Health and functional stability
Assignment Details: As geriatric patients age, their Health and functional stability may decline resulting in the inability to perform basic activities of daily living. In your role as a nurse practitioner, you must assess whether the needs of these aging patients are being met. Comprehensive geriatric assessments are used to determine whether these patients have developed or are at risk of developing age-related changes that interfere with their functional status. Since the health status and living situation of older adult patients often differ, there are a variety of assessment tools that can be used to evaluate wellness and functional ability. For this Discussion, you will consider which assessment tools would be appropriate for a patient in a case scenario.
This week\’s assignments will focus on Geriatrics Assessment and Health Promotion. I have included the case study for you to analyze for your discussion.
Review the case study and based on the provided information, think about a possible patient evaluation plan. As part of your evaluation planning, consider where the evaluation would take place, whether any other professionals or family members should be present, appropriate assessment tools and guidelines, and any other relevant information you may wish to address.
Consider whether the assessment tool you identified was validated for use with this specific patient population and if this poses issues. Think about additional factors that might present issues when performing assessments such as language, education, prosthetics, missing limbs, etc.
Consider immunization requirements that may be needed for this patient.
Post your evaluation by Day 3 of this week and respond to at least two of your classmates on two different days by day 6
Mr. Sanchez, a 78-year-old retired postal worker, is in the office today for his annual physical exam. He is generally in good health, has a 10-year history of osteoarthritis. He is also requesting his annual influenza vaccination and inquiries about any other “shots” he may need. Watching him walk down the hall to the exam room you have noticed that he is using a cane in his left hand. When asked about this he states that the pain in his left knee has gotten considerably worse over the past 6 months.
VS: BP 132/60 Pulse 68 Resp 18 Temp 98.4 F O2SAT 98% on Room Air
PMH: Osteoarthritis, GERD
Allergies: NKDA
Medications:
• Omeprazole 20mg po daily
• Tylenol 500mg 2 tabs po TID PRN
• Volteran gel to left knee BID PRN
• Multivitamin 1 po daily
Social History: Retired postal worker, worked for 25 years as postal carrier then 15 years in the post office serving customers at desk. He is married with 2 adult children that live out of state. He drinks occasional alcohol, usually on weekends while watching sports. No smoking history, no illicit drug use.
ROS: Normal, with the exception of increasing pain in left knee
PE: Normal exam, with the exception of multiple seborrheic keratosis on his hands and face, his left
knee is slightly swollen, crepitation with passive ROM left knee.
Diagnostics/Assessments done: Left knee x-ray loss of cartilage.
Learning Resources
Required Readings
Kennedy-Malone, L., & Groenke-Duffy, E. (2023). Changes with aging. In Advanced practice nursing in the care of older adults (3rd ed., pp. 2-7). F.A. Davis.
Kennedy-Malone, L., & Groenke-Duffy, E. (2023). Health promotion. In Advanced practice nursing in the care of older adults (3rd ed., pp. 8-26). F.A. Davis.
Kennedy-Malone, L., & Groenke-Duffy, E. (2023). Nutritional support. In Advanced practice nursing in the care of older adults (3rd ed., pp. 32-46). F.A. Davis.
Kennedy-Malone, L., & Groenke-Duffy, E. (2023). Exercise. In Advanced practice nursing in the care of older adults (3rd ed., pp. 27-31)). F.A. Davis.
Kennedy-Malone, L., & Groenke-Duffy, E. (2023). Comprehensive geriatric assessment. In Advanced practice nursing in the care of older adults (3rd ed., pp. 58-67). F.A. Davis.
Kennedy-Malone, L., & Groenke-Duffy, E. (2023). Symptoms and syndromes. In Advanced practice nursing in the care of older adults (3rd ed., pp. 68-132). F.A. Davis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Recommended adult immunization schedule for ages 19 years or olderLinks to an external site.. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/downloads/adult/adult-combined-schedule.pdf
Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing. (n.d.). General assessment seriesLinks to an external site.. In Try This: Series. Author. https://hign.org/consultgeri/try-this/general-assessment
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (n.d.). Information for health professionalsLinks to an external site.. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/information-health-professionals
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2019). Appendix III. USPSTF LitWatch processLinks to an external site.. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/about-uspstf/methods-and-processes/procedure-manual/procedure-manual-appendix-iii-uspstf-litwatch-process
Recommended Reading
Goldberg, C. (2019). Role of physical exam, general observation, skin screening and vital signsLinks to an external site.. https://meded.ucsd.edu/clinicalmed/assets/docs/VitalSignsandIntroductiontotheExam.pdf
Gerontological Society of America. (2023). GSA enrich.Links to an external site. https://gsaenrich.geron.org/brain-health
Recommended Media
Engage-IL (Producer). (2017m). Geriatric health promotion and disease preventionLinks to an external site. [Video]. https://engageil.com/modules/geriatric-health-promotion-and-disease-prevention
Note: View the Geriatric Health Promotion and Disease Prevention video module available in this free course. If you choose to view the Engage-IL media, you will need to create a free account at the Engage-IL website.
Engage-IL (Producer). (2017w). The process of agingLinks to an external site. [Video]. https://engageil.com/modules/the-process-of-aging
Note: View the Process of Aging video module available in this free course.
Please write an evaluation plan for this patient for my discussion board, Thank you
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