NUR104 Assignment: Healthcare for Older Australians Workbook

This NUR104 assignment explores various aspects of aged care and healthcare for older adults in Australia. It begins by discussing the advantages and challenges of older people remaining in their homes, followed by an examination of the My Aged Care website and how older individuals can acc...Read More

NUR104 Assessment Task 2: Workbook 40% (Revised 4/09/2019)
Student Name: Daljeet Kaur Sekhon
Student ID: 1123448
Date submitted:
Safe Assign %:
1. The majority of older Australian’s continue to live in their own homes, with or without
support. Discuss 2 advantages and 2 challenges of older people remaining in their own
home
The older Australians are seen to reside at their homes or aged care facilities as per their
convenience. Following are the advantages and disadvantages of staying in own homes:
Advantages:
Less expense: Older individuals have limited money to pay medical bills emerging out as
a prime challenge and one of the greatest advantages of staying at homes.
Proximity to family: The close proximity to family is often termed as a healing factor.
family members are often seen to boost the mood of the patient and avoid incidents of
depression (Robinson et al. 2015)
Independence: The loved ones are able to retain independence and ensure mental
stimulation through continuous involvement leading to better cognitive efficacy.
Disadvantages:
Healthcare: Older adults are often subjected to series of co-morbid conditions that can
lead to negative health conditions if not addressed properly on time (Chen et al. 2017).
Infrastructure: The home environment is not suited to meet the safety needs of the
patient. The rates of fall related accidents are higher in case of old patients residing in their
residence (Meide, Olthuis and Leget, 2016).
Limited knowledge: Care providers are usually spouses and family members with
negligible knowledge of health issues
References
Chen, C.C.H., Li, H.C., Liang, J.T., Lai, I.R., Purnomo, J.D.T., Yang, Y.T., Lin, B.R.,
Huang, J., Yang, C.Y., Tien, Y.W. and Chen, C.N., 2017. Effect of a modified hospital
elder life program on delirium and length of hospital stay in patients undergoing abdominal
surgery: a cluster randomized clinical trial. JAMA surgery, 152(9), pp.827-834.
Robinson, J., Gott, M., Gardiner, C. and Ingleton, C., 2015. A qualitative study exploring

the benefits of hospital admissions from the perspectives of patients with palliative care
needs. Palliative medicine, 29(8), pp.703-710.
van der Meide, H., Olthuis, G. and Leget, C., 2015. Feeling an outsider left in uncertainty–
a phenomenological study on the experiences of older hospital patients. Scandinavian
journal of caring sciences, 29(3), pp.528-536.
2. The My Aged Care website https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/ is a central repository for
information about aged care services in Australia. Discuss how an older person can get
assessed through My Aged Careto get the services they need. (200 words)
/5 marks
My Aged Care services are seen to follow a systematic step that makes sure the older
individuals applying for the provision of care get what they need. The first step is
associated with the possible needs of different services that are raised in demand by the
targeted individual (myagedcare.gov.au, 2018). Once the demand is made, it becomes
important to apply for the subsidised aged care. The application against subsidised aged
care is often followed by a call or often a face to face conversation to find out the possible
needs of the patients and the services that may be suitable enough.
My Aged Care understands the need of support, and it is for the same reason, the older
people interested in the services are accompanied by friends or family member. In case the
patient requires a translator, similar provision is made ensuring cultural competence.
However, for availing the mentioned services, the person should present their Medicare
care and one or the other kind of proof related to identification. A series of questions are
asked to understand the exact service need of the patient (myagedcare.gov.au, 2018).
Hence, it can be conclusively stated that the mentioned healthcare intervention can ensure
better health outcomes among the targeted population.
References
Myagedcare.gov.au. (2018). Preparing for your aged care assessment. [online] Available
at: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/assessment/prepare-your-assessment [Accessed 5 Sep.
2019].

3. Identify one organization applicable to the older person and discuss how it informs the
support and protection of older people in Australia. (200 words)
/5 marks
One of the most popular government aged care homes in Australia is My Aged care. The
prime facilities provided by the mentioned organization include accommodation and care
service. The organization provides the elderly citizens with appropriately furnished room.
Along with services for meeting the regular leaves is needed that includes meals, laundry
as well as social activities. It also includes the services which maintain the aged care
home. This covers cleaning, heating as well as cooling along with maintenance of the
grounds and building. For elderly heath care service users who are at a vulnerable stage, a
nurse is recruited for 24 *7 hours. Along with the above mentioned services, personal care
services are also offered to the consumers. These include helps like bathing, taking
medication, eating a well as carrying out health treatments (Wilson et al.2016). Along with
this, clinical care is also provided to the healthcare service users. As per their requirements.
This includes nursing services, special bedding as well as therapeutic services like speech
therapy, podiatry as well as physiotherapy. In order to prevent accidents due to falling or
tripping, ample amount of lights are there in the rooms and corridors. For adults who are
highly vulnerable physically, emergency health care service providers are recruited along
with this emergency plan in place, posting emergency phone numbers, and preparing a
home first aid kit (Negin et al. 2016).
References
Negin, J., Coffman, J., Connell, J. and Short, S., 2016. Foreign‐born aged care workers in
Australia: A growing trend. Australasian journal on ageing, 35(4), pp.E13-E17.
Wilson, L.K., Coombs, G.W., Christiansen, K., Grubb, W.B. and O'Brien, F.G., 2016.
Characterization of a novel staphylococcal cassette chromosome composite island from
community-associated MRSA isolated in aged care facilities in Western Australia. Journal
of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 71(12), pp.3372-3375.
4. What is University of Third Age (U3A)? [Page 14 + research]. How would attending a
meaningful activity, such as the University of the Third age (U3A), enhance the
psychological health of older adults? (200 words)

