Developing Holistic Care for Long-term Conditions


Book Description

Developing Holistic Care for Long-term Conditions focuses on how to help people with long-term health conditions cope more effectively. It brings together physical and mental health, offering a holistic approach for students and practitioners in a variety of care settings. Comprising four sections, this text introduces the policy and background to caring for people with chronic illness as well as the psychosocial impact of long-term conditions. Essential skills for practice are explored including holistic assessment, symptom control and the promotion of effective partnership between client and carer in supporting coping, recovery and end of life care. There is an emphasis on maximising individual health potential and resilience with the role of nutrition, exercise, complementary therapy and spirituality considered. The focus is on client centred care which addresses the whole person, mind and body. The extensive final section presents examples of key health issues where UK national guidelines have been published including: Long-term neurological conditions Diabetes Mental health Cancer Coronary heart disease Older people This evidence-based book takes note of the relevant National Service Frameworks and offers an informative and pragmatic guide for all those learning about caring for the chronically ill, as well as providing a useful reference work for qualified nurses and allied health professionals.




Gerontological Nursing


Book Description

This first edition Australian text aligns nursing care principles and practice to the unique requirements of older people. Written by leading academics and clinicians, Gerontological Nursing: A holistic approach to the care of older people covers the essential skills of gerontological care with a focus on chronic diseases, neurocognitive disorders, mental health, quality of life and healthy ageing, palliative care and bereavement, safety issues, and the role of the caregiver. As nurses play an ever more critical role in supporting the needs of an ageing population, this essential text will enable nursing students to navigate the complexities of older people's healthcare, promote healthy ageing, and help people to live well. - End of chapter practice scenarios with questions - Tips for best practice - Focus on contemporary models of care and clinical governance - Inclusion of most common chronic diseases affecting older adults including dementia, depression and delirium - Dedicated chapter on Safety and Security - Expert contributors from multiple Australian and New Zealand universities - Aligned to the Australian Aged Care Quality Standards as well as international standards and guidelines - An eBook included in all print purchases Additional resources on Evolve - eBook on VitalSource Instructor resources: - PowerPoints - MCQs Chapter worksheets




Nursing Care of Older People


Book Description

Nursing care of older people provides a new, contemporary, evidence based and practical guide to meeting the holistic health needs of older patients. With a clear and engaging style, the authors outline a rigorous and robust account of underlying principles and evidence with tools and tips for best nursing practice. This comprehensive textbook examines the changes brought about by the ageing process to both physical and mental health as well as learning disabilities. Providing essential insights necessary to deliver high quality nursing in primary and hospital care, this text covers a wide range of issues and clinical topics. Learning is aided by case studies, nursing insights, activities, and reflection enabling readers to apply theory to practice. This text is particularly useful for pre and post registration student nurses, qualified nursing staff, and other healthcare professionals working alongside nurses to deliver care to older people. The online resource centre to accompany Nursing care of older people features: For students and lecturers · Additional interactive case studies. · National policy links. · Website links to national older people organizations, charities and support groups and links to journals on older patients in health care. · Audio podcasts on the nursing care of older people.




Primary Care Mental Health in Older People


Book Description

This book is a practical resource that will support the delivery of holistic mental health interventions in the primary and community care setting for older people. Primary care delivery is discussed in relation to both functional mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, and psychotic and personality disorders, and acquired organic mental disorders of old age, such as dementia, cognitive impairments, and delirium. Careful consideration is paid to the complex relationship between mental and somatic health problems, as well as the impacts of multimorbidity and polypharmacy. Further topics include, for example, epidemiology, wider determinants of health, different care models, history taking, neurocognitive and capacity assessment, and pharmacological, psychological, and physical interventions. The wider goals of the book are to support the development of community resilience and self-care in older people; to promote universal access and equity for older people in order to enable them to achieve or recover the highest attainable standard of health, regardless of age, gender, or social position; and to promote pathways to care for older people with mental health problems respecting their autonomy, independence, human rights, and the importance of the life-course approach. This book will be an invaluable resource for all professionals who work with older adults with mental health problems and those training in these fields including physicians, psychiatrists, family doctors, geriatricians, general practitioners, nurses, psychologists, neurologists, occupational therapists, social workers, support workers and community health and social care workers.







