Geriatric Emergencies

1. Geriatric Emergencies

2. Topics • Demographics of the Elderly • The Aging Process • Assessment & Management of the Elderly Patient.

3. The Elderly... • Are one of the fastest growing segments of our population. • Are persons age 65 or older. • And their growing number presents a challenge to all health care providers.

4. The Facts • The mean survival rate of older persons is increasing. • The birth rate is declining. • There has been an absence of major wars or other catastrophes. • Health care and living standards have improved significantly since WWII. • By 2030, 70 million people will be 65 or older.

5. Gerontology is the scientific study of the effects of aging and age-related diseases on humans. • Geriatrics is the study and treatment of diseases of the aged.

6. Societal Issues • Elderly persons living alone represent one of the most impoverished and vulnerable parts of society. • Factors include living environments, poverty, loneliness, social support. • A deterioration of independence is not inevitable and not necessarily a function of aging. It may well be a sign of a heretofore untreated illness.

7. Older active adult

8. Senior volunteer programs

9. Ethics • In the course of caring for elderly patients, ethical concerns frequently arise. You may be confronted with: • Multiple decision-makers • Questions about a patient’s competency • Advanced directives, or DNRs

11. Financing & Resourcesfor Health Care • Medicare • Medicaid • Veterans Administration

12. VA hospitals provide a variety of services.

13. In treating the elderly, remember that the best intervention is prevention.

14. Prevention strategies for the elderly

15. Meals on wheels provide 1–3 meals a day

16. Free screening programs for the elderly

17. General Pathophysiology, Assessment, and Management

18. Pathophysiology • The body becomes less efficient with age. • The elderly often suffer from more than one illness or disease at a time. • The existence of multiple chronic diseases in the elderly often leads to the use of multiple medications.

19. Factors that may decrease compliance in the elderly: • Limited income • Memory loss • Limited mobility • Sensory impairment • Fear of toxicity • Child-proof containers • Duration of drug therapy

20. Factors that may increase compliance in the elderly: • Good patient-physician communication • Belief that a disease or illness is serious • Drug calendars • Compliance counseling • Blister packaging • Pill boxes • Transportation services to the pharmacy • Ability to read • Clear simple directions

21. Blister-packs are easier for the elderly.

22. Falls • Present an especially serious problem. • Represent the leading cause of accidental death among the elderly. • May be intrinsic or extrinsic. • The elderly should be encouraged to make their homes safe.

23. Home safety for the elderly

24. Communications • Normal physiological changes may include impaired vision, impaired or loss of hearing, an altered sense of taste or smell, and/or a lower sensitivity to touch. • Any of these conditions can affect your ability to communicate with the patient.

25. Sensory changes in the elderly

26. Problems with incontinence & elimination are common in the elderly.

27. Factors in Forming a General Assessment • Living situation • Level of activity • Network of social support • Level of independence • Medication history • Sleep patterns

28. Try to distinguish the patient’s chief complaint from the primary problem.

29. Communication Challenges

30. Cataracts diminish eyesight

31. Talk directly to the elderly, if possible.

32. Speak into a stethoscope with the hearing-impaired.

33. Change in altered mental status can denote serious underlying problems.

34. Only experience and practice will allow you to distinguish acute from chronic physical findings in the elderly patient. • When caring for the elderly: • Encourage patients to express their feelings. • DO NOT trivialize their fears. • Avoid questions. • Confirm what the patient says. • Recall all that you have learned about communicating with the elderly. • Assure patients that you understand that they are adults.

35. Changes in the body systems of the elderly

36. Common age-related systemic changes

37. Common Medical Problems in the Elderly

38. Respiratory Disorders • Pneumonia • COPD • Pulmonary embolism • Pulmonary edema • Lung cancer

39. Respiratory and cardiac problems can cause dyspnea.

40. Cardiovascular Disorders • Angina pectoris • Myocardial infarction • Heart failure • Dysrhythmias • Aortic dissection/aneurysm • Hypertension • Syncope

41. Neurological Disorders • Cerebrovascular disease (stroke) • Seizures • Dizziness/vertigo • Parkinson’s disease • Delirium, dementia, Alzheimer’s

43. Metabolic & Endocrine Disorders • Diabetes mellitus • Thyroid disorders

44. GI Disorders • GI hemorrhage • Upper GI bleed • Lower GI bleed • Bowel obstruction • Mesenteric infarct

45. Skin Disorders • Skin diseases • Pruritus • Herpes zoster • Pressure ulcers (decubitus ulcers)

46. Musculoskeletal Disorders • Osteoarthritis • Osteoporosis

47. Stretching and weight-bearing exercises help prevent osteoporosis.

48. Renal Disorders • Glomerulonephritis

49. Urinary Disorders • Urinary tract infections • Urosepsis

50. Environmental Emergencies • Hypothermia • Hyperthermia