/5 marks
The University of the Third Age is referred to an international movement the aims of
whose are the education as well as stimulation of chiefly retired members of the
community who are in the third stage of human life circle. It is popularly known as U3A.
The original conception of the U3A as an extramural university activity got modified in the
UK where it got recognized that a good number of people of the age of retirement possess
something for contributing as well as the emphasis has been provided on sharing without
link to the traditional universities.
According to researchers, learning new things not only motivates an individual to enhance
his or her knowledge but also enhances mental health by reducing depression, anxiety and
social isolation (Patterson et al. 2016). According to the Gerontological research has
demonstrate that enriched learning environments possess the potential to reduce cognitive
decline that results from aging as well as helping the older adults to deal
with depression along with poor self-image in spite of controlled studies of U3A students
remain scarce (Zając-Gawlak et al. 2016).Along with this, the continuous learning process
also enhances psychological qualities like self‐esteem, self‐efficacy, a sense of purpose and
hope, competences and social integration. Learning developed these psychosocial qualities
through extending boundaries, a process which is quintessential to learning.
References
Patterson, R., Moffatt, S., Smith, M., Scott, J., Mcloughlin, C., Bell, J. and Bell, N., 2016.
Exploring social inclusivity within the University of the Third Age (U3A): a model of
collaborative research. Ageing & Society, 36(8), pp.1580-1603.
Zając-Gawlak, I., Pośpiech, D., Kroemeke, A., Mossakowska, M., Gába, A., Pelclová, J.,
Přidalová, M. and Kłapcińska, B., 2016. Physical activity, body composition and general
health status of physically active students of the University of the Third Age
(U3A). Archives of gerontology and geriatrics, 64, pp.66-74.
5. What age-related changes contribute to increased risk of urinary tract infection (UTI)?
What strategies can the nurse use to assess, prevent and manage UTI? (200 words)
/5 marks
One of the chief reasons behind Urinary Tract infection includes expansion of prostate
glands in males. With age, expansion of prostate glands takes place which in turn results in

obstruction of the Urinary tract. This, in turn, enhances the chances of UTI. Certain other
factors often enhance the risk of UTIs in older individuals.
Conditions frequent in older adults often lead to urinary retention or neurogenic bladder.
This enhances the risk of UTIs. This condition involves Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s
disease, and diabetes. They often require individuals to wear incontinence briefs. If the
briefs aren’t changed regularly, an infection may occur (Crnich et al. 2017).
Several other things put older adults at risk of developing a UTI:
 a history of UTIs
 dementia
 catheter use
 bladder incontinence
 bowel incontinence
 a prolapsed bladder
Nurses possess the potential to assist healthcare service users through the diagnostic
process, treatment as well as prevention of UTIs, promoting their wellbeing and
empowerment. Nurses should provide effective medications to the patients along with
monitoring and tracing their regular progress in heath. Along with this they should ensure
that the patient is drinking plenty of water per day and is wiping from front to back.
References
Crnich, C.J., Jump, R.L. and Nace, D.A., 2017. Improving Management of Urinary Tract
Infections in Older Adults: A Paradigm Shift or Therapeutic Nihilism?. Journal of the
American Geriatrics Society, 65(8), pp.1661-1663.
6. What is Ageism? Discuss ageism in the context of health care services using current
literature to support your response. Identify strategies that could be enacted to overcome
this challenge. (200 words)
/5 marks
Ageism referred to the stereotyping, prejudice as well as discrimination against individuals
based on their age. It can be considered as widespread as well as an insidious practice that
has the potential to impose harmful effects on the health of older adults. When it comes to
older people, ageism can be considered an everyday challenge. It includes limited

employment, exclusion from social services as well as stereotyped in the media, ageism
excludes older people in their communities (Kingand Bryant 2017).
Strategies to deal with ageism include the following:
1. Speak up. It is highly crucial to empower elder employees at the workplace so that
they can protest against the mentioned challenge. This will not only prevent further
occurring of this issue but will enhance the confidence of the victim. Along with
this participation in family gatherings is also required. A good number of elders are
fount to stay away from gathering. This practice should be eradicated.
2. Education against ageism: along with other training and education program,
management of organizations should also implement educational programs to
ensure eradication of the evil practice from the organization. Respect for experience
employees should be developed as well as maintained (Macdonald and Levy 2016).
Strict action against the discriminatory act based on age should be taken by the
management.
References
King, S. P., & Bryant, F. B., 2017. The Workplace Intergenerational Climate Scale
(WICS): A self‐report instrument measuring ageism in the workplace. Journal of
Organizational behavior, 38(1), pp. 124-151.
Macdonald, J. L., and Levy, S. R., 2016. Ageism in the workplace: The role of
psychosocial factors in predicting job satisfaction, commitment, and engagement. Journal
of Social Issues, 72(1), pp. 169-190.