Ertha has Dementia which is a neurologic disorder that affects ones memory, thinking, and behavior. It can even affect fine motor skills causing loss of balance or ones ability to perform ADL’s. Ertha is no longer in her familiar home which is adding to her anxiety and could be making her dementia worse. She may forget to take medication or take it more than once due to poor memory. Key nursing considerations would be to have a CNA help assist with ADL’s and report back to Nurse if Ertha isn’t willing to comply with help. Ertha should be given help but as long as she is capable, she should perform all ADL’s unassisted. Ertha should have a schedule laid out and easily followed so she can focus. All tasks need to be made very simple and easy to follow to avoid the patient from getting confused and agitated. Ertha should have a medication box clearly marked so she can read it. Meals need to be monitored because as the dementia progresses, she may forget to eat. (Videbeck, 2020) Risk factors with Dementia progression Imbalanced Nutrition- less than body requires Imbalanced fluid volume Impaired urinary incontinence Bowel Incontinence Constipation Disturbed sleep pattern Acute Confusion Caregiver role Strain (Ladwig, 2020) As a Nurse my main goal is to sustain a normal home life and balance out the care needed to help assist Ertha and Henry. As Ertha’s dementia progresses Henry will need a lot of support as he deals with his wife becoming more of a stranger to him. The emotional toll dementia places on a family is very difficult to manage. IF Ertha can perform ADL’s she should be encouraged to do so without assistance. Often once a role is assisted the patient cognitive ability to perform the task withers away. We should try and orientate Ertha as much as possible to her new surroundings to help reduce the agitation and confusion that comes with an unfamiliar place. (Mayo clinic) The Nurse should be monitoring weight, meds, fine motor skills, and the over all safety of the patient and address them as they come up as part of the goals for the risks listed above. What are realistic outcomes based on the nursing interventions provided?
Ertha has Dementia which is a neurologic disorder that affects ones memory, thinking, and behavior. It can even affect fine motor skills causing loss of balance or ones ability to perform ADL’s. Ertha is no longer in her familiar home which is adding to her anxiety and could be making her dementia worse. She may forget to take medication or take it more than once due to poor memory.
Key nursing considerations would be to have a CNA help assist with ADL’s and report back to Nurse if Ertha isn’t willing to comply with help. Ertha should be given help but as long as she is capable, she should perform all ADL’s unassisted. Ertha should have a schedule laid out and easily followed so she can focus. All tasks need to be made very simple and easy to follow to avoid the patient from getting confused and agitated. Ertha should have a medication box clearly marked so she can read it. Meals need to be monitored because as the dementia progresses, she may forget to eat. (Videbeck, 2020)
Risk factors with Dementia progression
Imbalanced Nutrition- less than body requires
Imbalanced fluid volume
Impaired urinary incontinence
Bowel Incontinence
Constipation
Disturbed sleep pattern
Acute Confusion
Caregiver role Strain (Ladwig, 2020)
As a Nurse my main goal is to sustain a normal home life and balance out the care needed to help assist Ertha and Henry. As Ertha’s dementia progresses Henry will need a lot of support as he deals with his wife becoming more of a stranger to him. The emotional toll dementia places on a family is very difficult to manage. IF Ertha can perform ADL’s she should be encouraged to do so without assistance. Often once a role is assisted the patient cognitive ability to perform the task withers away. We should try and orientate Ertha as much as possible to her new surroundings to help reduce the agitation and confusion that comes with an unfamiliar place. (Mayo clinic)
The Nurse should be monitoring weight, meds, fine motor skills, and the over all safety of the patient and address them as they come up as part of the goals for the risks listed above.
What are realistic outcomes based on the nursing interventions provided?
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