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Nursing Service and Gerontology 

People over the age of 65 make up a diverse population that, for the most part, continues to live on their own, is able to travel, and is responsible for managing their own lives. On the other hand, as people get older, they frequently experience progressively serious health problems. The Home Care Agency provides senior citizens with health care by advising them, diagnosing and treating illnesses, bolstering their physical or mental health, providing them with medication in a number of situations, and managing long-term care. These settings include clinics, medical facilities, care facilities health clinics, and mobile health services. 

When caring for seniors, nurses in the specialty of gerontology consider both the patient’s physiological and psychological states. The care and treatment of elderly patients is the primary focus of gerontology nursing, a subfield of nursing. Those who are placed in this category have an increased risk of experiencing multiple health problems at the same time. In order to satisfy their requirements, this sector of medicine requires highly specialized care. It is of the utmost importance to ascertain the level of experience that a nurse possesses in a specific area of care. 

Taking care of elderly patients relies on evidence gleaned from the scientific community to educate patients and guide treatment decisions. The clinical experience that nurses have allows them to provide care that is sensitive to the many different cultures that their patients come from. 

Heart disease, cancer, hearing loss, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes are all more prevalent in the elderly than in the younger population. The inability to respond adequately to health needs is exacerbated by the fact that the effectiveness of medications declines with age. The field of gerontological nursing analyzes and responds to the complex factors that influence the health of the elderly. 

The nursing specialty of gerontology is expanding rapidly. Taking care of people has gotten more complicated as life expectancy rises. The typical American adult has a life expectancy of between 75 and 80 years. There is a growing need for geriatric nurses to care for the increasing number of elderly patients. 

Gerontology nurses specialize in caring for patients of advanced age with conditions such as: 

  • Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease 
  • Osteoporosis 
  • Cancer 
  • Stroke 
  • Arthritis 
  • Falls 
  • Tolerance to medicines 
  • Persistent pain 
  • Insufficient nutrition 
  • Incontinence 
  • Reduced mobility 
  • End-of-life care 

The Skills of a Gerontology Nurse 

  • Encouraging a healthy and clean environment 
  • Able to effectively interact with both patients and other medical staff. 
  • Showing genuine care and compassion to the patient 
  • Knowing what older people need physically and mentally. 
  • Capacity to make decisions in a timely manner that are in the best interests of the patient. 
  • Learning how to use medical equipment by getting used to it. 
  • Having a sufficient background in the field. 

Responsibilities 

  • Explaining to the patient about the aging process and how to deal with it. 
  • Advise people on how to maintain their health and avoid harm. 
  • Check the patient’s mental health and how well they can think. 
  • The doctor’s understanding of the patient’s immediate and long-term health issues improves through ongoing communication with the patient. Alterations in sleeping habits, frequent trips to the emergency room, and incontinence are just a few of the most frequently encountered health concerns. 
  • Assists in pain management, if there’s any. 
  • Prepare the patient’s medication. 
  • Advise the patient regarding his nutrition and his nutritional needs 
  • Allows older persons with cognitive impairments to maintain their independence by including them in the decision-making process regarding their care on a regular basis 
  • Communicating patients with appropriate community resources. 
  • Modifies communication so that it corresponds to the specific requirements of older persons who are exhibiting distressed behavior or who have complex communication requirements. 
  • Check whether or not the older folks understand the health facts and therapy recommendations by posing open-ended questions to them. 
  • Inform the patient on how to take the drug, check to see that it is being used properly, and offer any adjustments to the patient’s routine that may be required. 
  • Identifies and supports others in the process of identifying and implementing activities that are particular to the older adult’s interests and requirements in the areas of physical activity, social interaction, and leisure. 
  • Identifies feelings of isolation, powerlessness, and boredom experienced by older adults and works together to find solutions to these problems. 

If you’re in need of Home Health Care Services or someone who can take good care of your loved ones, especially the elderly who need special care for Home Care Nursing and Home Health Aide, you can seek help from HouseCalls Home Care specialist located at  1950 Fulton Street Store Front, NY, 11233. Please book an appointment with us at HouseCalls Home Care on +1-718-9200-9200. You can log onto https://housecallshc.org/ for more information, or contact us through email at info@housecallshc.org. 

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