NRS 420 Explain how some of the characteristics of the aging process may lead to vulnerabilities related to independent living, elder abuse, social connections, etc Re: Topic 5 DQ 1 Mr. Juarez is 88 y.o in a cast and using crutches in a limited maner.

NRS 420 Explain how some of the characteristics of the aging process may lead to vulnerabilities related to independent living, elder abuse, social connections, etc

Re: Topic 5 DQ 1

Mr. Juarez is 88 y.o in a cast and using crutches in a limited maner. At that age I would summarize that strength to hold himself up well on crutches is also limited. The patient is likely in the category of geriatric syndrome and will need many interventions to keep him safe (Ong et al., 2021). For starters, Mr Juarez will need good foot wear when walking. Socks without grips will not be adequate. Mr. Juarez also needs hand rails in hallways and bathrooms. These will be important in the off chance that the hall is too skinny for the crutches.

Taking up any rugs that are on the floor and also moving any cords that might be exposed on the floor will be vital to safety. If there is an excessive amount of furniture in the home, some pieces may need to be moved to an area that isn’t being utilized to clear space to move around.

Mr. Juarez has trouble with ADL’s and I would imagine that bathing would also pose a problem. Fall prevention while doing these task will be mitigated with a bath chair in the bathroom to assist when he is tired.

Education is going to be the engine that drives the change in this situation. Fall prevention education is important to allow the patient to take charge of their care (Ong et al., 2021). Mr. Juarez needs to understand that his age, chronic conditions, and his cast put him a significant risk for a fall. Since he has had a previous fall he should understand the importance of prevention by now.

Ong, M. F., Soh, K. L., Saimon, R., Wai, M. W., Mortell, M., & Soh, K. G. (2021). Fall prevention education to reduce fall risk among community-dwelling older persons: A systematic review. Journal of Nursing Management, 29(8), 2674–2688. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13434

Ward, K., & Reuben, D. (2019). Comprehensive geriatric assessment. Uptodate.com. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/comprehensive-geriatric-assessment