Each and every professional nurse brings his or her own personal experiences, beliefs, and values to the professional nursing practice. After watching the Elder Project- Seven Seniors Face the Future video and reading evidence based policy solution document, apply evidence based practice and discuss the following:
• What are the consequences of pain in the older adult?
• What are the age-related changes that affect psychological and cognitive functioning?
In case the above link does not work what you can do is connect to Kanopy from: and then search with the title “The Elder Project”.
REQUIRED READING IS ATTACHED AS A FILE.. ONE REFERENCE MUST COME FROM THE ATTACHED READING
References:
- Initial Post: Minimum of two (2) total references and in-text citation one (1) from required course materials and one (1) from peer-reviewed references.
please follow instruction plagiarism will not be accepted.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a medical professor, it is essential to encourage students to incorporate personal experiences, beliefs, and values into their nursing practice while also emphasizing the use of evidence-based practice. In this assignment, students are required to watch the “Elder Project- Seven Seniors Face the Future” video and summarize their understanding of wellness within chronic illness, explore the consequences of pain in older adults, and understand how aging affects psychological and cognitive functioning.
Answer:
Wellness within chronic illness is a concept that means maintaining the highest possible level of physical, emotional, and psychological well-being, even when dealing with a chronic health problem. It involves the integration of disease management and prevention, tailored to meet individual needs. From watching the “Elder Project” video and researching the evidence-based policy solution document, I have learned that wellness within chronic illness is attainable when there is effective management and self-care practices. Some factors that contribute to wellness within chronic illness that I identified are:
1. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits such as regular exercise, stress management techniques, and balanced nutrition to improve physical well-being.
2. Having a support system comprised of family, friends, and healthcare professionals.
3. Educating oneself about their medical condition and working closely with healthcare providers to better manage the symptoms.
The consequences of pain have become a significant concern for the older population and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates. In older adults, pain is often undertreated or overlooked, leading to poorer outcomes. Some of the consequences of chronic pain in older adults include depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, cognitive decline, falls, and mobility limitations. Healthcare professionals need to identify and manage pain in older adults effectively.
Age-related changes affect the psychological and cognitive functions of older adults. Older adults may experience reductions in cognitive processing speed, working memory capacity, and attentional control. They may also experience age-related changes in perception, which can impact their ability to maintain balance, navigate the environment, and avoid falls. Healthcare professionals need to provide appropriate care, consider alternative therapies, and adjust medication dosages to minimize the impact of age-related changes on psychological and cognitive functioning.
In conclusion, the concept of wellness within chronic illness, consequences of pain in older adults, and age-related changes affecting psychological and cognitive functioning are critical issues for healthcare professionals to consider when caring for the aging population. Incorporating personal experiences, beliefs, and values in nursing practice should be coupled with evidence-based practice to improve patient outcomes.
