Elderly Care Nurse

Elderly Care Nurse

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According to the Administration on Aging, there were 49.2 million people 65 years or older living in the United States as of 2016 — one in every seven Americans. By 2060, estimates predict that there will be 98 million senior citizens. With the growth in this segment of the population, the need for nurses to care for elderly patients will increase.
Geriatrics is a field of medicine that concentrates on the health problems and diseases of elderly patients. Aging patients tend to have more than one chronic condition. These nurses need to be able to provide care to patients who have compromised immune systems and deteriorating bodily functions. Typically, geriatric nurses are RNs with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Geriatric nurses work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes or retirement communities. They also provide care in patients' homes. As a geriatric nurse, you may offer patients preventive care as well as help them with conditions such as heart disease, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis and Alzheimer's. Your patients may be bedridden or mentally impaired. They may suffer from debilitating pain.
Some of your responsibilities as a geriatric nurse include:
Some patients can be difficult or unresponsive due to cognitive, hearing or vision problems. Nurses need to find ways to overcome these obstacles.
For instance, nurses who encounter patients with cognitive challenges should speak clearly and slowly and repeat essential information. Nurses can also supply brochures to help remind the patients of items discussed.
To overcome hearing challenges, nurses should limit background noise, speak loudly without yelling, and face the patient while talking. Nurses can address a patient's visual challenges by making easy-to-read handouts or providing patients with information in an audio format. Reading materials should be in black text on a white background. Ideal font size is 18 point with ample spacing between lines of text. In addition, these reading materials should be printed on plain paper to avoid the glare on paper with a glossy finish.
Here are some examples of the age-related problems nurses deal with when working with the elderly:
Elderly patients can become depressed when their declining health necessitates moving into nursing facilities. They may have feelings of uselessness and show a lack of motivation. If older adults live at home by themselves, they may feel isolated because of a lack of social support and interaction.
When aging patients develop depression, it may affect their health. Signs of depression include constant fatigue, weight loss, poor personal hygiene, and changes in sleeping patterns and appetite. Nurses can prevent depression in elderly patients by instituting routine walks, creating an eating schedule and promoting a healthy diet. They can suggest that patients engage in hobbies such as knitting or painting and encourage visits with family, friends and neighbors. The patient may also need to see a mental health professional for counseling or medication.
Many times, elderly patients are on multiple medications. When nurses meet new patients, it is imperative that they find out what types of medications their patients are taking. Nurses need to be aware of the patient's medications so there is not an adverse reaction or side effect to a new prescription.
A written contract is necessary if you are an in-home healthcare nurse. This is a precaution to protect you from any misunderstanding about the level of care you are providing, compensation and service schedule. You should meet with the family to discuss the patient's care and gather medical information.
Geriatric nurses should discuss end-of-life issues with the patient and family members. The topic is difficult, but nurses need to address medical scenarios and the patient's preferences in those cases to continue life-sustaining measures such as nutrition, hydration, pain management and resuscitation.
A nurse must safeguard a patient's dignity by always showing respect. Patients are sometimes afraid and confused. They may be demanding because they are in extreme pain. Nurses should compassionately explain the condition, treatment and possible outcomes. Furthermore, patients deserve the utmost discretion and kindness in matters pertaining to their hygiene and other personal needs.
To care for elderly patients, you have to be willing to deal with age-related health concerns. Working with older patients can be rewarding. Many of them are cheerful and grateful for the care their nurses provide. However, when nursing the elderly, you must be prepared to encounter frustrated and angry patients, too. The reality is that many of your patients are in the last stages of their lives, so you need the desire to help patients with end-of-life decisions while managing their immediate healthcare needs.
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Home » Nursing Care Plans » General Nursing Care Plans » 11 Geriatric Nursing Care Plans (Older Adult)

Paul Martin is a registered nurse with a bachelor of science in nursing since 2007. Having worked as a medical-surgical nurse for five years, he handled different kinds of patients and learned how to provide individualized care to them. Now, his experiences working in the hospital is carried over to his writings to help aspiring students achieve their goals. He is currently working as a nursing instructor and have a particular interest in nursing management, emergency care, critical care, infection control, and public health. As a writer at Nurseslabs, his goal is to impart his clinical knowledge and skills to students and nurses helping them become the best version of themselves and ultimately make an impact in uplifting the nursing profession.

© 2022 Nurseslabs | Ut in Omnibus Glorificetur Deus!

