Older Adults Patient Education Issues: Essay and Interview Analysis

This essay examines the significant influence of patient education in healthcare, drawing upon the experiences of a 67-year-old patient, Steve, undergoing treatment in a neurological ward. The essay highlights the importance of compassionate care, self-care skill development, and the right to information in empowering patients. It discusses the role of healthcare professionals, including nurses, physical therapists, and patient education representatives, in providing crucial information on activities of daily life (ADL) training, medication, nutrition, and exercise. The essay emphasizes the positive impact of patient education on self-management skills, confidence, and the ability to manage conditions like Alzheimer's and dementia. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of delivering information with dignity, empathy, and cultural competence to ensure effective aftercare and overall well-being. The essay concludes by advocating for holistic and nutritional care education for both patients and their families to improve the overall quality of care.

Running head: HEALTHCARE
HEALTHCARE
Name of Student
Name of University
Author note

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HEALTHCARE
Patient education is a critical aspect of delivering a more comprehensive clinical care
and the same has also been reported to improve the self-care skills of the patients (Stenberg,
2018). As the responses given by the patient whose name was Steve, 67 years old, receiving
treatment in the neurological ward, the same was analysed. In the interview, the patient
pointed to compassionate and caring attitude and behaviour of the clinicians and the health
staffs as an important factor in the development of motivation in him.
It was found that the patient’s self-care skill development undertaken the nurse and by
the physical therapist in collaboration with the occupational therapist was vital to his clinical
prognosis (Bernhard et al., 2016). The subject learned more about activities of daily life and
about the activities of daily life training (ADL training) that is a critical intervention to
address self- care deficits and to improve the quality of life. Right to information is major
health ethics aspect and through information, comes the power of knowledge and the freedom
of thinking and informed clinical practice adds to patient education. Similarly, improving the
knowledge about nutrition¸ medication and exercise is vital to the development of self-
management skills. With the right education, the patient will be able to apply and administer
the same emotional and self-management skills that are required to better his clinical
symptoms and signs (Traeger et al., 2019). He gained more confidence in himself and more
faith with the healthcare staffs that helped him continue the care process in the hospital with
positivity and with integrity, autonomy as well (Hernan 2017). In the case, the patient
education representative helped him understand the importance of self-care, self-discipline,
activities of daily life care and the exercise therapy in the effective management of his
Alzheimer’s and dementia symptoms. He mentioned about the exercises and the care
protocols that the patient has to follow and implement at home. Most importantly, it is
critical to note that with the information being delivered to the patient with dignity, empathy
and cultural competence, he felt that the aftercare pertaining to self-care is purposeful and

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critical to maintain his healthy state of physical and mental well-being. The subject with
Alzheimer’s dementia complex was self-aware of his difficulties with activities of daily life
such as wearing clothes (dressing), eating and he has walking difficulties as well (Traeger et
al., 2019). The subject mentioned having received the right information from the health care
staffs, from the patient education representative during the discharge, and he has retained the
self-care and activities of daily life skills, in the after-care phase. In order to provide patient
education to the subject, more questions about the alcohol dependency and spiritual needs of
the patient was asked to which the patient clearly answered. The patient was taught how to
perform the self-care techniques and the exercises in a culturally competent manner (Traeger
et al. 2019). Educating the subject to better his cultural competence, clinical knowledge and
awareness and keeping healthy relationships with the family members is important.
It can be concluded saying that in addition to specific clinical care education, a
holistic and the nutritional care education should also be given to the patient and his family.
This improves the overall quality of care.

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References
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Stenberg, U., Vågan, A., Flink, M., Lynggaard, V., Fredriksen, K., Westermann, K. F., &
Gallefoss, F. (2018). Health economic evaluations of patient education interventions a
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