Older Adult and Geriatric Care for Texas Nurses

CONTACT HOURS: 2

BY:

Judith Swan, MSN, BSN, ADN

LEARNING OUTCOME AND OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this continuing education course, you will have increased your knowledge of the unique issues related to caring for older adult patients. Specific learning objectives to address potential knowledge gaps include:

Discuss the major age-related physiologic changes impacting older adults and related management recommendations.
Describe cognitive changes impacting the health of older individuals and related management recommendations.
Describe mental health issues of older individuals.
Review the assessment and management of elder abuse victims.
Clarify the principles that guide end-of-life care.

Introduction
Physical Changes of Aging
Cognitive Changes of Aging
Mental Health Issues in Aging
Elder Abuse
End-of-Life Care
Conclusion
Resources
References

INTRODUCTION

By 2030, 1 in 5 Americans will be 65 years or older, and by 2034, older adults will outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history. Texas has a population of over 30 million people and over 14% of them (4,249,528) are age 65 and older. It is projected that from 2023 to 2050, the number of people 65 and older living in Texas will increase by more than 88% (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020; Houston State of Health, 2023; Texas 2036, 2023).

Because many members of the older generation require chronic or acute disease care at a higher rate than other major demographics, this is resulting in an increasing demand for qualified, knowledgeable healthcare professionals who possess specialized knowledge and skills in the management of older adults’ unique physical, psychological, and social needs. Continuing education of the healthcare community is an essential step toward ensuring the best quality of care is available for this vulnerable population (Avant Healthcare Professionals, 2023).

WHAT OLDER ADULTS WANT FROM HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

Older adults express the following concerns and wants from their healthcare provider(s):

To be addressed face-to-face
To be spoken to as an adult and to be addressed as they prefer to be addressed
To be comfortable and to be assisted with mobility as necessary
To be spoken to slowly to allow time to process
To not be interrupted
To avoid healthcare provider impatience and bias
To have vision and hearing deficits considered during interactions
To be spoken to using simple, common language and without medical jargon
To collaborate in goal setting
To be asked if clarification is needed
To be evaluated regarding their understanding of health issues and what steps are to be taken
To be given clear and specific written notes or printed handouts about their medical conditions
To have cultural differences considered
To be provided with professional translation services and written material in different languages when needed
(NIA, 2023)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

WHAT OLDER ADULTS WANT FROM HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS