Managing the Care of Elderly Patients Using an Advanced Practice Framework

“Managing the care of elderly patient using an advanced
practice framework”
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Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Discussion....................................................................................................................................................4
Diagnosis & Medications.........................................................................................................................4
Pain management....................................................................................................................................5
Risk of fall................................................................................................................................................5
Advance care practices for the treatment...............................................................................................6
Health evaluation and wellbeing programs.............................................................................................9
Ethical considerations............................................................................................................................10
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................11
References.................................................................................................................................................11
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Introduction
Cognitive disability is a mental phenomenon which includes the disturbance in a person’s
memory, decision making ability, language, or attention. These symptoms can be an early signs
of a disease that could lead to Dementia (Borson et al., 2013). Dementia is a disease that is very
much prevalent among old age people. It is reported to be about six percent worldwide which
is expected to rise in future. However according to some reports decreasing trend has also been
observed. The disease is responsible for posing a significant amount of burden over the families
as well as the care givers and emerged as a very big problem in front of the health care systems
as well as the society. The most common form of dementia is the Alzheimer’s disease type
dementia which accounts for almost sixty percent of the total cases. During the course of the
disease out of six patients every five patient of dementia shows different signs of behavioral
and psychological alteration. These signs could be defined as the disturbance caused to the
thoughts, behavior, mood, or perception of an individual. All the alterations such as,
depression, delusions, hallucinations or agitation etc are very closely related to each other. One
fourth of the total individuals without any symptoms would have those symptoms from the two
years of the disease diagnosis. Additionally about half of the total patients show a significant
behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia on a monthly basis. These changes in
behavioral pattern like agitation and depression bring about the feeling of helplessness as well
as distress among the family of the individual, these also hinder the activities and relationships.
The condition leads to a poorer quality of life and admission in nursing homes (Abraha et al.,
2017).
The given case is of an elderly patient who is majorly suffering from Dementia long with other
problems like high cholesterol, depression, bone disease etc. In the following report all the
factors related to the recovery of the patient and his care using advanced practice framework
would be demonstrated. Advance care practice is a constant, powerful procedure of reflection
and exchange between an individual, those near them and their social insurance experts,
concerning the person's inclinations and qualities concerning future treatment and care,
including end-of-life care. In spite of all inclusive acknowledgment of the significance of ACP for
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individuals with dementia, who slowly lose their capacity to settle on educated choices
themselves, ACP still just happens rarely, and proof put together proposals with respect to
when and how to play out this mind boggling process are inadequate.
Discussion
According to the given past medical history along with dementia the patient is also suffering
from the conditions like hypercholesterol, hypertension, aggression, depression, paranoia.
Since the patient has a history of pain and whole hip replacement, he cannot be made to
perform physical exercises which could also be one of the interventions to take the patient out
of this condition. The set of medication at which the patient is, can also be considered as the
catalysts in deteriorating his condition up to some extent. In order to perform advance care
practice first of all these medications should set aside after checking all the medical conditions
like cholesterol, blood pressure, functioning of heart, brain imaging any kind of pain etc.
Diagnosis & Medications
A test for total blood count and its chemistry ought to be done to recognize iron deficiency,
diabetes, any issues with liver or kidney or any kind of infection. Routine tests for thyroid
capacity, nutrient B12 lack, and raised blood calcium. A cerebrum check utilizing either CT scan
or MRI would be incorporated into the standard assessment for dementia. CT and MRI
examines, which uncover the anatomic structure of the mind, will be utilized to discount such
issues as tumor, drain, stroke, and hydrocephalus, which can take on the appearance of
Alzheimer's sickness. These outputs can likewise demonstrate the loss of cerebrum mass
related with Alzheimer's illness and different dementias. In Alzheimer's illness, the locale of the
cerebrum known as the hippocampus might be excessively decayed Psychologists or
neuropsychologists (therapists with particular preparing in mind issue) may manage extensive
neuropsychological tests, either as meetings or as paper-and-pencil tests. These tests, which
take a few hours, will be utilized to figure out what territories of subjective capacity are
disabled and what regions are as yet flawless. They survey memory, thinking, composing,
vision-engine coordination, understanding, and the capacity to express thoughts.
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