Discussion: Consequences of chronic diseases
Discussion: Consequences of chronic diseasesDiscussion: Consequences of chronic
diseasesThe comprehensive assessment of an older adult requires knowledge of not only
normal aging changes but also the consequences of chronic diseases, genetic makeup, and
lifestyle. A comprehensive geriatric assessment is multidimensional and incorporates the
physical examination as well as assessments of mental status, functional status, social and
economic status, pain, and examination of the physical environment for safety concerns
(Jarvis, 2015). The nurse would assess if the patient was able to perform activities of daily
living as well as a complete head to toe assessment. During the assessment the nurse would
keep in mind the normal and expected changes that take place as people get older such as
hearing and vision loss, change in skin elasticity, hair color changes, loss of subcutaneous fat
and decreased height due to thinning of the bones. If the nurse notices hearing loss it would
be important to speak clearly and slowly facing the patient during discussion and to not
mistake difficulty hearing or loss of vision to mental status change. Skin and nail assessment
can lead to knowledge about hydration, cardiac, and nutrition status.When assessing the
geriatric patient in the hospital it is wise to consider if the patient is mobile enough to get by
at home. Can the patient go up and down stairs? Does the patient drive? Can the patient see
the phone numbers on the phone to call for help? Does the patient have a support system?
These are all questions that should be in the nurse’s mind during a comprehensive
assessment.Special consideration to emotional state should take place with the geriatric
assessment. It is important to treat the patient with respect and dignity in this stage of life.
Do not refer to patients as Honey, Grandma, Grandpa or Sweetheart, but rather Sir, Ma’am,
Mr. or Mrs. Many families live across state borders and are not readily available to the
geriatric patient who may need extra support. The nurse should be knowledgeable about
resources in the surrounding community such as home care, transportation services, social
groups, meals on wheels and other low cost organizations that may help to improve the
quality of life of a geriatric patient.ReferenceJarvis, C. (2015). Physical Examination and
Health Assessment, 6th Edition. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier SaundersORDER NOW FOR
CUSTOMIZED, PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPERSYou must proofread your paper. But do not
strictly rely on your computer’s spell-checker and grammar-checker; failure to do so
indicates a lack of effort on your part and you can expect your grade to suffer accordingly.
Papers with numerous misspelled words and grammatical mistakes will be penalized. Read
over your paper – in silence and then aloud – before handing it in and make corrections as
necessary. Often it is advantageous to have a friend proofread your paper for obvious

errors. Handwritten corrections are preferable to uncorrected mistakes.Use a standard 10
to 12 point (10 to 12 characters per inch) typeface. Smaller or compressed type and papers
with small margins or single-spacing are hard to read. It is better to let your essay run over
the recommended number of pages than to try to compress it into fewer pages.Likewise,
large type, large margins, large indentations, triple-spacing, increased leading (space
between lines), increased kerning (space between letters), and any other such attempts at
“padding” to increase the length of a paper are unacceptable, wasteful of trees, and will not
fool your professor.The paper must be neatly formatted, double-spaced with a one-inch
margin on the top, bottom, and sides of each page. When submitting hard copy, be sure to
use white paper and print out using dark ink. If it is hard to read your essay, it will also be
hard to follow your argument.