Please write a 200-word response to this discussion #1 Psychosocial Care of the

Please write a 200-word response to this discussion #1
Psychosocial Care of the Elderly
The senior population of 65 years and older has increased in the United States, as has the global population. The elderly are frequent users of health care services since the majority of them have acute and chronic health problems. The elderly have a variety of particular requirements, some of which are mental and others of which are behavioral. Anxiety and sadness are two instances of mental illnesses that impede older people’ capacity to carry out their daily routines and do different jobs. One startling truth about senior psychological care is that age-related changes affect neurological, digestive, and metabolic systems (Macleod et al., 2018). As they age, the majority of senior individuals have difficulties with cognitive functioning and speaking. They process information at a slower rate than young adults. Aging often impacts short-term memory and reaction time to external stimuli, making it difficult for older individuals to recall recent events or respond to external elements in their surroundings. Another startling truth is that elderly adults have poor hearing at high frequencies. Most adults over the age of 65 are unable to hear noises with frequencies greater than 10,000 cycles per second. A young adult in good condition may hear frequencies of up to 20,000 cycles per second (Macleod et al., 2018). When elderly populations face physical changes, it can put them in emotional hardships coping with how it affects their independence and communication ability they have with others. with the As a nurse, it is important to understand the changes that individuals go through as they age since geriatric communities serve a big population that we care for. Unfortunately, ageism exists in our society, and it is our job to evaluate the many characteristics that older people confront, as well as how it influences our contact with them. While communication between older and younger generations might be challenging, this is usually due to implicit prejudices that younger generations hold towards elderly people, rather than an inability to comprehend one another. Understanding the changes that the senior population is through may provide nurses and caregivers with a clearer roadmap for providing the greatest quality of care to our patients. It’s fascinating to understand how cognitive performance may have a significant influence on the efficiency with which older people carry out everyday duties.
References:
MacLeod, S., Schwebke, K., Hawkins, K., Ruiz, J., Hoo, E., & Yeh, C. S. (2018). Need for comprehensive health care quality measures for older adults. Population Health Management, 21(4), 296–302. https://doi.org/10.1089/pop.2017.0109
Please write a 200-word response to this discussion #2
The population of those approaching 65 years and older in the community is rapidly growing. It is projected that the number of Americans aged 65 years and older would have almost doubled from 52 million in 2018 to 95 million by 2060 (Mather, Scommegna, & Kilduff, 2019). Some suffer from mental disorders while others are affected by chronic medical conditions and being physically unable to function or meet their needs. The older adults are a diverse group whose needs vary which means they require different type of care that incorporates both mental and physical stimulation to promote healthy aging.
An elderly patients’ cognitive function may remain intact even as the body becomes frail. This can lead to psychological problems that may affect their concentration and sleep habits leading to depression. They rely on relationships and connections especially with friends, family members and like-minded seniors (Buck, 2020). Promotion of positive self-perception and self-concept is important in the older adult through social activity to create sense of hope and excitement about life. Change in speech perception is one thing I thought was myth. I have had experiences with this a few times with some elderly patients stating that they could not understand education on a medication or procedure as I was either talking too fast or mumbling. I did not attribute this to the aging process. I will admit, I did not think sexuality and intimacy was important to the older adults. I thought as testosterone levels in men falls over the years and woman approach post-menopausal period, the need for sexual connection and intimacy slowly withers away. I did not take into consideration stress, low self-esteem, depression, lack of sleep or other medical conditions as factors that could affect the older adult’s sexuality. Nurses play a very important role in promoting healthy aging and educating the community on aging. Promoting and demonstrating a positive view of ageing with respect and empathy for an older adult should be encouraged. Communication and interaction with the older adult should take into consideration consider their values, beliefs, and culture. Nurses should be willing to teach caregivers on ageism, the impact it has on patients and how they can positively influence older adults. They should lead by example to promote safe and quality care through application of nursing knowledge, skills, and mentorship (Australian College of Nursing , 2021). Getting to know more about the patient by actively listening and encouragement of reminiscing can help reduce the negative attitudes or misconception about aging. References
Australian College of Nursing . (2021). The role of nures in supporting plder people to access qiality safe aged care.Retrieved from Australian College of Nursing : https://www.acn.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/position-statement-role-of-nurses-in-supporting-older-people.pdf
Buck, R. (2020). What Primary Psychological Needs Do Aging Adults Have? Retrieved from Home Care Assistance : https://www.homecareassistanceanchorage.com/seniors-psychological-needs/
Mather, M., Scommegna, P., & Kilduff, L. (2019, July 15). Fact Sheet: Aging in the United States . Retrieved from PRB: https://www.prb.org/resources/fact-sheet-aging-in-the-united-states/