Elderly Caring

Two of the first topics a new nursing student learns about is Caring and the Elderly.


I'm assuming here, but I would guess that a lot of people that are attracted to the nursing field would generally consider themselves as being caring individuals.  Yes, we know that this is no easy job, but it's the opportunity to help other people and make a difference in other people's lives that help make being a nurse worthwhile. 


There's a number of different theories on what it means to be caring (Benner & Wrubel, Watson, Leininger, etc...) but basically it boils down to being aware that each patient is a person first and, the 'ol golden rule, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you," "do as you would be done by," and "give as good as you would like to get."  Anyway, you get the idea...


Examples of caring includes: 

• Have a presence and "be there" for another person
• Listen to understand what they are telling you
• Take time to know who they are (they are more than just a disease)
• Learning about one's family or relationships that they have with others 
• Allowing others to express/practice/share their own spiritual beliefs
• Making one's environment as comfortable as possible 

The second major topic is learning about our growing elderly population and the basic skills of how to properly provide them care.  Did you know that this year (2011) marks when the first baby boomers will start to turn 65?  And, with the improvement in healthcare and the big group of baby boomers born between 1946 & 1964, the number of elderly adults will increase to 70 million people by the year 2030.  


Here's a quick pic (from the United Nations, 2009), since I'm more of a visual learner myself...

 
Some of the first skills that we'll be working on are:

• Proper Documentation
• Proper Hand Hygiene
• Using Proper Body Alignment & Body Mechanics
• Bedmaking (w/ an occupied & unoccupied bed)
• Elimination Assistance (urinal, bedpan, & catheter)
• Bathing and Personal Hygiene

 So to close, so I can get back to all my reading....
Here's a couple sites from the web on some general elderly care skills:

• Hand Hygiene from the CDC
• www.elderlycaretips.info
• Making an Occupied Bed (& other CNA skills)
• Giving a Partial bath (& other skills)