Nursing Report: Analysis of an Elderly Patient's Health and Care Plan

This nursing report presents a case study of a 75-year-old woman, Lina Liaw, residing in Brisbane. The report details her health history, including diagnoses of hypertension, osteoporosis, and depression, and a recent fall leading to a vertebral fracture and potential pneumonia. The analysis considers the patient's physical and mental health challenges, highlighting the importance of addressing both hypertension and depression. The report discusses interventions such as dietary adjustments, a stimulating environment, and increased social interaction to improve cognitive ability and mental health. It emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to patient care, addressing both physical and emotional needs. The report also includes a reference list of relevant academic sources.

Running head: NURSING
Nursing
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1NURSING
Slide 1
Lina Liaw is a 75 year-old women who reside in Brisbane for 40 years, since shifting from
Singapore to Australia with her long term partner Margie. She does not have a spouse or
children. However, she has a close relationship with his to sisters and their grand children. Lina
lived alone in a single stored house and she move to the village shortly after the death of her
partner 5 years ago. Lina was healthy until 50s. However after that she got diagnosed with
hypertension followed by osteoporosis. She became quite , anxious a well as socially withdrawn.
She also lost a good amount of weight and got diagnosized with depression. One morning she
was found fallen on the floor of the washroom and was transferred to a local hospital.
Slide 2
Considering the fact that she had fallen in the washroom, Lina is suffering from Vertebral
fracture. Along with this, being in the washroom claded with water for a prolonged period of
time may have resulted in Pneumonia. The limited skin integrity is not a matter of concern. It
becomes important to understand the fact that the patient is suffering from hypertension that is
further triggered due to increasing rates of depression. However, the nurses are seen to consider
on hypertension rather than; depression as the former can be controlled on immediate basis;
while depression needs time. Thus, it can be predicted, if her depression is not treated she may be
subjected to psychotic episodes and even dementia (Wolff, Spillman, Freedman & Kasper, 2016)
Slide 3
The mentioned intervention can be undertaken to ensure that the healthcare condition can have
positive effect if the mentioned interventions are followed (de Souto Barreto et al. 2016). The
lack of proper nutrition can be termed as one of the leading cause of concern leading to variety of

2NURSING
chronic issues. However, the diet can address the issue related to brittle bones and loss of skin
integrity.
Slide 4
The establishment of proper diet and even plan for care can be highlighted through the analysis
of the existing situation. The importance of stimulating environment can be highlighted through
the need to maintain a sustainable level of cognitive ability. Lack of stimulating environment can
be termed as one of the prime reasons that can lead to dementia (Kogan, Wilber & Mosqueda,
2016). The high level of social interaction can work on providing better grip on the memory;
however, the most important intervention remains to be the goal to remove the possible causes of
depression. Thus, it is for the same reason there should be an increase in the level of social
interaction for maintaining better mental and psychological health.
Slide 5
Initially, there was no attention paid towards the emotion of patient, making them feel neglected.
The increasing issue of mental health was further fuelled due to events of social exclusion. In
similar regards, the lack of nutrition can be termed as one of the leading cause of poor mental
and physical health. There remains a link between mental and physical health that was initially
ignored in case of the chosen patient. However, in future practise I plan to ensure better
provision of care by embracing a holistic approach in ensuring better provision of health (Puts et
al. 2017)

3NURSING
Reference List
de Souto Barreto, P., Morley, J.E., Chodzko-Zajko, W., Pitkala, K.H., Weening-Djiksterhuis, E.,
Rodriguez-Manas, L., Barbagallo, M., Rosendahl, E., Sinclair, A., Landi, F. & Izquierdo,
M., (2016).. Recommendations on physical activity and exercise for older adults living in
long-term care facilities: a taskforce report. Journal of the American Medical Directors
Association, 17(5), 381-392.
Kogan, A.C., Wilber, K. & Mosqueda, L., (2016).. Person‐centered care for older adults with
chronic conditions and functional impairment: A systematic literature review. Journal of
the American Geriatrics Society, 64(1), e1-e7.
Puts, M. T. E., Toubasi, S., Andrew, M. K., Ashe, M. C., Ploeg, J., Atkinson, E., ... & McGilton,
K. (2017). Interventions to prevent or reduce the level of frailty in community-dwelling
older adults: a scoping review of the literature and international policies. Age and
ageing, 46(3), 383-392.
Shuman, M., Chukwu, A., Van Veldhuizen, N., & Miller, S. A. (2019). Relationship between
mirtazapine dose and incidence of adrenergic side effects: An exploratory
analysis. Mental Health Clinician, 9(1), 41-47.
Wolff, J. L., Spillman, B. C., Freedman, V. A., & Kasper, J. D. (2016). A national profile of
family and unpaid caregivers who assist older adults with health care activities. JAMA
internal medicine, 176(3), 372-379.

4NURSING