Introduction
The US is experiencing an increased number of aging individuals due to improved life expectancy. This trend is expected to continue rising because of baby boomers; therefore, the country should prepare for this wave. With aging comes several physical and mental changes for persons, including sensory changes, muscle strength and fat changes, immunosenescence and urologic changes. This case study will focus on assessing and planning care for an elderly individual named Taylor.
Assessment
Preliminary Issues
One of the preliminary issues that Taylor has is the problem of walking. Taylor requires the aid of a walking stick to move from one location to the other. This shows that he may have issues with his mobility. When told to take a 360 degrees turn, he did it in a very unstable way which shows that he has a problem balancing himself. This is why he needs aid to use in walking.
Another issue with Taylor is his dependence on others for normal daily activities. With old age comes a high level of dependence because of the issue with muscles and the ability to perform tasks independently (Abdi et al., 2019). The Barthel Scale was introduced to measure the performance of daily activities. Taylor has shown that he has a moderate dependency which may become worse with time. Most of the tasks he is required to do daily require some level of help. For instance, he needs help feeding some meals, going to the toilet, grooming and has occasional bowels. This shows that he needs intervention before the situation gets worse.
Taylor has eye problems that can be detected by his struggles to see things. Taylor has a set of glasses indicating that he has eye problems. In addition, he seemed to struggle very much when reading and could not read anything without the help of those glasses (Abdi et al., 2019). He stated that his eyes sometimes feel itchy, especially when he watches television for a long period without his glasses on.
The other preliminary problem for Taylor is with his urinary tract. Sometimes Taylor has problems controlling his urine, which is why he is on his pampers before going t bed. Taylor’s bladder has become loose, and he cannot control his urine while asleep. His wife takes care of him by ensuring that he has a pampers-on so he does not wet the bed. This situation is common to old aged individuals because their bladder has bacteria that are not causing infection (Abdi et al., 2019). During this age, the patient cannot use antibiotics which is why this condition cannot be controlled.
Main Health Alterations
The patient has shown various health issues which require attention and better care. One of the main concerns raised from this assessment is the risk of falls. Falls are a major challenge for the aged and a main cause of disability and morbidity. On average, 30%-40% of people above 70 fall annually, which shows it is a main concern (Oliveira et al., 2022). The Tenneti-Test has shown that Taylor has mobility problems and a fall risk. He scored 11, indicating that he is at a high risk of falling. Falls are dangerous to patients because they can lead to death or further injuries in a patient.
The next issue that Taylor is facing is the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Individuals reaching 65 years and above are at a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. Taylor has been smoking for the rest of his adulthood until recently when he was found at risk of stroke when the stopped smoking. This shows that he is still at risk of stroke because of his aging age. According to Oliveira et al. (2022), after reaching the age of 55, the risk of stroke due to old age doubles every ten years. Therefore, although Taylor has stopped smoking and embraced organic diets, he is at great risk of stroke due to his old age. The Tinetti test has demonstrated that Taylor has problems with sitting, standing, and moving around, which shows that his brain activity has deteriorated.
The final problem that Taylor is at risk of having is dementia. With old age, brain activity deteriorates, making it impossible to coordinate it as before. The rate of dementia increases with age which implies that as Taylor ages, he is more at risk of having the disease. Despite the risk of death, the disease is costly to manage. Taylor stated that he has problems remembering things, such as where he placed his comb. This shows that he requires an urgent need for the condition too.
Planning
Comprehensive Interventions
Given the danger that the fall puts on Tasylor’s life, there must be interventions to prevent it. The main interventions used to help in this situation are dietary supplements, exercise, and environmental modification. Taylor is encouraged to continue consuming his organic foods as part of his culture and family lineage. However, he needs Vitamin D supplements for his strong bones to avoid falls (Testad et al., 2020). In addition, Taylor requires to continue taking his daily exercise so that his body can be energetic. Finally, the environmental factor is used to avoid injuries or death in a fall. It is important to ensure that Taylor’s pathways are clear from furniture and other materials.
The main intervention for his risk for stroke is medication and treatment. Taylor is expected to start taking drugs such as antithrombotics to prevent his risk for stroke. Such drugs will help dissolve blood clots, a major cause of stroke (Abdi et al., 2019). In addition, the drugs will prevent the formation of blood clots that can be stuck along the brain arteries, causing a stroke. Although stroke is considered prevalent in minority ethnic groups, Taylor needs to take drugs and exercise.
The third condition was dementia, requiring various interventions, including drug interventions and physical exercise. Although there is no cure for dementia, medications can be administered to the patient to slow down the loss of consciousness (Testad et al., 2020). Music therapy, which includes playing for him some old jams, can be effective in helping Taylor regain his memory. Taylor can be given local foods, currencies and photos of famous American singers that he used to stimulate his mind. According to a study conducted in Turkey, the use of local music, food and art helped people with dementia achieve decreased agitation, and has a positive impact on the symptoms of dementia (Testad et al., 2020). It will enable his brain to relax and gain attention to the environment around him.
Conclusion
Despite Taylor looking very healthy in his old age, he faces various health challenges. Some preliminary issues are mobility problems, dependence on others, eye problems, and urologic changes. The main health issues which can be detected from him are risk of falls, stroke and dementia. However, it is important to note that the intervention provided, including medical therapy, physical exercise, and vitamin supplements, is important for his health. When well administered, they are likely to reduce the risks which he is exposed to at the moment significantly.
References
Abdi, S., Spann, A., Borilovic, J., de Witte, L., & Hawley, M. (2019). Understanding the care and support needs of older people: a scoping review and categorisation using the WHO international classification of functioning, disability and health framework (ICF). BMC Geriatrics, 19(1). Web.
Oliveira, J., Gilbert, S., Pinheiro, M. B., Tiedemann, A., Macedo, L. B., Maia, L., Kwok, W., Hassett, L., & Sherrington, C. (2022). Effect of sport on health in people aged 60 years and older: a systematic review with meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 13(4), bjsports-2022-105820. Web.
Testad, I., Kajander, M., Gjestsen, M. T., & Dalen, I. (2020). Health promotion intervention for people with early‐stage dementia: A quasi‐experimental study. Brain and Behavior, 10(12). Web.