Home care for the elderly

Home care for the elderly

• 1.
  Home Care forthe Elderly REPORT BY: CIELO RODRIGUEZ NIKKI VILLAFLOR
• 2.
  PHYSICAL CHANGES Changes inPhysical Aspects of the elderly:  Slow reflexes  Less efficient circulation  Graying of hair and changes of its texture  Slow bodily processes  Loss of skin elasticity, underlying fat  Skin becomes thin and more fragile  Less accurate senses  Posture becomes more stooped and walking becomes more difficult  Loss of muscle strength and familiar tasks become more difficult  Less accurate in sensing temperature of water and air  Healing takes longer  Decrease of or short-term memory
• 3.
  MENTAL CHANGES Cause mentalchanges in the elderly:  Decreased brain circulation  Medications  Physical changes  Social Changes  Patient may be disoriented, forgetful, and irritable
• 4.
  PSYCHOSOCIAL CHANGES Reasons thatmay make retirement yield negative effects  Presence of chronic diseases make them leave work early and sometimes make them disabled and dependent.  Death of spouse may affect psychological outlook in life and are oftentimes devastating. Some may lose the will to live leading to serious physical and mental problems.  Being out of work may lead to loss of their sense of belongingness, self-esteem, personal satisfaction, and usefulness. Some retired people maintain part-time work to promote usefulness and well-being.  Decreased financial income results in lesser social and leisure activities, lesser food choices, and inability to afford medical services.
• 5.
  SOCIAL CHANGES Changes insocial aspects:  Retirement  Change in income  Change in level of activity  Fear of illness  Isolation from friends and family  Death of spouse
• 6.
  Because of thesechanges, the elderly may:  Become anxious, depressed or withdrawn, or may increase activity  Change in eating habits, sleeping habits, or memory  No longer show interest in those things they used to enjoy  Suddenly develop an interest in activities they always disliked
• 7.
  Following activities mayhelp elderly fight loneliness:  Focus on hobbies  Getting active with community activities  Getting involved with church activities  Joining family activities
• 8.
  Special Considerations In Caringfor the Elderly
• 9.
  SAFETY Maintaining a safeenvironment through:  Encourage them to discuss their capabilities realistically.  Encourage properly-installed grab bars.  Help provide lighting with switches that are easily to operate  Encourage safe practice in the kitchen  Set the thermostat on the water heater so that hot water is at a safe level.  Plan emergency exits  Help provide smoke detectors  Encourage them to discuss their driving capabilities with their physician
• 10.
  EXERCISE Benefits of exercise: Increase strength of bones  Increase cardiac and respiratory capacity  Increase muscle strength and tone  Decrease in weight  Help maintain normal blood pressure  Decrease in anxiety  Better sleep habits
• 11.
  SLEEP Recommended sleep regimesfor the elderly:  Limiting intake of drinks with caffeine  Creating a relaxing, pleasant atmosphere before going to sleep  Developing regular sleep schedule  Limiting naps and time spent without activity  Creating a regular exercise routine  Reviewing medications
• 12.
  MEDICATION The following canalso be problems:  They may stop taking medications due to financial reasons, forgetfulness, and being new about the drugs.  The older body retains medications at a different rate than does the younger body  The kidneys and liver of an older client remove waste products more slowly  Older clients often forget they have taken medications and repeat them.  Older clients may have several physicians each of whom may not be aware of all the medications that have been prescribed by other physicians.
• 13.
  FOOD AND NUTRITION Riskfactors for malnutrition:  Difficulties in chewing and swallowing  Difficulties in procuring or preparing food  Recent loss of spouse oral health problems  Poverty  Multiple drug abuse  Confusion or depression  Neurologic disorders  Chronic lung disease  Eating fewer than three meals a day  Anorexia  Inability to self-feed  Alcoholism  Altered taste and smell  Diabetes  Recent surgery  Loneliness
• 14.
  ABUSE Some of thesigns are:  Bruises on a person that are hard to explain  A request from a person not to be left alone with a particular person  Conflicting stories from family members  A “feeling” that things are not right  Lack of family concern for the safety of the client  Exchange of abusive words between family members  Unexpected deterioration of the person’s health