it must be individualized to fit the needs and lifestyle of the older patient, and in order for goals to be mutually acceptable, the patient must participate actively in goal setting.
What are the benefits of group teaching for the elderly?
Group teaching may help some elderly patients increase their health-related problem solving abilities. When suggesting lifestyle changes, be aware that many elderly patients are cautious and may not make changes easily.
Why is it important to teach older adults about health promotion?
Teaching older adults. Health promotion is an important activity throughout the life span. Older adults are not too old to stop smoking, start exercising, or change their diets. One of the greatest challenges is to dispel misconceptions about health promotion among older adults.
What is the role of medication management in the elderly?
Managing medications is a major part of providing care to older adults. Polypharmacy is common in the elderly and is fraught with risks. A careful and systematic approach is needed for managing drug therapy in these patients, recognizing the patient's specific goals. Medication management in older adults Cleve Clin J Med.
Why medication management is important in elderly?
Older adults often take multiple medications, vitamins, and supplements to treat different symptoms and health conditions, and this can increase their risk of medication mix-ups. In some cases, these simple mix-ups can become dangerous and even fatal.
Why is it important to educate patients about their medications?
Despite improving in patients' skill and self-care by providing information about the treatment, patient education could enhance their empowerment and medication adherence. In addition, patient education could reduce the medical expenses in terms of long term care for both patients and society.
How can medication help the elderly?
10 tips for home medication management for seniorsGather all medications, vitamins, OTC meds, and supplements into one location. ... Make sure medication is stored properly. ... Create and maintain an up-to-date medication list. ... Pre-sort medications for the week. ... Double check for negative drug interactions.More items...
What are the benefits of teaching clients about the medication and treatment program?
Benefits of Patient Education: Less prescription abandonment due to understanding why the medication is crucial to recovery. More follow through with treatment plans due to understanding of the disease/illness. Patient education leads to better patient satisfaction with providers and their overall care.
What are the benefits of patient education?
What Are the Benefits of Patient Education?Letting patients have a say in their care.Preparing patients to care for themselves at home.Nurturing patient trust, confidence and satisfaction.Easing patient anxiety about treatment.Collaborating with patients about course of action.Strengthening communication with patient.
How does medication affect older adults?
Common side effects of medicines in older adults can be dizziness and falls, weight loss or weight gain, and changes in memory or our ability to think and process information. These, in turn, can cause older adults to get hurt and may ultimately lessen their ability to function in day-to-day life.
Assessing Learning Needs For The Older Adult
During all phases of the teaching-leaning process (including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation), you should focus your attention...
Teaching Strategies to Consider For Older Adults
Consider using specific teaching techniques when providing health teaching for older people. Some elders have increasing difficulty understanding c...
Compensating For Impairments That Interfere With Learning
If the elderly patient has impaired vision, use adequate diffused light, and avoid having the older patient face a direct source of light. If the p...
How to teach elderly people about health?
Consider using specific teaching techniques when providing health teaching for older people. Some elders have increasing difficulty understanding complex sentences, are less proficient than younger people in drawing inferences, and have problems with motor tasks. Present new information at a slower rate than you do for younger patients. Speak in a low tone of voice and allow enough time for the patient to assimilate and integrate conceptual material. Allow plenty of time for the assimilation and integration of conceptual material, and emphasize concrete rather than abstract material. It is important to reduce environmental distractions, both to compensate for any age-related hearing loss and to help the patient with attention and concentration. Group teaching may help some elderly patients increase their health-related problem solving abilities. When suggesting lifestyle changes, be aware that many elderly patients are cautious and may not make changes easily. The implications for patient teaching are that we must take more time in teaching and that we should deliver the educational materials in small increments so that the material can be integrated.
Why is health promotion important for older adults?
Health promotion is an important activity throughout the life span. Older adults are not too old to stop smoking, start exercising, or change their diets. One of the greatest challenges is to dispel misconceptions about health promotion among older adults. It is important for the nurse to understand normal physiological ...
What is the importance of a detailed medical history?
During all phases of the teaching-leaning process (including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation), you should focus your attention not just on the existing medical problem, but also on the potentially numerous functional and psychosocial problems that are common to old age. A detailed history is a critical part of the assessment. If the patient is not a reliable informant, a family member or significant other should be included. Besides the medical history, a comprehensive social history can identify potential problems with the home environment, support systems, financial resources, and various stresses that may be contributing to the medical problem. An accurate diet history is especially important if the patient is being placed on any kind of diet restriction. It is good practice to ask the elderly patient to bring in all medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, for complete evaluation.
Why is group teaching important?
It is important to reduce environmental distractions, both to compensate for any age-related hearing loss and to help the patient with attention and concentration. Group teaching may help some elderly patients increase their health-related problem solving abilities.
Why is it important to interact with elderly patients?
It is important to interact with each elderly patient as a unique individual, capable of learning and changing.
How does a nurse help patients?
The nurse is often in an excellent position to help patients follow medical recommendations by providing information, considering patients‘ individual needs, building an awareness of community services that can help lessen social isolation, and helping them maintain their independence.
How to compensate for hearing loss?
To compensate for hearing loss, use a low-pitched voice, speak clearly and slowly, and face the patient while talking. Encourage the patient who has a hearing aid to use it.
How does aging affect pharmacokinetics?
Pharmacokinetics involves the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of medications . In older adults, absorption from the gastrointestinal tract is not significantly affected. There may be delays in achieving peak drug levels, but there is no clinically significant decrease in total absorption. Decreased absorption from intramuscular injections or transdermal patches may occur due to decreased blood perfusion to muscles and skin, so it is important to monitor the clinical effects of the medication and adjust the dosage form if necessary. Distribution of medications in the body depends on whether the medication is water-soluble or lipid-soluble. With age, there is an increase in body fat. Therefore, the volume of distribution for lipid-soluble medications is increased in older adults. The clinical significance of this is that a lipid-soluble medication will accumulate in the body fat and when the medication is discontinued, will take longer to be totally eliminated from the body ( Delafuente, 2008 ). Liver function may be decreased in older adults and some metabolic pathways can be decreased. For drugs metabolized to inactive metabolites, it is advised to start with the lowest possible dose when metabolism is decreased. Most significantly, renal function is generally decreased in older adults. Therefore, medications that are excreted unchanged in the urine will have a prolonged half-life. Medications excreted by the kidneys will often need to have dosage reductions in older adults. It is important to estimate creatinine clearance before initiating medications excreted by the kidneys.
What are the changes that occur with aging?
There are a number of physiologic changes that occur with aging that can affect both the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of medications. Pharmacokinetics involves the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of medications.
What is polypharmacy in medicine?
Polypharmacy, use of multiple medications to treat chronic comorbid conditions in older adults (persons over age 65), has been described in the literature as a potential cause for an increase in drug–drug interactions, injurious falls, hospitalization, and morbidity.
What are the implications of the aging population?
With this population comes medical complexity including cognitive impairment, and diagnoses such as congestive heart failure and diabetes.
Why is medication reconciliation important?
Transition of care is a critical area of management for older adults. This is mainly due to lack of communication between patients, families, and providers.
Does lipid soluble medication increase in older adults?
Therefore, the volume of distribution for lipid-soluble medications is increased in older adults. The clinical significance of this is that a lipid-soluble medication will accumulate in the body fat and when the medication is discontinued, will take longer to be totally eliminated from the body ( Delafuente, 2008 ).
Do medications have a half life?
Therefore, medications that are excreted unchanged in the urine will have a prolonged half-life. Medications excreted by the kidneys will often need to have dosage reductions in older adults. It is important to estimate creatinine clearance before initiating medications excreted by the kidneys.
What is the role of managing medications in older adults?
Managing medications is a major part of providing care to older adults. Polypharmacy is common in the elderly and is fraught with risks. A careful and systematic approach is needed for managing drug therapy in these patients, recognizing the patient's specific goals.
What is medication management in older adults?
Medication management in older adults. Managing medications is a major part of providing care to older adults. Polypharmacy is common in the elderly and is fraught with risks. A careful and systematic approach is needed for managing drug therapy in these patients, recognizing the patient's specific goals. Managing medications is a major part of ...
How to help arthritis pain in older adults?
Be active. Physical activity, such as walking, bicycling, and swimming, decreases arthritis pain and improves function, mood, and quality of life. Better physical function reduces the risk of falls and fall-related injuries and helps older adults stay independent.
What is the CDC's Alzheimer's program?
CDC’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Healthy Aging Program works with partners and states to gather information on self-reported cognitive decline and caregiving among adults through the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). To encourage using these data for action, CDC developed an interactive data portal and a series of statistical briefs and infographics.
How to help arthritis?