In this nursing care plan guide are 11 nursing diagnosis for the care of the elderly (older adult) or geriatric nursing or also known as gerontological nursing. Learn about the assessment, care plan goals, and nursing interventions for gerontology nursing in this post.
Gerontology nursing or geriatric nursing specializes in the care of older or elderly adults. Geriatric nursing addresses the physiological, developmental, psychological, socio-economic, cultural and spiritual needs of an aging individual.
Since aging is a normal and fundamental part of life. Providing nursing care for elderly clients should not only be isolated to one field but is best given through a collaborative effort which includes their family, community, and other health care team. Through this, nurses may be able to use the expertise and resources of each team to improve and maintain the quality of life of the elderly.
Geriatric nursing care planning centers on the aging process, promotion, restoration, and optimization of health and functions; increased safety; prevention of illness and injury ; facilitation of healing.
Here are 11 nursing care plans (NCP) and nursing diagnosis for geriatric nursing or nursing care of the elderly (older adult):
Common risk factors for the nursing diagnosis risk for falls:
Expected outcomes or patient goals for risk for falls nursing diagnosis:
In this section are the nursing actions or interventions and their rationale or scientific explanation for the nursing diagnosis risk for falls:
Recommended nursing diagnosis and nursing care plan books and resources.
Disclosure: Included below are affiliate links from Amazon at no additional cost from you. We may earn a small commission from your purchase. For more information, check out our privacy policy .
Other recommended site resources for this nursing care plan:
More care plans related to basic nursing concepts:
Here are the references and sources for this Geriatric Nursing Care Plan:
I’m an LPN for 30 years of med surg, rehab, surg, geriatric care, addiction, and psych care. I love my career of caring for people. I want to join a team that wants to continue to improve nurse care. Please keep me a part of your network. I also like to be called Penny.
It is very useful lesson for improving geriatric patient health care provision.
I like it to have more.
Or the whole course, if possible.
I utilize your web page/info on all of my care plans, thank you
I am an LVN Case Manager for mostly geriatric and disabled members in managed care.
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Identify factors that increase the level of fall risk
These factors will help in determining interventions necessary for the patient. Risk factors include age, presence of an illness, sensory and motor deficits, medication use, and inappropriate use of mobility aids.
Assess the patient’s environment for factors associated with an increased risk for fall.
A patient who is not familiar with the placement of furniture in an area or who has inadequate lighting in the house increases the risk for falls.
Secure a wristband identification to warn healthcare providers to implement fall precaution on the patient.
Healthcare providers need to recognize patients at high risk for falls to implement measures to promote patient safety and prevent falls.
Place assistive devices and commonly use items within reach.
Provides easy access to assistive devices and personal care items. Items such as call bell, telephone, and water should be kept close to avoid frequent reaching.
Review hospital protocols regarding transferring a patient.
Hospital facility should have clear policies and procedures during transfers that will ensure the patient’s safety.
Keep the patient’s bed in the lowest position at all times.
Keeping the bed closer to the floor prevents injury and risk of falls.
Answer call light as soon as possible.
This is to prevent an unstable patient from ambulating without any assistance.
Raising the side rails reduces the risk of patients falling out of bed during transport.
Advise the patient to wear shoes or slippers with non-slip soles when walking.
Wearing non-slip footwear help prevents slips and falls.
Orient the patient to the surroundings. Avoid re-arranging the furniture in the room.
The patient should be familiarized with the bed, location of the bathroom, furniture, and other environmental hazards that can cause older patients to trip or fall.
Ensure the patient’s room is well-lit. Consider the use of a bedside lamp that is turned on at night.
Providing lighting in key places can reduce fall risk and avoid obstacles during mobility.
Encourage the family and other significant others to stay with the patient at all times.
Prevents the patient from accidentally falling or pulling out tubes.
Ensure the patient’s eyesight is regularly checked and explain the importance of wearing eyeglasses if needed. Make sure glasses and hearing aids are always worn.
Hazard can be lessened if the patient utilizes appropriate aids to improve visual and auditory orientation to the environment. Visually impaired patients are at high risk for falls.
Instruct the patient how to ambulate at home, including using safety measures such as handrails in the bathroom.
Help relieve anxiety at home and eventually decreases the risk of falls during ambulation.
Encourage the patient to engage in a program of regular exercise and gait training.
Exercises can improve muscle strength, balance, coordination and reaction time. Physical conditioning reduces the incidence of falls and avoids injury that is sustained when a fall happens.
Collaborate with other health care team to assess and review patient’s medications that can contribute to the risk for falls. Identify the peak effects of the medications that can alter the consciousness of the patient.
A review of the patient’s prescribed medications will recognize side effects and drug interactions that may enhance fall injury risk. The more medications a patient takes, the greater the risk for side effects and interactions such as orthostatic hypotension , dizziness, confusion, urinary incontinence, and altered gait and balance. Polypharmacy in older adults is a significant risk factor for falls.
Evaluate the need for physical and occupational therapy to assist patient with gait techniques and provide the patient with assistive devices for transfer and ambulation. Initiate a home safety evaluation as needed.
The use of gait belts provides a more secure means to safely assist patients when transferring from bed to chair. Assistive aids such as wheelchairs, canes, and walkers allow the patient to have stability and balance during ambulation. High toilet seats can facilitate safe transfer on and off the toilet.

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