Chemical Dependency in Elders
The rate at which the elderly misuse drugs is higher compared to that of young population and it’s difficult to detect or even treat this problem. However, a few elders who are chemically dependent receive treatment by use of programs for chemical dependency.
Events in life make elderly people be at the risk for problems of Chemical dependency which include retiring and outliving friends, family members as well as spouses loosing the ability to perform roles of life that they were used to. They are also forced to survive with financial resources that are limited as well as ailments limiting activities that they used to perform and self esteem that has been lowered increasing abuse of drugs by the elderly. Such ailments as hypertension, mental difficulties, arthritis, heart disease and rheumatism are very common with the elderly.
They are consequently prescribed with diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers, as well as cardiovascular medication for treatment and they end up combining these medications with OTC drugs. Due to their low metabolism rates, these medications remain in their bodies for a long time increasing possibility of harmful interactions of the drugs. This is because one drug is likely to strengthen or counteract impacts of another increasing harm in the elders’ bodies leading to cardiac difficulties, sedation and confusion among other problems.
Evaluation Tools Used For Screening
Development of a number of tools for screening elderly chemical dependency have taken place which include questionnaires, an interview which is semi-structured, biological markers among others. Two evaluation tools that can be used for screening elderly chemical dependency include; a screening test for drug abuse which consists of a scale of 20 items measuring misuse of drugs as well as providing a scale that is one-dimensional.
It has its base on an index that is quantitative of drug misuse related problems and it’s supported for being able to quantify drug involvement extent within the elderly. Another tool is the questionnaire for Leeds dependence which is designed for screening dependence on various substances which include opiates, alcohol among other drugs. It is change sensitive and it encourages that dependence is seen as continuous instead of using an instant cut –off, dichotomizing respondents. This questioner’s advantage is that the elders are in a position to nominate the drug that they are mainly concerned with. (Buckwalter, 1992)
Diagnostic Criteria and Treatment Including both Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Measures That Would Be Used By a Nurse Practitioner
Diagnosis and treatment for chemical dependency is possible involving a number of steps with the first been abstinence. This is the process where the elders are supposed to stop using drugs to help in recovery from dependency in chemical. When abstinence is achieved it doesn’t imply complete elimination of addiction and also problems in how these elders deal with issues of life may still exist. Helping them to stop using drugs may involve medical detoxification which is a safe process of withdrawing from drugs. When use of drugs has been stopped it makes the elderly patient have an honest desire to stay sober.
This feeling may last for a few days, months or weeks before cravings which is the pressure for using drugs comes back. To prevent this from occurring or what is otherwise known as a relapse, life issues and personal problems that are related to dependency in chemical need to be addressed. This can be done in counseling sessions, group therapy, and educational lectures which help them obtain skills and insight to deal as well as understand drug related problems from a spiritual, emotional as well as psychological perspective. (Buckwalter, 1992)
Care For an Elderly Client with Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is a permanent disorder in the brain causing loss of memory as well as personality change and declined ability to think in a clear way. Caring for Alzheimer’s patients is difficult, requiring patience because changes are very slow. Unfortunately, Alzheimer has no cure therefore patients need care for the rest of their life and a number of tests are required in the diagnosis of this disease. It’s after its detection that different medicines to improve sleeping habits of the patient are given as well as those for improving the ability to function. Also the loss of memory by the elderly patient needs to be slowed down as well as to control their behavior.
The main focus by the nurse should be, using sleep medication as well as medicines to reduce anxiety in the elderly since they become unable to sleep for the whole night even wandering during the night. Vitamin E should also be administered by the nurse to the elderly as well as cholinesterase inhibitors which is given to block an enzyme destroying acetylcholine cells. These are cells that feed the brain with messages and the inhibitor allows better functioning and a delayed memory loss by the elderly patient. Mood swings as well as changes in behavior is managed by giving memantine to patients with Alzheimer’s which also increases their ability to complete activities. (Trinh, 2003)
References
Buckwalter K. (1992): Geriatric Mental Nursing: Slack Inc pp. 23-26.
Trinh N. (2003): Inhibitors in treatment of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Alzheimer: Am Med Assoc pp. 17-20. Web.