Discussion on Elder Abuse, Risk Assessment, Type II Diabetes and Growing Old

This discussion covers elder abuse, risk assessment, type II diabetes and growing old. It includes personal experiences, prevalence, suitable health promotion strategies, RN's attributes, and reflection.

Running head: DISCUSSION: OLDER ADULT 1
Older Adult
Name
Institution

DISCUSSION: OLDER ADULT 2
OLDER ADULT
Elder Abuse
Elder abuse has various forms including financial, psychological, neglect, physical,
sexual abuse. In my personal experience, I have witnessed various instance. Financially, I
have seen a senior’s belongings disappear without explanation and even significant bank
withdrawals (Aydogdu et al. 2017). I have also observed an old complaining of inability to
access his bank's statement or accounts. All these points to financial abuse whereby the older
adult's finances are illegally and improperly used (Rai, Khanal & Chalise, 2018).
Psychologically, I have witnessed an elderly being abused through infection of mental stress
encompassing actions alongside threats which lead to isolation, violence fear, deprivation as
well as fear of powerlessness and shame (Hosseini et al., 2016). Regarding neglect, I have
also experienced an elderly being abused by his able children (carer/responsible individual)
by failing to offer essentials of life to their elderly father Hosseini et al., 2016. Sexually, I
have experienced an elderly mother being found in her home raped and subsequently
contacting STDs.
Risk Assessment
I cared for a patient who had acute pain in an aged care setting. I took specific actions
to assess the pain and implemented particular actions to reduce/eliminate pain. I used
unidimensional pain intensity scale (Sakellariou et al., 2016). I used Visual Analog Scale
(VAS). I asked the patient to put a mark which corresponded with her present pain intensity. I
then measured the line from the start to mark of the patient. I then translated that distance into
the score for pain intensity (Cox, 2010). I then determined whether the pain was a
primary/secondary complaint linked to another condition. I established the exact location of
the pain and whether it did radiate. I described both onset and circumstances linked to the
pain (Sakellariou et al., 2016). I determined how intense the pain was both at movement and

DISCUSSION: OLDER ADULT 3
at rest and associated factors exacerbating or relieving pain. I later described the pain
character utilizing sensory/quality description like sharp, burning or throbbing. I also sought
for neuropathic pain signs including such description as burning, shooting, and allodynia
(Gillaspie, 2010). Finally, I determined how long the pain lasted using either intermittent or
continuous. I then gave the medication as appropriate and observed the patient’s progress at
an interval of 20 minutes.
Type II Diabetes
Type II Diabetes remains a life-long illness which affects how one’s body handles
glucose in the blood (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016). In Australia, prevalence of
diabetes is estimated by NHS findings carried out by ABS to be 1.2 million individuals aged
two years and above (5.10% of the entire population) (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2015).
See the link for more explanation (4364.0.55.001 - National Health Survey: First Results,
2014-15 Or 4714.0 - National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, 2014-15)
When pancreas makes insulin, but cells fail to use it effectively to convert glucose in foods to
energy, excessive glucose is built-up (Chatterjee, Khunti & Davies, 2017). A combination of
either gene, extra weight, metabolic syndrome, excessive glucose from the liver, inadequate
communication between cells and broken beta cells result in type II diabetes. Amongst the
elderly, the type II Diabetes (T2D) is hitting epidemic levels (Chatterjee, Khunti & Davies,
2017). Older patients will shortly make up a majority of patients with Type II Diabetes in
most advanced economies (Gillaspie, 2010). This high prevalence is observed both in males
and females and in all ethnic and racial cohorts. Suitable health promotions strategies include
(i) Daily physical exercises/activities campaigns,
(iii) Campaigns in support of fewer consumptions of sugary food and;
(iii) To educate, train and allow primary healthcare teams to improve diabetes management
and outcomes through efficient, effective and patient-centered, team-oriented healthcare.

DISCUSSION: OLDER ADULT 4
Growing Old
To help adapt to a RACF), my RN’s attributes include: A caring nature: I expect my
RN to be true, and genuinely care for me by being able to comfort me as well as support me
at all times (Cameron & Brownie, 2010). My RN must take her time to make me feel wanted,
supported and always be present for me still as a friend and as a person allocated to look for
me (Cameron & Brownie, 2010). An empathetic nurse: Because being in the facility will be a
traumatic and emotional experience for me; I expect my RN to show the ability to empathize
and not thinking of or even treating me as a burden. I suppose my RN always to place herself
in my shoes and provide me the desired emotional assistance I need. Be emotionally stable:
Just like everyone who is perfect human being, exposed to emotions kike stress-a nurse’s
work can occasionally be affected by emotions (Codde, Frankel, Arendts & Babich, 2010). I
am expecting my RN to remain emotionally stable to offer stability while she is at work.
Thus, my RN must talk about how she feels by communicating with others around her rather
than bottling things up (Cameron & Brownie, 2010).
Reflection
I would be required to make various changes. I will have to show a high level of
physical and mental endurance. I will mostly have long days without breaks. I will have to
show outstanding physical and mental endurance. My exercise level will increase to train my
body to get through a long day. I will invest in comfortable footwear to survive long standing.
I will take a break anytime I can. This is because tiredness has extended influence on the
mind and the body. I will grab any chance I get to nap and chip away my sleepiness.

DISCUSSION: OLDER ADULT 5
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2015). 4364.0.55.001 - National Health Survey: First
Results, 2014-15. Viewed 23 May 2016.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2016). 4714.0 - National Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Social Survey, 2014-15. Viewed: 30 May 2016.
Aydogdu, I. H., Kirci, G. S., Okumus, H., Askay, M., Ozer, E., & Birincioglu, I. (2017).
CASE OF ELDERLY ABUSE AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: NOSE
AMPUTATION. Journal of Contemporary Medicine, 7(2), 193-197.
Cameron, F., & Brownie, S. (2010). Enhancing resilience in registered aged care
nurses. Australasian journal on ageing, 29(2), 66-71.
Chatterjee, S., Khunti, K., & Davies, M. J. (2017). Type 2 diabetes. The Lancet, 389(10085),
2239-2251.
Codde, J., Frankel, J., Arendts, G., & Babich, P. (2010). Quantification of the proportion of
transfers from residential aged care facilities to the emergency department that could
be avoided through improved primary care services. Australasian journal on
ageing, 29(4), 167-171.
Cox, F. (2010). Basic principles of pain management: assessment and intervention. Nursing
Standard (through 2013), 25(1), 36.
Gillaspie, M. (2010). Better pain management after total joint replacement surgery: A quality
improvement approach. Orthopaedic Nursing, 29(1), 20-24.

DISCUSSION: OLDER ADULT 6
Hosseini, R. S., SalehAbadi, R., Ghahfarokhi, J., Alijanpouraghamaleki, M., Borhaninejad,
V., & Pakpour, V. (2016). A Comparison On Elderly Abuse In Persian And Turkish
Race In Chaharmahal Bakhtiari Province. Journal Of Sabzevar University Of Medical
Sciences, 23(1).
Rai, S., Khanal, P., & Chalise, H. N. (2018). Elderly Abuse Experienced by Older Adults
Prior to Living in Old Age Homes in Kathmandu. J Gerontol Geriatr Res, 7(460), 2.
Sakellariou, V. I., Poultsides, L. A., Ma, Y., Bae, J., Liu, S., & Sculco, T. P. (2016). Risk
assessment for chronic pain and patient satisfaction after total knee
arthroplasty. Orthopedics, 39(1), 55-62.