After reading this chapter, you should be able to:
- Discuss the demographics demonstrating the increasing size of the elderly population in the United States.
- Assess the various living environments of elderly patients.
- Discuss society’s view of aging and the social, financial, and ethical issues facing the elderly.
- Discuss common emotional and psychological reactions to aging, including causes and manifestations.
- Apply the pathophysiology of multi-system failure to the assessment and management of medical conditions in the elderly patient.
- Compare the pharmacokinetics of an elderly patient to that of a young patient, including drug distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
- Discuss the impact of polypharmacy, dosing errors, increased drug sensitivity, and medication non-compliance on assessment and management of the elderly patient.
- Discuss the use and effects of commonly prescribed drugs for the elderly patient.
- Discuss the problem of mobility in the elderly, and develop strategies to prevent falls.
- Discuss age-related changes in sensations in the elderly, and describe the implications of these changes for communication and patient assessment.
- Discuss the problems with continence and elimination in the elderly patient, and develop communication strategies to provide psychological support.
- Discuss factors that may complicate the assessment of the elderly patient.
- Discuss the principles that should be employed when assessing and communicating with the elderly.
- Compare the assessment of a young patient with that of an elderly patient.
- Discuss common complaints of elderly patients.
- Discuss the normal and abnormal changes of age in relation to the:
- Pulmonary system
- Cardiovascular system
- Nervous system
- Endocrine system
- Gastrointestinal system
- Thermoregulatory system
- Integumentary system
- Musculoskeletal system
- Describe the incidence, morbidity/mortality, risk factors, prevention strategies, pathophysiology, assessment, need for intervention and transport, and management for elderly medical patients with:
- Pneumonia, chronic obstructive disease, and pulmonary embolism
- Myocardial infarction, heart failure, dysrhythmias, aneurysm, and hypertension
- Cerebral vascular disease, delirium, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease
- Diabetes and thyroid diseases
- Gastrointestinal problems, GI hemorrhage, and bowel obstruction
- Skin diseases and pressure ulcers
- Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis
- Hypothermia and hyperthermia
- Toxicological problems, including drug toxicity, substance abuse, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse
- Psychological disorders, including depression and suicide
- Describe the incidence, morbidity/mortality, risk factors, prevention strategies, pathophysiology, assessment, need for intervention and transport, and management of the elderly trauma patient with:
- Orthopedic injuries
- Burns
- Head injuries
- Given several pre-programmed simulated geriatric patients with various complaints, provide the appropriate assessment, management, and transport.