CDC recommends several proven ways to help people manage arthritis symptoms: Join a self-management education program, such as the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, that teaches the skills and confidence to live well with arthritis every day. Be active.
What is the purpose of the National Diabetes Prevention Program?
Providing CDC-recognized lifestyle change programs to Medicare beneficiaries through the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
How many people are up to date on preventive services?
Increasing the use of preventive services by adults aged 50 or older is a key public health strategy, given the rapid aging of the US population. Unfortunately, only 25% of adults aged 50 to 64 and less than 50% of those 65 or older are up to date on these potentially life-saving services.
How much does Alzheimer's cost?
In 2019, health care and long-term care costs associated with Alzheimer’s and other dementias were $290 billion, making them some of the costliest conditions to society.
Is dementia a reward for caregivers?
Although caregiving may be rewarding, caregivers are at risk of increased stress, depression, unhealthy behaviors, and poor attention to their own health. Caregivers of people with dementia are at even higher risk, and they may delay dealing with their own health needs.
What is the most misused drug in senior hope?
Most Misused Substances Are Alcohol and Heroin. Alcohol remains the most common drug of misuse among those seeking help at Senior Hope. However, recently the proportion of people admitted to Senior Hope primarily for heroin use has increased from 11% (17 out of 155) in 2014 to 23.1% (six out of 26) so far in 2015, according to OASAS data. ...
Can older adults go to group therapy?
For some older adults with substance use disorders, attending group therapy with many younger adults can be uncomfortable. “Elders are in a different stage of life and grew up in a time when having an addiction or mental illness received a great deal of stigma,” explained Nicole MacFarland, executive director of Senior Hope, Inc.,
Can substance abuse affect housing?
Longtime substance use may also have consequences for the individual’s family and housing status. For example, a 67-year-old man with an alcohol use disorder may turn to a local homeless shelter after divorcing and losing his job. Others may move from the home of one family member to another in lieu of permanent housing.
How to prevent mistakes in medication management?
Whether you use a weekly pill organizer or medications directly from their bottles, establish a way of knowing you have taken your doses. Keep a Medication Calendar like this on the refrigerator, or near where you take your medications, and check off your medications as you take them. Make sure to always turn on the lights and put on your glasses.
Can you take two of a medication?
The medical specialists at the Poison Center can help you review your medications and determine the safest course of action. Never assume you can take two of a medication. It is always safer to ask an expert first because there are many different formulations and strengths.
What is the role of managing medications in older adults?
Managing medications is a major part of providing care to older adults. Polypharmacy is common in the elderly and is fraught with risks. A careful and systematic approach is needed for managing drug therapy in these patients, recognizing the patient’s specific goals.
What is the most commonly prescribed medication in the United States?
Proton pump inhibitors. Proton pump inhibitors are among the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States, and their use has increased significantly over the decade. It has been estimated that between 25% and 70% of these prescriptions have no appropriate indication. 44.
How effective are statins?
Statins are effective when used as secondary prevention in older adults, 7 but their efficacy when used as primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in people age 75 and older is questionable. 8 Nevertheless, they are widely used for this purpose. For example, before the 2013 joint guidelines of the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) were released, 22% of patients age 80 and older in the Geisinger health system were taking a statin for primary prevention. 9
What are anticholinergic drugs?
Drugs with anticholinergic properties are commonly prescribed in the elderly for conditions such as muscle spasm, over active bladder, psychiatric disorders, insomnia, extrapyramidal symptoms, vertigo, pruritus, peptic ulcer disease, seasonal allergies, and even the common cold, 15 and many of the drugs often prescribed have strong anticholinergic properties ( Table 1 ). Taking multiple medications with anticholinergic properties results in a high “anticholinergic burden,” which is associated with falls, impulsive behavior, poor physical performance, loss of independence, dementia, delirium, and brain atrophy. 15 – 18
What is the most commonly prescribed psychotropic drug?
Benzodiazepines are among the most commonly prescribed psychotropics in developed countries and are prescribed mainly by primary care physicians rather than psychiatrists. 23. In 2008, 5.2% of US adults ages 18 to 80 used a benzodiazepine, and long-term use was more prevalent in older patients (ages 65–80). 23.
What is a periodic review of medication?
In older patients, a periodic comprehensive medication review is needed to reevaluate the risks and the benefits of current medications in light of goals of care, life expectancy, and the patient’s preferences.
Does statin therapy replace other risk factors?
Statin therapy does not replace modification of other risk factors.
