Related Experiment Videos
Creating a healing environment for elders
1Department of Nursing, California State University, Bakersfield, USA.
AACN Clinical Issues
|October 21, 2000
Summary
The growing elderly population in critical care requires specialized nursing. Nurses can improve elder care by addressing patient risks and optimizing the critical care environment to prevent complications.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Critical Care Nursing
- Patient Safety
Background:
- The global elderly population is rapidly increasing, including within critical care settings.
- Critically ill older adults face unique risks due to physiologic, cognitive, and psychosocial factors.
- The critical care environment presents additional challenges, potentially leading to complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify characteristics of elderly patients and the critical care environment that increase complication risk.
- To explore nursing strategies for mitigating risks and improving care for critically ill elders.
- To enhance the creation of a healing environment for older adults in critical care.
Main Methods:
- Review of patient-specific risk factors (physiologic, cognitive, psychosocial).
- Analysis of environmental stressors in critical care (sleep, sensory, pain, social support).
- Identification of nursing interventions to create a healing environment.
Main Results:
- Elderly patients are at higher risk for complications due to intrinsic factors.
- Environmental factors in critical care exacerbate patient vulnerabilities.
- Delirium is a common complication in critically ill older adults.
- Specific nursing interventions can mitigate risks and improve outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Critical care nurses play a vital role in managing the complexities of elderly patient care.
- Proactive nursing interventions can reduce complications and promote healing in critically ill elders.
- Optimizing the critical care environment and patient support is essential for this growing demographic.