Safety, Communication and Placement of the Older Adult (Essay Sample)

Running Head: SAFETY, COMMUNICATION AND PLACEMENT OF THE OLDER ADULT
Safety, Communication and Placement of the Older Adult
Name
Academic Institution
Safety, Communication and Placement of the Older Adult
Part One: Assessment of Mr. Trosack’s Situation
Mr. Trosack is to be discharged from the hospital after undergoing total hip replacement (THR). When an elderly patient is being discharged from the hospital after surgery, there are additional issues beyond those associated with the normal physical recovery. It is therefore the duty of nurses to determine the most appropriate discharge placement for an elderly patient (Bentler, 2009). As the case manager, there are several healthcare issues that should be addressed especially when working with an interdisciplinary team. This will help to determine the most appropriate discharge plan for the patient. The major healthcare issues to be considered include:
The level at which both Trosack and his family members understand his medical condition, and how he should be treated and taken care of after discharge.
Due to his old age, age-related issues are also important here and should be carefully discussed and taken into consideration.
The complexity and nature of post-hospital care and health needs such as medication and safety should also be considered.
The above issues are very important because they will directly affect Mr. Trosack’s recovery process. The family and the patient should understand how delicacy of the condition and ensure the necessary healthcare plan has been given after discharge. As an elderly, there are age-related complications such as emotional, physical, and psychological factors which can affect the recovery process. It is also necessary to consider the patient’s safety and medication after release.
An interdisciplinary team will be needed to determining the most discharge placement for Mr. Trosack. Because Mr. Trosack cannot take care of himself, the ‘interdisciplinary team’ should consist of a healthcare provider to offer the necessary care and medical attention to him. A dietician is also required because he will provide the best food and diet. This is appropriate because it will make the recovery process faster. An occupational therapist will also be required in the team to offer the necessary therapeutic interventions. This will make it possible to deal with social, psychological and emotional factors affecting the recovery process.
If the patient returns home after discharge, definitely there are some safety issues that might arise. For example, Henry’s apartment is very small and cluttered with memorabilia and furniture. This will make it hard to move around. The patient wears glasses for reading and might confuse the prescriptions in the medicine cabinet. This is a big risk and can result in wrong intake of medication. The building has no elevator and therefore Mr. Trosack might not be able to take the stairs with the walker. The bathroom is small and lacks any safety features. This can be a little risky for the patient. The multiple, small scatter rugs present throughout the house also pose a huge safety threat to the patient. The food in the refrigerator needs to be replaced because it poses a health concern to the patient. It will therefore be necessary for the members of the created interdisciplinary team to put these issues into consideration and by so doing provide the best healthcare to Mr. Trosack.
Part Two: Discharge Plan of Care
After being discharged from the hospital, Mr. Trosack will have several needs so that the healing process can be improved. Since he will be using a walker, definitely an assistant will be needed in his apartment. The individual will help him take medication, move around, wash the house and offer the necessary emotional, psychological and social support. The members of the family are also doubt the medical results and therefore they might not be in a position of adequately caring for Mr. Trosack if he is discharged home. Since the members of the family live separately, it will not be possible to offer the right care to him. This is why the assistant will be of great help in the entire recovery process. The building also needs to be rearranged and re-designed to make the patient’s movements easier. The family members insist that Mr. Trosack is always alert and can always take care of himself something which is wrong. However, they do not seem to understand the emotional and psychological factors that might affect the recovery process. As he is being discharged, there is need to ensure everything is taken care of including the medical prescriptions and safety concerns.
Social isolation is living alone or lacking any kind of social contact such that one cannot share his or her internal experience such being lonely or feeling isolated (Schaefer, 2007). For an older adult’s recovery process, social isolation will definitely interfere with the recovery process. For an elderly patient, social isolation will affect the recovery process from illness or surgery. Isolation during old age leads to loneliness thus causing psychological and emotional discomfort. This can affect intake of medication and also cause depression. In case of surgery, the patient will be trying to do things for himself thereby straining the body. This will prolong the recovery process. Social relationships are known to affect health positively. If there is isolati...