Health Issues and Management in Osteoarthritis: A Case Study

This study focuses on the health issues and management of Osteoarthritis in an 81-year-old patient. It discusses the medication management, assessment services, and the role of communication in optimizing patient outcomes.

ASSIGNMENT

Contents
INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................3
HEALTH ISSUES.................................................................................................................................3
MANAGEMENT..................................................................................................................................3
ASSESSMENT AND SERVICES........................................................................................................4
COMMUNICATION............................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION.....................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES......................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Mr. Jack Lorenzo is a 81 year old Italian immigrant who has been suffering from
Osteoarthritis in fingers and knees. 15 years ago the GP has recommended Jack to have a
double knee replacement, but Jack did not agree with that. At 81 years of age knee
replacement surgery in turn is considered to be very risky. He does not move much which in
turn results in low mood on a persistent basis. Jack is on various set of medications which in
turn includes meloxicam for Osteoarthritis and metoprolol for high degree of blood pressure.
He frequently takes Asprins for headaches. Recently, Jack is experiencing fatigue and
shortage of breath. One fine evening, Jack was found semi- conscious on the toilet. Jack was
found to be anaemic when transported to the hospital. This study will highlight on
determining the heath issues of the patient. Medication management and assessment services
in order to provide best possible services to the patient. This study will also evaluate how
communication helps in optimizing the outcome of the patients.
HEALTH ISSUES
Osteoarthritis is one of the major leading cause of disability and pain among the elderly
people (Hutchinson, (2019)). Osteoarthritis tends to cause the cartilage present in the joint in
order to become stiff. This in turn loses its elasticity and in turn makes the person more
susceptible to damage. Obesity and fatigue in turn is considered to be one of the major cause
of Osteoarthritis. Joint injury is one of the major aetiology which in turn tends to contain
modifiable risk factors which in turn results in the development of the Osteoarthritis. Over
use of joint, age, family history, secondary arthritis, sex and being obese in turn is considered
to be as one of the major cause of the occurrence of Osteoarthritis (Jeon & Kendig, (2017).
Aging in turn is considered to be one of the primary cause of Osteoarthritis. High blood
pressure can also be one of the major cause which in turn largely leads to Osteoarthritis
among individuals. The pathophysiology of the Osteoarthritis is that it tends to occur due to
wear and tear of the disease which tends to worsen with the increase in the age. It tends to
result in degradation of the articular cartilage within the inflammatory cells within the
surrounding tissues.
MANAGEMENT
Medication management: This is considered to be as an effective service which in turn is designed to
effectively help individuals in managing the medication of the patients (Ofori-Asenso & et.al.,

(2018). It is useful in understanding the various set of advances in order to determine and predict the
human health conditions. This helps patients to take medications on a timely manner. This helps in
avoiding dangers associated with the incorrect medical administration. This service in turn is
considered to be as the assisted living setting and other senior living communities. Jack must take
recommended set of dose by the health care practitioner’s. Jack has been recommended to take Non-
steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (Parry, Zahidi & Um, (2018)). Jack is supposed to take
ibuprofen such as Mortin IB, Naproxen sodium such as Aleve, includes meloxicam for
Osteoarthritis and metoprolol for high degree of blood pressure. Medication management in
turn is considered to be very useful because it helps in gaining better set of outcomes for the
older adults. It also results in low degree of stress for the family members and patients. This
also helps in improving the health outcome of the patient (Nguyen & et.al., (2017)). This way
it will help in reducing the level of pain, illness and deaths among the patient seeking care.
Medication management is an effective provision which helps in monitoring the health
outcomes of the patients. It helps in reducing the non- compliance which in turn leads to
better health results associated with the Osteoarthritis.
Treatment management:
According to Atkins (2016) the treatment related to knee pain is to be managed by
verifying the actual condition of the Jack. If they feel that the recovered of knee can be done
though carrying the exercise or any type of meditation, than the surgery can be avoided in
that case.
Batchelor & et.al., (2019) stated that Therapy is the best treatment which can be
provided by the doctors in respect of avoiding any kind of operation which in future affecting
the health condition of the patients. In case of jack, the movement of knee and figures can be
again in position if Jack carry the therapy in daily bases. It is the duty of the nurse, to verify
that the Jack is performing his duty and also helps him in doing such exercise in right
manner.
ASSESSMENT AND SERVICES
By examining the case of Mr. Jack Di Lorenzo who is attaining the age of 81 years
facing various health issues such as high blood pressure and meloxicam osteoarthritis which
is usual in his age. By referring the services which is mentioned under the Australian institute

