Community Health Nursing and the Elderly

Paper Summary:

The paper reveals that although falls continue to comprise a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality amongst elderly patients, the use of physical or chemical restraints has declined. The paper then examines interventions that can be utilized by the community health nurse to help the elderly avoid falls without the use of restraints. The paper concludes with recommendations for future nursing research.

Outline:
Public Health Issue
Significance to Community Health Nursing Practice
Incorporate into Nursing Practice
Recommendations for Future Nursing Research

From the Paper:

"Falling is a normal part of motor development early among children and is a preventable injury. However, it is an unusual occurrence for adults and may therefore signal the presence of other underlying conditions (e.g. cognitive dysfunction due to illness). Degenerative neurological diseases, syncope caused by sudden hemodynamic instability visual impairment or motor weakness are some of the precipitating factors for falls in the elderly population. Unlike falls in the non-elderly population, trivial falls can cause significant indirect causes of morbidity and mortality. This is especially seen with hip fractures, where prolonged immobility can lead to venous stasis and fatal pulmonary embolisms during this course."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Dorset Health Authority (2002). Guidelines for the prevention and management of falls in the elderly: residential care. Retrieved July 28, 2007 from http://www.laterlifetraining.co.uk/documents/DorsetHealthCare.pdf
• Ganz DA, Bao Y, Shekelle PG & Rubenstein LZ. (2007). Will my patient fall? JAMA, 297(1), 77-86. Retrieved July 28, 2007 from the Pubmed database.
• Gray-Miceli, DL & Capezuti, E. (2005). A nursing guide to the prevention and management of falls in geriatric patients in long-term care settings. Retrieved July 28, 2007 from http://www.medscape.com/viewprogram/4086
• Lyons SS. (2004). Fall prevention for older adults. Iowa City (IA): University of Iowa Gerontological Nursing Interventions Research Center, Research Dissemination Core. Retrieved July 28, 2007 from http;//www.guidelines.gov
• Ozaki A, Uchiyama M, Tagaya H, Ohida T & Ogihara R. (2007). The Japanese Centenarian Study: Autonomy Was Associated with Health Practices as Well as Physical Status. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 55(1), 95-101. Retrieved July 28, 2007 from http://www.blackwell-synergy.com

More papers on Community Health Nursing and the Elderly:

• Term Paper # 134408 : "Community Health Nurse and the Elderly"
• Essay # 86343 : "Community Health Nursing"
• Persuasive Essay # 137013 : "Poverty, Isolation and the Elderly Woman"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: