Special Groups Nursing Assessment Paper

Special Groups Nursing Assessment Paper

Special Groups Nursing Assessment Paper

            The increasing number of the elderly population in the United States is unprecedented. Approximately 49 million adults in the United States were 65 years or older in the year 2016, accounting for approximately 15% of the entire population (Lee & Kim, 2018). Come 2030, the number is anticipated to reach about 71 million. Growing old is associated with increased risks of developing chronic conditions like heart disease, dementia, arthritis diabetes mellitus, and cancer among others. Currently, prevention of the functional decline among older adults has been made a priority in most developed countries, while senior centers have been regarded as potentially significant places for conducting health promotion practices (Kossioni et al., 2018). The initial health promotion practice is to conduct a routine assessment of the elderly to promote early diagnosis and management of health problems before they worsen.

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Assessment of Older Adults

            Clinical guidelines recommend routine health assessments of older adults to promote early diagnosis. Physicians are expected to screen for future risks of falls, depression, hearing loss, and cognitive impairment among others. As a result, it is recommended that older adults undergo yearly screening for depression, falls, gait and balance, urinary incontinence, hearing impairment, visual acuity testing, and cognitive impairment screening. Their functional status is assessed using tools such as Tinetti Balance Assessment Tool, Timed Up and Go Test, Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale, Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living, and Home Safety Self-Assessment Tool (Lee & Kim, 2018). A mini nutrition assessment is also utilized to assess their nutrition, whereas a Mini-Cog examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessmentare utilized in assessing their cognition. To assess for depression, the Geriatric Depression Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Patient Health Questionnaire-2 are utilized.

Findings Common Among Older Adults

Studies show that a third of people older than 65 years fall each year. Screening for risks of fall among older adults is thus very crucial with a likelihood of more than 60 percent reporting positive outcomes. Consequently, depression is common among older adults, presenting as weight loss, apathy, or cognitive impairment as outlined in the assessment tool (Kossioni et al., 2018). Nutritional assessment is more likely to reveal weight loss and malnutrition among most older adults. Lastly, older adults are more likely to display positive results for hearing and vision loss, and urinary incontinence, and impaired memory and cognition.

Health Promotion Activities

            Given the decline in the immune system with age, it is essential to ensure that older adults are up to date with their immunization. For instance, the annual influenza vaccine is crucial with Prevnar 13 at the age of 65 and thePneumovax 23 a year later (Lee & Kim, 2018). For adults older than 50 years, two doses of recombinant herpes zoster vaccine dosed between 2 to 6 months apart. Additional health promotion practices include promoting smoking cessation, avoiding alcohol misuse, engaging in a lot of exercises, and eating a balanced diet. Sleeping for 6 to 8 hours is also recommended to promote their health and well-being.

Conclusion

With the drastically advancing healthcare system, most people are growing older, increasing the number of the geriatric population in the United States. The aging process is associated with a decline in physiological and psychological functioning. As a result, older people are at high risk of numerous chronic diseases like heart diseases. Routine screening is thus recommended yearly to promote early diagnosis and management of identified complications.

References

Kossioni, A. E., Hajto-Bryk, J., Janssens, B., Maggi, S., Marchini, L., McKenna, G., … & Zarzecka, J. (2018). Practical guidelines for physicians in promoting oral health in frail older adults. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 19(12), 1039-1046. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2018.10.007

Lee, S. J., & Kim, C. M. (2018). Individualizing prevention for older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 66(2), 229-234. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15216

Discussion post

Nursing Assessment

The purpose of this assignment is to examine assessment techniques and findings of specific populations such as childbearing women, newborns/infants, children, adolescents, or older adults
Choose one of the special populations and describe the specific process(es) used to assess the group. Include assessments and findings specific to the group, tools used to assess the group, and health promotion activities specific to the group.

Use APA style formatting for in-text and reference list citations.
Textbook Janet R Weber/ Jane H Kelley Health Assessment in Nursing
Course Objective(s):
Explain the health promotion needs in selected special populations