Healthcare Management: Analysis of Mr. T's Health and Safety

This report examines the case of Mr. T, a 79-year-old widower, to identify potential health and safety issues and propose nursing interventions. It begins with an introduction to the challenges faced by the elderly, including the prevalence of comorbidities. The discussion section analyzes possible psychological, environmental, and physical issues affecting Mr. T, such as loneliness, depression, and the risks associated with his living environment. The report then suggests feasible nursing actions, including environmental modifications like installing handrails and cognitive support to address family dynamics. The report also emphasizes the importance of self-care and advisory support, particularly regarding medication and driving safety. The conclusion reiterates the complexity of healthcare for older adults and the need for comprehensive assessments and function-focused care, referencing relevant literature to support the analysis.

Running head: HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT
HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Discussion........................................................................................................................................2
Possible Issues Affecting Mr. T’s Health and Safety..................................................................2
Psychological Issue:.................................................................................................................2
Environmental and Physical Issues:........................................................................................3
Feasible Nursing Actions.............................................................................................................4
Environment Actions:..............................................................................................................4
Cognitive Support:...................................................................................................................4
Self Care Support:....................................................................................................................4
Advisory Support:....................................................................................................................4
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................4
References:......................................................................................................................................6

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Introduction
Aging is a natural phenomenon and, commonly, older people are hard without any health
concerns. From the greying of hairs, growing of wrinkles to forgetting where the car has been
parked, old age experiences several co-morbidities. With the increasing age, the body cells start
to perform less well, which leads to the change in body functioning as well as the appearance.
Conditions like hyperthyroidism, hypertension, loss of vision and hearing, obesity, blood sugar,
arthritis, and many such conditions are common and the list is ever increasing in nature (Iqbal &
Amin, 2018).
Discussion
Possible Issues Affecting Mr. T’s Health and Safety
The probable issues that can impact Mr. T’s health and safety are as below –
Psychological Issue:
Mr. T is a widowed old person. He does not have that person in his life with whom he has
lived for 50 years. This increases the feeling of loneliness and depression. Depression in old age
can also lead to high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks and bring suicidal tendencies
(Khandelwal & Bhatia, 2019). He can show behavioral issues.
His children do not necessarily consider him in their conversations. On one side he is
widowed and on the other side, he is not served properly by children and does not engage him in
conversations. This increases the chance of depression and hypertension.

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His children were talking about moving him into a nice independent care facility rather
than taking care of him. This situation will affect a lot mentally and he will be depressed.
Besides his ADL and IDAL will be affected when he will be moved elsewhere.
Environmental and Physical Issues:
Mr. T’s bedroom and bathroom are upstairs. He climbs up and down most of the time. If
the stairs are slippery, Mr. T will be unable to balance himself properly. He might fall and hurt
himself. If the stairs do not have proper bars for gripping, then it will be a concern for safety. The
sharing of the bathroom does not have a positive effect on the environment (Brown, 2020).
He needs to walk towards the kitchen, take the coffee mug and then sit. He is not being
served with the coffee. Chances of falling and accidents are high while balancing the whole body
with a walker in one hand and a cup of coffee on the other if proper mats are not placed on the
floor.
Mr. Towns the driver's license. His age implies a certain degree of blurriness in the vision
or cataracts. Medication can also lead to drowsiness and can affect driving safety. There can be a
difficulty while driving at night and while changing lanes.
He continues to engage himself in the street events that take place. Age-related changes
can cause him skin conditions if exposed to hot rays of the sun. Too much walking can cause
muscle strains and respiratory issues. Exposure to street foods can cause indigestion and bowel
problems.
Mr. T is properly maintaining IADLs as well as ADLs, which state that he is equally
investing in housekeeping, shopping, meal preparations, money and medical management along
with normal activities like bathing dressing and dietary intake (Wei, Kabeto & Langa, 2017).

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Maintaining ADLs is good but at this age, IADLs are needed to be observed as these are
naturally complex activities than ADLs and there can be mismanagement.
Feasible Nursing Actions
Environment Actions:
In the case of the stairs, it can be recommended that a proper bar is provided at both sides
of the stairway and rubber mat is placed on the stairs to prevent slipping.
Cognitive Support:
Concerning Mr. T's children, observations from the family members and their respective
inputs should be assessed by the nurses to ensure cognitive supports (Miller 2018).
Self Care Support:
The nurse must use the MDS (Minimum Data Set for Resident Assessment and Care
Screening) for measuring the ADLs and IADLs and checking whether Mr. T can perform tasks
related to self-care and fulfil responsibilities (Thomas et al., 2018).
Advisory Support:
In regards to driving, Mr. T can be advised on taking medications on time to avoid
drowsiness. Vehicle modification can be done with assistive devices that can be useful for safe
driving (Thomas et al., 2018).
Conclusion
Therefore, it can be concluded from the above discussion that older people have complex
health facilities that are not predictable. They experience multiple manifestations of health
issues. Several assessments are required to be done regarding health functioning as well as the

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home environment to assure health safety. The nurses must be aware of the assistive services and
functional assessment as well as they must provide function-focusedcare.

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References:
Brown, T. (2020). Exercise Reduces Risk for Injurious Falls in Elderly. Retrieved 15 April 2020,
from https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/888404?src=wnl_edit_tpal&uac=6634PZ
Iqbal, K., & Amin, R. (2018). Negative Life Events and Mental Health Among Old Age People:
Moderating Role of Social Support. Pakistan Journal of Psychological Research, 33(2).
Khandelwal, S. K., & Bhatia, A. (2019). Assessment of Psychological Health and Morbidity,
Adaptation and Cognitive Functioning During 27th Indian Antarctic Expedition.
Miller, C. A. (2018). Nursing for wellness in older adults. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Thomas, K. S., Boyd, E., Mariotto, A. B., Penn, D. C., Barrett, M. J., & Warren, J. L. (2018).
New Opportunities for Cancer Health Services Research: Linking the SEER-Medicare
Data to the Nursing Home Minimum Data Set. Medical care, 56(12), e90.
Wei, M. Y., Kabeto, M., & Langa, K. M. (2017). MULTIMORBIDITY AND LONG-TERM
LIMITATIONS WITH ADLS AND IADLS IN OLDER ADULTS. Innovation in Aging,
1(Suppl 1), 929.