Fragility Fracture Nursing


Book Description

This open access book aims to provide a comprehensive but practical overview of the knowledge required for the assessment and management of the older adult with or at risk of fragility fracture. It considers this from the perspectives of all of the settings in which this group of patients receive nursing care. Globally, a fragility fracture is estimated to occur every 3 seconds. This amounts to 25 000 fractures per day or 9 million per year. The financial costs are reported to be: 32 billion EUR per year in Europe and 20 billon USD in the United States. As the population of China ages, the cost of hip fracture care there is likely to reach 1.25 billion USD by 2020 and 265 billion by 2050 (International Osteoporosis Foundation 2016). Consequently, the need for nursing for patients with fragility fracture across the world is immense. Fragility fracture is one of the foremost challenges for health care providers, and the impact of each one of those expected 9 million hip fractures is significant pain, disability, reduced quality of life, loss of independence and decreased life expectancy. There is a need for coordinated, multi-disciplinary models of care for secondary fracture prevention based on the increasing evidence that such models make a difference. There is also a need to promote and facilitate high quality, evidence-based effective care to those who suffer a fragility fracture with a focus on the best outcomes for recovery, rehabilitation and secondary prevention of further fracture. The care community has to understand better the experience of fragility fracture from the perspective of the patient so that direct improvements in care can be based on the perspectives of the users. This book supports these needs by providing a comprehensive approach to nursing practice in fragility fracture care.




Health and Wellbeing in Late Life


Book Description

This open access book takes a multidisciplinary approach to provide a holistic understanding of late old age, and situates the aged person within the context of family, caregivers, clinical and other institutions. All through the book, the author discusses preparedness for an aging individual as well as the society in the Indian context. The book highlights inevitable but mostly neglected health issues like depression, dementia, fall, and frailty and provides detailed analyses of solutions that are practicable in low resource settings. It also brings up intergenerational differences and harmony in the context of holistic care of older Indians. Alongside clinical perspectives, the book uses narratives of elderly patients to dwell on the myriad of problems and issues that constitute old age healthcare. Demonstrating cases that range from the most influential to the most underprivileged elderly in India, the book enlightens multiple caregivers—doctors, nurses, and professional caregivers as well as family members—about the dynamic approach required in dealing with complex issues related to late old age. The narratives make the book relatable and interesting to non-academic readers, with important lessons for gerontological and geriatric caregiving. It is also of use to older adults in preparing for active aging.




Caring For Dependent Older Persons


Book Description

Caring for Dependent Older Persons details the knowledge that a caregiver should have when caring for an older person who is dependent on his/her care.The main part of this book is a step-by-step guide on all the necessary skills needed when helping an older person with his/her Activities of Daily Living, monitoring of the person's health and the overall care of the older person. This book provides holistic knowledge by explaining how age and disease affect an older person.It also covers the potential stress that a caregiver may endure while taking care of an older person. It is a valuable reference guide for a caregiver during the journey of caregiving. This book is the first of its kind to provide caregivers with comprehensive information on taking care of a dependent older person, especially in the Singapore context. The step-by-step explanation can be a reference guide for caregivers before or after their caregiver training.The financial help section gathers information on all the schemes available in Singapore that can help with the care of a dependent older person. A comprehensive list of financial help available in Singapore is also detailed in this section.This book is co-written by Dr. Tan who has many years of experience running a medical homecare service. He has shared the pertinent information that a caregiver should be equipped with.




Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults


Book Description

Social isolation and loneliness are serious yet underappreciated public health risks that affect a significant portion of the older adult population. Approximately one-quarter of community-dwelling Americans aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated, and a significant proportion of adults in the United States report feeling lonely. People who are 50 years of age or older are more likely to experience many of the risk factors that can cause or exacerbate social isolation or loneliness, such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and sensory impairments. Over a life course, social isolation and loneliness may be episodic or chronic, depending upon an individual's circumstances and perceptions. A substantial body of evidence demonstrates that social isolation presents a major risk for premature mortality, comparable to other risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, or obesity. As older adults are particularly high-volume and high-frequency users of the health care system, there is an opportunity for health care professionals to identify, prevent, and mitigate the adverse health impacts of social isolation and loneliness in older adults. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults summarizes the evidence base and explores how social isolation and loneliness affect health and quality of life in adults aged 50 and older, particularly among low income, underserved, and vulnerable populations. This report makes recommendations specifically for clinical settings of health care to identify those who suffer the resultant negative health impacts of social isolation and loneliness and target interventions to improve their social conditions. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults considers clinical tools and methodologies, better education and training for the health care workforce, and dissemination and implementation that will be important for translating research into practice, especially as the evidence base for effective interventions continues to flourish.