Analyze the increased complexity of care among older adults. Your supervisor needs to make sure that each of the in-service topics will be covered by someone, so she is asking the staff to communicate their topic preference. Below is the list of problems your supervisor wants the nursing staff to be able to teach older adult clients (and/or their family members) about. Increased Complexity of Care among Older Adults Increased Complexity of Care among Older Adults In-service Topic Options: Hypertension Diabetes Coronary artery disease
Increased Complexity of Care among Older Adults
The Client Problem
My in-service will focus on addressing diabetes as a complex problem of care among older adults. Diabetes is a common chronic disease that affects the elderly population. It affects over 33 percent of people aged above 65 years (National Council on Aging (NCOA), 2022). Diabetes results from the body failing to make sufficient insulin or the inability to use the produced insulin properly, or both, leading to a high glucose level in the blood (National Institute on Aging (NIA), 2019). Older adults can be diagnosed with either Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes or prediabetes. Type 2 Diabetes is the most common type of diabetes affecting the elderly.
Consequences of Diabetes as It Relates to Older Adults’ Health, Safety, and Well-Being
Five common complications/consequences of diabetes in older adults that affect their health, safety, and well-being include:
Eye problems that lead to loss of sight, which affects their ability to live independently
Kidney and other urinary complications, which affect their inability to manage their bladder passage and sexual activities and cause a lot of pain with a risk of mental complications
Neuropathy and other nerve damage complications, risking amputations among the elderly (National Institute on Aging (NIA), 2019)
Cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke and hypertension, complicate diabetes management and add to the costs of care.
Diabetes leads to depression and cognitive impairment, which affects their inability to self-care.
The Rationale for Choosing the Client Problem I Selected
The number of people with diabetes is expected to rise. At the same time, the number of people in the aged population keeps rising. In addition, diabetes-associated complications may affect any age group. However, they tend to be more pronounced in old age. This is because elderly patients face more challenges compared to other younger patients. Therefore, by understanding diabetes and its consequences, I will be able to provide care to the elderly and help them maintain their autonomy and live a satisfying life.
References
National Council on Aging (NCOA). (2022). The 10 Warning Signs of Diabetes in Older Adults. Ncoa.Org. https://www.ncoa.org/article/what-are-10-warning-signs-of-diabetes-in-older-adults
National Institute on Aging (NIA). (2019). Diabetes in Older People. Nia.Nih.Gov. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/diabetes-older-people