Topic > Providing care to an elderly patient

As we age, the body undergoes a series of changes which may be musculoskeletal or involving sensory organs such as the skin, which can modify lifestyles and contribute to quality of life or the levels of care someone requires. This essay will discuss the qualities, knowledge and skills that a 48-year-old man with limited mobility would expect from his nurse. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay For a 48-year-old male patient with limited mobility who is cared for at home, there are many factors that should be taken into consideration to assist him with movement. One factor is skin aging of which the patient expects the nurse to have sufficient Royal College of Nursing knowledge to fully understand their needs and to be in line with the principles of nursing practice. As skin ages, it becomes dry, thin and inelastic due to cellular changes, which also means there is less fat. Additionally, the wound healing process will slow down, making it more important to prevent skin tearing, otherwise it can become a serious problem in terms of infection due to slow healing. Consequently, due to the patient's limited mobility, assistance with movement must be performed with particular care to avoid skin tears and to ensure comfort as some positions may become less comfortable due to the lower amount of fat around the bony areas. A good quality of a nurse that would minimize the risk of skin tears and infections is to have short, clean, polish-free nails and avoid jewelry such as rings or watches that could snag. They should also always wear protective clothing such as gloves, even if their hands have been decontaminated (WHO, 2009). The 48-year-old patient may also experience changes in vision where his peripheral vision, light perception and depth perception may be affected. Damage to these areas can hinder the older person's ability to judge the height of steps. Therefore, a 48-year-old patient who has limited mobility and is cared for at home may not be able to see properly under the same lighting conditions as the nurse, so he should be given more time to move up the steps to reduce the risk of falls. The patient may not even be aware of his surroundings as his peripheral vision is reduced. It is important that the nurse ensures that he or she can be seen by the patient during care in a well-lit environment, as well as ensuring that any visual aids such as glasses are always kept clean and within easy reach of the patient. the ear forms more viciously with advancing age, which can lead to deaf hearing, balance disorders and dizziness. In many older people, this can initially lead to high-frequency hearing loss, which will then gradually worsen. This can make it difficult for patients to hear instructions, especially in the presence of background noise. As a result, they may not be able to follow instructions adequately. When assisting the 48-year-old patient with movement, a good quality to have is to be able to communicate clearly with him instead of shouting or speaking exaggeratedly as this would undermine his dignity which must be protected (GOV.UK, 2015 ). Clear communication is also a good quality for a nurse as it allows them to establish a successful relationship with the patient to provide a high standard of care (DOH,2012). Another reason patience is a good quality for a nurse is because an older patient may take longer to react as nerve cell function declines with age. The transmission of signals between and along nerves is slower, resulting in slower reactions. This can also affect certain brain functions leading to communication barriers such as difficulty processing language or short-term memory loss. Therefore, when assisting the 48-year-old patient with movement, the nurse should be patient and allow him more time to react to any instructions as he may take longer to process them, experience memory loss, or not hear them properly. Additionally, the instructions should be repeated if the patient has memory problems. Therefore, clear communication and patience are both good qualities for a nurse caring for a 48-year-old male patient with limited mobility. In addition to clear communication, a patient-centred approach is also key to providing a high standard of care. A successful nurse-patient relationship is shaped by basic communication techniques such as open-ended questions to obtain more information, listening to communicate interest nonverbally, and support. The relationship can also be therapeutic through stress relief (Bach and Grant, 2009) as more trust develops and the patient can confide in the nurse. Other factors may also shape nurse-patient relationships, such as self-disclosure where certain life experiences are shared to demonstrate that you understand what they are going through. Because this patient is a 48-year-old man, the nurse may not be old enough to empathize, so she may choose to share stories of family members who have experienced a similar situation. Interpersonal skills are also a good quality for a nurse as they are useful in comforting or educating patients and their families, especially in difficult situations. Numerous musculoskeletal changes occur with age, such as loss of bone density, which contributes to a higher risk of fractures and shortening of the vertebrae resulting in shorter height and stooping of the patient. Additionally, the 48-year-old patient will also have decreased muscle mass and strength, so he or she will experience weakness and slower movements. As a result, nurses must allow slower movements and must be aware of the patient's weak points to avoid placing excessive stress on the joints that could cause further damage. These skills will help maintain the safety of the patient in care. This is another good quality as maintaining the safety of those receiving care not only allows the nurse to practice effectively but also demonstrates a commitment to high quality care as it is created greater trust. Building on the commitment to the relationship with the patient allows the nurse to continue to improve the experience for them in order to meet all their needs. It also allows the nurse to build a therapeutic relationship with their patient. Sometimes, especially in collectivist cultures, family members prefer to help care for their relatives, for example by helping them to eat. If the patient accepts this, then he expects the nurse to encourage the relative to assist him during meals. The aim is for the patient and relative to feel at ease. Furthermore, by including relatives in the care plan, they are more confident that their loved ones are adequately cared for. Families may also be involved in making care plans or providing.