Nursing Management of Following Conditions.

Nursing Management of Following Conditions

Sleep Disturbances

For many older adults, adequate treatment may consist of patient education regarding age-related changes in sleep patterns and good sleep hygiene. The best initial course of action is a trial of improved sleep hygiene if the results of the initial history and physical examination do not indicate a serious underlying cause.

The following are some of the frequently advised actions:

• Keep the same wake-up time each day.
• Maintain a consistent bedtime
• Reduce or stop taking naps during the day.
• Daily exercise is recommended, but not right before bed.
• Only sleep or have sex in the bed.
• Avoid reading or watching TV in bed.
• Do not worry before going to sleep.
• Eat light before bedtime.
• Before going to bed, reduce or completely avoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine.
• Maintain a regular time for getting ready for bed (eg, washing up, brushing teeth)
• Control the nocturnal atmosphere by keeping it dark, quiet, and pleasant.
• Dress comfortably and loosely for bed.
• If you can't fall asleep in 30 minutes, get out of bed and do something calming, like reading or listening to soft music, but try to stay away from bright lights during this time.
• During the day, expose yourself to enough bright light.
• Avoid daytime naps; it may be helpful to inform the patient that daytime naps interfere with nighttime sleep.

Confusion

When you're confused, it's difficult to think clearly or rapidly as you typically would. You could have confusion and struggle with focus, memory, and decision-making.

Depending on the reason, confusion might develop either gradually over time or suddenly. The feeling of perplexity frequently passes quickly. Other times, it's irreversible and incurable. It might be connected to dementia or delirium.

The elderly are more prone to confusion, which frequently happens while they are in the hospital.

Asking someone their name, age, and the date is a useful approach to determine whether or not they are confused. They become perplexed if they give an unreliable or inaccurate response.

Call a doctor if the person does not often experience confusion.

You shouldn't leave someone who is bewildered alone. The individual could require physical constraints for safety.

To Help a Confused Person:

• No matter how well someone may have known you in the past, always introduce yourself.
• Remind the person frequently of where they are.
• Put a clock and a calendar next to the person.
• Talk about the day's schedule and current affairs.
• Try to maintain a tranquil, quiet, and calm environment.

For sudden confusion due tolow blood sugar(for example, from diabetes medication), the person should drink a sweet drink or eat a sweet snack. If the confusion lasts longer than 10 minutes, call the doctor.

Depression and Suicidal Tendency

Depression is a widely under-recognized and undertreated illness in older adults.

Symptoms Include:

• Sleep issues and exhaustion,
• Alterations in one's level of physical activity, such as a slowing down or agitation or hyperactivity,
• Decrease in enthusiasm for favored hobbies,
• A lack of optimism for the future a change in appetite or weight,
• Difficulty focusing or making decisions,
• Complaints of poor concentration and memory,
• Ideas of suicide.

Treatment for Depression may Include the Following Recommendations:

• Behavioral therapy,
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy,
• Problem-solving therapy,
• Brief psychodynamic therapy (also called insight-oriented therapy),
• Life review (also called reminiscence therapy),
• Light therapy.

Antidepressant medicines may also be utilized, although they might not be successful unless they're combined with some sort of psychotherapy. Additionally, the risk of falling is increased by antidepressant drugs, especially SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors).

Caretakers may need to take additional safety precautions if antidepressant prescriptions are given, such as eliminating or reducing trip hazards from the house, putting safety bars in bathrooms and/or near the bed, and stepping up direct monitoring and/or physical help as required. A physical therapist may need to be consulted if falls or balance problems become a problem.

Dementia

Professionals manage dementia and the agitation that comes with it in a variety of ways, including by creating the ideal atmosphere, administering medicine, and obtaining assistance for a family. For instance, when they experience physical discomfort, some people may get irritated. maintain the patient's comfort and offer routine assistance.

Additionally, medication can assist to reduce agitation. Sedation is a tool that can be used in an emergency and can leave a patient sleepy for a few hours. Although there are long-term treatments available without these side effects, it can occasionally take a week for medication to start working. Antipsychotics can lessen delirium and psychosis, and benzodiazepines or trazodone are occasionally prescribed by doctors to treat insomnia.

When over-the-counter remedies don't work, they may prescribe antidepressants for depression or arthritic pain. Buspirone can aid in the long-term management of anxiety. In some circumstances, an antipsychotic can also be used. Before prescribing medication, the doctor must ensure that the patient has no additional medical conditions or medications that may interact with it.