of health and welfare is relating to the data integration. As through integrating the
information relating to the examining the patients activity such as their movement of legs on
the particular time period. As the main chances of recovering from this issues is through
examining the movement of legs in stipulated time period (Bennett & et.al., 2019). By
collecting the data from such report, the accurate planning is set to take the next step to apply
new step to make the improvement in Jack life. Another services which is provided to
patients is relating to the counselling session. In this the yoga session or any other activity
which enhances the movement of legs resulting in getting more chances of improvement of
health.
The issue of blood pressure is mainly raised in respect of excessive thinking or
continuation of work without any break. In this the services which is provide by nurses to
patients is relating to motivating them to spend their own time with them or doing any
activity which bring happiness to them (Bennett, Cartwright & Young, 2019). Motivation is
also done in respect of attending any NGO or helping centers to spend some time with their
age people. In respect of improving the health condition, the expertise advice is also
important. As instead of attempting the daily check, weekly check up by the expertise who
provide the accurate guidance and treatment for the health issues.
The patients is suffering from the osteoarthritis in his fingers, which can only be
resolved in respect of having the exercise of his figures and also putting less pressure to attain
any task. As the chances of improvement is less, if the patients handle huge loads and the
whole pressure lies on the figures (Cash, Moyle & O'Dwyer, 2017). Thus, nurse had to take
care that the Jack not load heavy things and also carry the exercise on hourly bases. Through
this manner, the blood circulation varies in whole the hands and the chances of frequent
movement of figures spread again.
The services which is provided by the Australian institute of health and welfare is
relating to appointing the whole time expertise person who handle the patient health issues in
better way and bring various innovative ideas to merge the person into certain work. Through
this manner, the chances of improvement is higher and also Jack is emerged in the work. The
reason of facing health issues is arises due to the level of depression or living alone, without
interacting with any one or spending life with them (Chenoweth & et.al., 2018). Thus, the
problem can be resolve with they spent time with their same age people or interact with the

community or society or spend time with family, helps in recovering from the issues in better
manner.
COMMUNICATION
It is necessary that communication is to be maintained with the doctor and patients
regarding sharing their day to day treatment or activities which they are undertaking during
the period of treatment. The duty of the doctors is to communicate the present health issues
and also the variation which they had to adapt in respect of viewing their existing conditions.
Thus, they had to communicate clearly about the present situation or condition which the jack
is facing. In respect of having high blood pressure, doctors must provide the accurate
strategies and guidance in respect of medical treatment or health and welfare services, to
improve the condition of the Jack (Communicating with Patients, 2020). In respect of nurse
who is appointed to handle Jack issues, must communicate properly with the doctor and nurse
and also with the family members. Nurse is the mediators who plays the role in respect of
improving the health condition through properly checking the health status of the Jack. They
also maintain the register to write the hourly working of the Jack and also the exercise which
is imposed on Jack for the movement of figures and knee. Thus, the information which is
committed to Jack is relating to their health improvement or the exercises which he adapted
in beneficial or not (Collings, Dew, & Dowse, 2016). The information is also gathered from
Jack regarding the feeling or pain which occurs during the time of treatment or exercise.
By this aspects the information which is communicated to patient family is true and
also if any crises arises, than detailed disclosure of the Jack heath is to be communicate to his
family. It is also necessary that patients must be aware about his health condition and also
must disclose all the feeling which he is facing during the time of treatment (Cornell, 2018).
Thus, nurse carry the responsibility in respect of sharing all the detail with the patients and
also motivating them to continue the exercise. So that, they remain fit or improve the health
condition in right manner.
To communicate with the patients, it is necessary that the language which is used
must be clear and understandable. By this manner, the patients feel motivated and also think
that they are not suffering from any serious diseases. Similarly in case of Jack, this is helpful
in respect of communicating the information in the form of using the body sign or posture to
present the information (Diminic & et.al., 2019). By this manner, doctors communicate the

acute information to jack and also make changes in their medical treatment, if the previous
treatment is not responding to any perspective of improvement.
Another information which is communicated to patients is relating to the changing
their day to day routine and planning to spend the quality time with their family. This can be
attained through moving out from house or plan some vacation trip with family (Garnham &
et.al., 2019). Through this manner the movement of body is undertaken and also it is helpful
for the family to provide better treatment.
CONCLUSION
From the above study, the report concludes the matter relating to improving the health
condition of the Jack. As in this report, the discussion is examined through verifying the
health issues and also the crucial condition which the Jack family is facing in respect of not
viewing any improvement in health. In respect of discussing about the matter related to
management, the medication and treatment facility is discussed which results in managing the
health condition of the Jack in right way. It is also stated that the communication and services
are must, which is given by the health care Centre’s such as doctors, nurses and care takers
who take care of the patients. Thus, in this case the main focus in on the medication or
exercise which is to be undertaken by Jack in relation to improving the health condition in
better way.

REFERENCES
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Chenoweth, L & et.al., (2018). Critical contextual elements in facilitating and achieving
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Online
Communicating with Patients. 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.ausmed.com/cpd/articles/communicating-with-patients>.