Personal Impact Paper
Personal Impact paper
Maria Shrika
NURS/427
May 8, 2013
University of Phoenix
Introduction
It is well known that people suffering from chronic diseases have major impact in the healthcare delivery systems, including the elderly population over the age of 65. With the advances in technology combined with the aging population, more people are living longer with chronic diseases. Longer life expectancies count for higher costs in healthcare for the treatment, management and prevention of further complications arising from chronic diseases. The third most common chronic disease of the older adults is Parkinson’s disease. It is a debilitating disease affecting a person’s motor ability, causing tremors, rigidity, akinesia or slow movement, and postural instability. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 500, 000 individuals in the United States suffer from Parkinson’s Disease, and it is estimated that males are more often affected than females. Parkinson’s disease has a large economic impact and directly affects medical costs, as well as the affecting the person financially, such as lost wages and decreased productivity. According to a recent interview with a client suffering from PD over the course of ten years, the disability directly impacted his personal life, financial status, and family members. The next discussion talks about how the patient learned about his disease and the personal impact it created at the beginning of the disease process until the peak onset later in his life.
How the patient learned about his disease
During the interview with the 65 year old male client, who was recently hospitalized for shortness of breath and worsening peripheral edema, the wife also gave a brief history on how the disease was discovered. The patient currently lives at home with his wife as the caretaker and the mother of two young adults. According to the recent studies, signs and symptoms typically begin between 40 and 70 years of age with a
Maria Shrika
NURS/427
May 8, 2013
University of Phoenix
Introduction
It is well known that people suffering from chronic diseases have major impact in the healthcare delivery systems, including the elderly population over the age of 65. With the advances in technology combined with the aging population, more people are living longer with chronic diseases. Longer life expectancies count for higher costs in healthcare for the treatment, management and prevention of further complications arising from chronic diseases. The third most common chronic disease of the older adults is Parkinson’s disease. It is a debilitating disease affecting a person’s motor ability, causing tremors, rigidity, akinesia or slow movement, and postural instability. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 500, 000 individuals in the United States suffer from Parkinson’s Disease, and it is estimated that males are more often affected than females. Parkinson’s disease has a large economic impact and directly affects medical costs, as well as the affecting the person financially, such as lost wages and decreased productivity. According to a recent interview with a client suffering from PD over the course of ten years, the disability directly impacted his personal life, financial status, and family members. The next discussion talks about how the patient learned about his disease and the personal impact it created at the beginning of the disease process until the peak onset later in his life.
How the patient learned about his disease
During the interview with the 65 year old male client, who was recently hospitalized for shortness of breath and worsening peripheral edema, the wife also gave a brief history on how the disease was discovered. The patient currently lives at home with his wife as the caretaker and the mother of two young adults. According to the recent studies, signs and symptoms typically begin between 40 and 70 years of age with a
References: Ignatavicius, D. D., & Workman, L. M. (2009). Medical surgical nursing: Critical thinking for collaborative care (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier. Larsen, P.D. & Lubkin, I.M. (2009). Chronic illness: Impact and intervention (7th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Redman, B. (2007). The practice of patient education: A case study approach (10th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier.