Caring for the Older Adult Living in the Community Project

As part of your learning outcomes each student will be required to interview and meet an older adult (patient) living in the community. Write about what the older adult (patient) told you that best describes the older adult’s experience of living independently in the community. Make sure to include the following information when writing your paper. This information should be typed doubled-spaced, 3 pages maximum, not including the coversheet. Make sure that each page has your name included on each sheet. Learning Objectives: Students will Interact with an older adult living independently in the community Assess and recognize the functional physical, emotional and mental health needs of older adults living in the community. Communicate effectively with patients and family. Describe the role of the nurse when providing care to older patients in the community Discuss previously held believes/assumptions about how older patients live independently in the community Assess older adults’ risks and understand the importance of weighing risks and benefits when caring for the older adult to include cultural beliefs, safety, and access to healthcare and financial considerations. Questions to ask during your interview and to be incorporated into summary of visit are: Age of patient, gender, ethnicity and marital status being interviewed. Place where interview took place. Primary Language spoken. Can you tell me a story that stands out for you that would show me what it means to be independent and live at home? What is your daily routine like? Personal care needs such as hygiene, house cleaning, etc. Grocery shopping, preparing meals, paying of bills Medication (if any) routine Time with spouse/partner, family, friends or neighbors Health care provider appointments Leisure activities Who helps you accomplish these routines? Who provides transportation and how? While living at home independently, what is most important to you? Tell me about your childhood? (Hometown, parents, siblings, school, etc.) What are the challenges you have while living at home? What are some traditions that you participate in? (Holidays, church, etc.) Do you feel safe living at home by yourself? Have you fallen recently within the past 3 months? What happen? Do you use assistive devices to help you ambulate? Do you see a physician on a regular basis and if you need medications how do you get them? What fears to you have about having to leave your home? Are you able to afford living at home? If they live alone and/or with others in the home what is your support system if any and do they help you? How did this older adult’s story help you to gain an understanding of what it means to them to live independently in the community? What lessons have you learned in relationship to caring for this population as a result of this interview? What surprised you the most from this experience? What were your concerns and why was it so concerning as it relates to this interview? What information did you forget to ask that would have helped you understand the obstacles which are faced by older adult on a daily basis? How would you include the older adult and the caregiver/family member(s) in the care of this individual in the community setting? What risks did you see for the older adult in their environment? Did the older adult see the same risks? (Examples: rugs which could trip them, multiple electrical cords plugged into an outlet, obstacles which could lead to potential falls). What were your personal assumptions/beliefs about older adults prior this interview? Did find your personal cultural bias influencing the outcome of this interview? Did this project help you see the older adult from a different prospective and/or develop empathy for this population?