Nursing Care for a Retiring Elderly

This nursing case study examines Susan, a 65-year-old retired school nurse facing loneliness and potential depression after retirement. The analysis explores Susan's behavioral changes (e.g., weight loss, social withdrawal), identifies nursing concerns (depression, possible underlying illness), and proposes patient-centered interventions based on Erikson's theory of psychosocial development and the importance of social support for elderly individuals.

Running head: NURSING CASE STUDY
NURSING CASE STUDY
Name of the Student
Name of the university
Author’s note

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Introduction
Population ageing creates an array of health and social concerns, especially those elderly
who live alone. It has been found through various researches that the elderly living alone are
more likely to generate depression and have poor mental health status and the quality of life,
apart from their counterparts (Meiner, 2013). Although many authors have said that
psychological well being of a person depends upon the age, sex, work activity status and the self
rated health.
Development occurs throughout the older adulthood. Physical changes along with mental
changes occur in the polder adult hood. Erickson has included the adults in his psycosocial
theory of human development. The psychosocial problem at this stage of development is the
integrity in the ego versus despair. Older adults have a capacity to reflect on their lives. They
achieve the ego integrity when they feel that their life has got some sense. If the older adults do
not meet the challenges they tend to feel that their life is too short. The same thing is seen in the
case of Susan. Therefore she needs a type of care that is more patient centered.
Susan’s behavior
In the following report we come across Susan who is a 65 years old school nurse and has
just retired from her job. She is a widow and has children who are adults and stay separate with
their families. Although Susan might convince the other’s that it is alright for her to live alone.
But the retirement has left her lonely. It can be seen from the given case study that Susan had
already lost 10 Lb of weight, although she was fine when she last visited the physician. A
profound weight loss indicates that either she is suffering from an ailment or is suffering from
depression and anxiety, which is having impact on her health status. It can be seen from the case

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that Susan’s children had offered her to come and stay with them, but Susan has been avoiding
their offers may be because she doesn’t want to become dependent on somebody else as she had
been independent her whole life. So travelling to her children’s place would be a drastic
upheaval for her.
Nursing concerns
The major concern is that Susan is entering into the phase of depression and anxiety. If it
is left untreated and is not managed in time, it can turn to severe effects which can lead to
cognitive impairment and other physical concerns (Meiner, 2013).
Another issue is that Susan had lost weights drastically which can indicate the development of a
disease. Therefore proper assessment has to be done by a registered nurse to provide care.
Nursing interventions
The elderly persons who have just retired tend to suffer from loneliness and depression.it
addresses the Erickson’s theory of psychosocial development. Therefore they require a holistic
care of approach to improve their quality of living. It has to be noted that the individual physical
resources such as the mastery and self esteem, are the main resources of the mental health in old
age that can be prevent the onset of depression and anxiety (Cotten, Ford & Hale, 2012). Another
factor that might help to promote mental health is the expansion of one’s social network and
perceived sense of trust and social support, which can be obtained from the umbrella term –
social capital (Cotten, Ford & Hale, 2012). Limited and restricted social network and loneliness
are associated with depressions. Thus the chosen theorem is being addressed.
It has been reported that only half of the elderly persons treated with medicine gets better.
Physiotherapy can yield good results. In some cases a senior might be too embarrassed to open

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herself in front of a doctor (Meiner, 2013). The elderly retired persons who were once self
dependent might lack confidence and undergo social withdrawal. It is very important for the
nurses to provide spiritual, mental and environmental support to the patient. It is to be
remembered that care for older people are complex and needs special skills. Evidence based
practice is required in providing appropriate care to the patient ( Meiner, 2013).. In case of Susan
the treatment should be evidence based; patient centered and should have lively approach.
Conclusion
Therefore it can be concluded that Although Susan is not confessing that she had been suffering
from loneliness and depression, it is the duty of a registered nurse to take care of the mental,
physical and the spiritual well being of a patient. A proper and a holistic care of approach can
change the way of their living, as in case of Susan.

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References
Cotten, S. R., Ford, G., Ford, S., & Hale, T. M. (2012). Internet use and depression among older
adults. Computers in human behavior, 28(2), 496-499.
Meiner, S. E. (2013). Gerontologic Nursing-E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.