Nursing Care Report: Assessment and Management of Huntington's Disease

This report provides a detailed analysis of Huntington's Disease from a nursing perspective, focusing on the social determinants of health. It begins with an assessment of the disease's impact on cognitive and sensory functions, followed by a discussion of nursing diagnoses related to nutritional intake, communication, and anxiety. The report outlines a comprehensive nursing care plan, including interventions such as elevated feeding positions, medication management, and psychological support. It also emphasizes the importance of cognitive therapies and the use of assistive devices to manage eating and swallowing difficulties. The report highlights the need for a multidisciplinary approach to care and includes evaluation methods to assess the effectiveness of the interventions. The report references multiple sources to support its claims and recommendations. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of ongoing assessment and evaluation to optimize patient outcomes.

Running head: SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
Social Determinants of Health
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
ASSESSMENT
ANALYZING/NURSING
DIAGNOSIS PLANNING
IMPLEMENTATION
(GOAL) EVALUATION
The assessment or
nursing diagnosis is
done by following
certain
characteristics of the
individual. These
characters are:
Overall declination
in psychological
abilities leading to
speech issue and
issue during
coordinating,
behavioral changes
in the individual,
difficulties in
thinking process and
improper functioning
with the language. In
addition to all these
factors certain
neuropsychological
assessment also can
be applied for the
The care for the
huntington’s disease
seeks for the nursing
diagnosis, since
certain diagnosis can
help in understanding
the situation and thus
based on those
diagnosis intervention
plans can be planned.
Certain diagnosis
includes nutritional
intake by the
individuals and
disorders regarding
the chewing and
swallowing capacity.
The following
diagnosis can provide
information regarding
nutritional imbalances
and dehydration
among the affected
individuals.
The planning through
nursing care plan
includes: Hold the
patient elevated
during feeding as high
as possible.
Balancing the head of
the patient
comfortably in one
hand and hence the
sick and disabled
needs to
get informed and
assisted and his
families also needs the
same while they adapt
to the changes in
lifestyle expected.
Medications schemes '
behavior and possible
complications need to
be studied, tracked
and tailored to the
patient's preferred
The first
improvements found
in Huntington’s
Disease (HD) are
often cognitive
therapies. Evaluation
of the cognitive tests
carried out by
professional
neuropsychologists
will help clarify the
individual's
cognitive strengths
and limitations,
counsel on health
and track behavioral
change over time.
Disabled control
may make eating and
swallowing hard for
people with HD.
Patients with HD can
even cough as the
disease progresses.
Multidiscipline
care standards for
HD have been
developed and set
by many scholars.
Similar
requirements have
influenced the
multidisciplinary
organized strategy.
The operation is
explained in this
report. The
implementation of
goals can be
checked by
observing their
behavioral changes
and their habits of
diet that either
they are being
capable of the
intake or not. Thus
by doing so

2SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
following which
includes: assessing
of the capabilities
and capacities of the
memory, the
reasoning ability of
the memory and
mental agility of the
individual. Other
sensory assessment
can be brought to
practice, which
includes: senses
regarding the touch,
movement of eyes
and senses of vision
and hearing [2].
Moreover, the
diagnosis can state the
risks regarding the
aspiration due to the
difficulty in
swallowing. Other
nursing diagnosis
includes assessment of
the speech process and
communicative
disparity and the
levels of anxiety
persists in an
individual. The level
of intelligence through
the speech can be
interpreted upon the
diagnosis. Moreover,
diagnosis may also
show fluctuating
process of thinking
and improper
interaction in their
society [3].
reaction. Stiffness and
sweating can be
minimized by routine
mild preparation. As
the condition worsens,
more help for the
patient and the
families in daily life
tasks, psychological
support and possible
financial problems are
needed [3].
Plate suction cups,
specialized tableware
for handicapped
people and plastic
cups can help
prevent spills. The
nurses will instruct
patients about food
and on how to cope
with swallowing
issues or
gastrointestinal
issues, such as
incontinence or
ignorance [1].
evaluation of the
process can be
maintained [1].

3SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH

4SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
References
1. ninds.nih.gov (2020). Huntington's Disease: Hope Through Research | National
Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. [online] Ninds.nih.gov. Available at:
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/patient-caregiver-education/hope-through-
research/huntingtons-disease-hope-through [Accessed 15 Feb. 2020].
2. Andrich J, Saft C, Ostholt N, Muller T. Assessment of simple movements and
progression of Huntington's disease. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery &
Psychiatry. 2006;78(4):405-407.
3. mayoclinic.org. Huntington's disease - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic
[Internet]. Mayoclinic.org. 2020 [cited 15 February 2020]. Available from:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/huntingtons-disease/diagnosis-
treatment/drc-20356122