Assessment and Planning of Discharge Needs in Geriatrics
Assessment and Planning of Discharge Needs in Geriatrics
Elderly patients have unique discharge planning needs. As such, the hospital nurse and case management team may find themselves challenged to not only identify the needs of each patient, but to also address those needs when planning the patient’s discharge. In the case of Mr. Trosack, a 72-year-old widower being discharged following a total hip replacement (THR), careful assessment of his home situation needs to be completed prior to discharge to ensure his safety and continued recovery once home.
Healthcare Issues
After reviewing the patient’s chart and performing interviews with the patient and his family, the case manager identifies three healthcare issues that need to be addressed on discharge.
· The patient admits he has not seen a doctor in over 10 years prior to this hospitalization.
· The patient has been diagnosed with two new health issues: hypertension and diabetes.
· He has been prescribed new medications for each new diagnosis that he will need to continue taking after discharge.
· The patient cannot identify pills he currently takes at home, stating simply that they are “vitamins” for “energy.”
Importance of Healthcare Issues
Each of these issues needs to be addressed to ensure Mr. Trosack’s safety and continued recovery after discharge:
The patient has not seen a doctor in over 10 years prior to this hospitalization. It is important for the case worker to find out why the patient has not seen any doctors, as it may be detrimental to his well-being. For example, did he have a bad experience with a previous provider and refuses to go back? Or, has he just not felt ill? Is his reasoning ability still sound? Or, is there some confusion? Is he in denial or facing fear that has kept him from seeing someone?
If the patient is able to make sound decisions and simply has no concerns, he may do well at home. However, it may also be that he is unaware he should be seeing a
Elderly patients have unique discharge planning needs. As such, the hospital nurse and case management team may find themselves challenged to not only identify the needs of each patient, but to also address those needs when planning the patient’s discharge. In the case of Mr. Trosack, a 72-year-old widower being discharged following a total hip replacement (THR), careful assessment of his home situation needs to be completed prior to discharge to ensure his safety and continued recovery once home.
Healthcare Issues
After reviewing the patient’s chart and performing interviews with the patient and his family, the case manager identifies three healthcare issues that need to be addressed on discharge.
· The patient admits he has not seen a doctor in over 10 years prior to this hospitalization.
· The patient has been diagnosed with two new health issues: hypertension and diabetes.
· He has been prescribed new medications for each new diagnosis that he will need to continue taking after discharge.
· The patient cannot identify pills he currently takes at home, stating simply that they are “vitamins” for “energy.”
Importance of Healthcare Issues
Each of these issues needs to be addressed to ensure Mr. Trosack’s safety and continued recovery after discharge:
The patient has not seen a doctor in over 10 years prior to this hospitalization. It is important for the case worker to find out why the patient has not seen any doctors, as it may be detrimental to his well-being. For example, did he have a bad experience with a previous provider and refuses to go back? Or, has he just not felt ill? Is his reasoning ability still sound? Or, is there some confusion? Is he in denial or facing fear that has kept him from seeing someone?
If the patient is able to make sound decisions and simply has no concerns, he may do well at home. However, it may also be that he is unaware he should be seeing a
References: Besdine, MD, R. W. (2009). Evaluation of the Elderly. In The Merck Manual. Retrieved from http://www.merckmanuals.com Cacioppo, J., & Patrick, W Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (2009). Depressive illness: An informative guide. Retrieved October 24, 2011, from http://www.camh.net/About_Addiction_Mental_Health/Mental_Health_Information/Depressive_Illness/depressive_ill_causes.html Day, T Depression-elderly. (n.d.). In A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 23, 2011, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002489/ Frintner, C Marano, H. E. (2003, July 1). The dangers of loneliness. Psychology Today. Retrieved from http://m.psychologytoday.com/articles/200308/the-dangers-loneliness Maryland State Bar Association