ASSIGNMENT
Respond to ONE of your peers who chose a different topic and discuss two separate resources they did not mention. One resource should be aimed at patient education and the second resource should be written for the health professional.
You only have one required reply this week but with two specific resources as mentioned above. Initial and peer posts are to be on two separate days.
ARTICLE #1 CK
Fall Prevention
A fall risk is an increased likelihood to have a fall. Older adults are at an increased risk for falls due to a number of physical, cognitive, and environmental factors. Some risk factors are modifiable, such as blood pressure and environment. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) suggests that adults over 65 years of age, regardless of osteoporosis or Vitamin D deficiency, are at an increased risk for falls (2018). Older adults are more likely to have poor postural control due leg weakness, limiting their visual field and ability to clearly see the environment they are walking through (Kiel, 2018). Visual impairment and hearing loss is common in the geriatric population, further limiting their sensory system’s awareness of surroundings (Kiel, 2018). Postural hypotension may occur, causing syncopal episodes (Kiel, 2018). As a healthcare provider caring the aging population, it is important to take a health promotion approach and screen for multiple factors that increase the risk of falls. An initial physical exam can be performed, along with a focused exam evaluating hearing, vision, and orthostatic blood pressures (USPSTF, 2018). Educating patients on interventions they can take to reduce their risk of falls, such as a supervised independent exercise or group exercise classes to improve gait, balance, and functional status (USPSTF, 2018). The Johns Hopkins Fall Risk Assessment Tool is a quick and simple evaluation of one’s risk for falls (2007). The tool assesses age, urinary and bowel urgency or incontinence, a history of falls, the use of high fall risk medications, cognition, mobility and the use of equipment (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2007). This tool can be a screening method for the level of fall risk in the community or in a healthcare setting.
ARTICLE#2
Elder Abuse
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 2022), elder abuse is defined as the intentional act or failure to act that can cause harm or risk of harm to an older adult, 60 years or older, including physical, emotional, sexual, financial abuse, or neglect. This occurs at the hands of a caregiver or trusted individual. APRNs (Advanced Practice Registered Nurses) must be knowledgeable in both identifying risk factors and appropriate screening tools for elder abuse. Left unaddressed elder abuse can have severe emotional and physical effects on the victim, including lasting injuries, decreased mental health, and in some cases, premature death (Van Royen et al., 2020). In this discussion, I review the importance of screening for elder abuse and methods for health promotion APRNs can use to advocate for the safety of older adults.
It is essential as APRNs to implement effective interventions aimed at the prevention and screening of elder abuse, including all levels of prevention measures. Initially, the APRN would want to utilize screening measures that identify potential risk factors (Van Royen et al., 2020). This could also include programs aimed to identify patients or caregivers that are “high risk..” Risk factors for elderly abuse include a diagnosis of mental illness, high financial dependence, or lack of social support (CDC, 2022). Interventions aimed at elder abuse include screenings for the mistreatment and management to prevent further harm to the patient. There are also programs the patient or family can be referred to for counseling, case management, or legal protection (Platts-Mills et al., 2020). The role of the APRN is to advocate for vulnerable patients and connect them to appropriate support. These programs can prevent re-victimization and provide caregivers with respite support. It is essential in doing so to be mindful of quaternary prevention measures to reduce over-assessment, invasion of privacy, and confidentiality (Van Royen et al., 2020).
In 2020 a study conducted by Platts-Mills et al., of 916 patients seen in the emergency department, 11.2% (101 patients) screened positive for elder abuse. Elder abuse is common and often unidentified, negatively affecting older adults’ quality of life. It is more prevalent in older adults who depend on a caregiver. As the United States elderly population continues to grow, the prevalence of individuals experiencing elder abuse will likely rise, and APRNs must be screening for it at all levels.
