Pick one of the following questions to answer:
Explore the statistics found on the Statistics Canada website (https://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/start). Do patterns exist in the mortality and morbidity rates for different diseases? Is the incidence or prevalence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes or breast cancer changing in Canada? Explain the importance of these patterns for the community nurses work.
What issues might a community health nurse advocate for when working with an older person population?
Caring for a dependent older person can be very stressful and can lead to caregiver burden. Go to the Alzheimer Society of Canada website (www.alzheimer.ca) to help answer the following questions: What are some of the stresses on the patient, the caregivers, and the patient’s family? What determinants of health are most relevant to the health of caregivers and why? How do the determinants of health affect caregiver burden?
Here are sample articles:
Caregiver Burden in Alzheimer’s Care
Caring for a dependent older person, particularly those with Alzheimer’s, can be very stressful and lead to a significant caregiver burden. Patients often face cognitive decline, loss of independence, behavioural changes, and social isolation, which can cause frustration, anxiety, and depression (Cloak & Al Khalili, 2022). Caregivers experience emotional stress, physical strain, financial burden, social isolation, and burnout, while families deal with the emotional impact, conflict, financial strain, and time management challenges (Schulz et al., 2020). Determinants of health, such as socioeconomic status, social support networks, access to health services, education and health literacy, and the physical environment, play a crucial role in caregiver health (World Health Organization, 2021). Lower socioeconomic status can exacerbate caregiver burden due to a lack of financial resources, whereas strong social support networks can provide emotional and practical assistance (Nemcikova et al., 2023). Medical support and short-term care are provided by adequate health services, reducing stress. Health literacy levels provide caregivers with more knowledge and skills, and a conducive physical environment can ease caregiving demands. Addressing these determinants with targeted support and resources can help reduce caregiver burden, improve caregivers’ quality of life, and ensure better care for dementia patients.
References
Cloak, N., & Al Khalili, Y. (2022, July 21). Behavioral And Psychological Symptoms In Dementia (BPSD). PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551552/
Nemcikova, M., Katreniakova, Z., & Nagyova, I. (2023). Social support, positive caregiving experience, and caregiver burden in informal caregivers of older adults with dementia. Frontiers in public health, 11, 1104250. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1104250
Schulz, R., Beach, S. R., Czaja, S. J., Martire, L. M., & Monin, J. K. (2020). Family Caregiving for Older Adults. Annual review of psychology, 71, 635–659. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010419-050754
What Community health nurse advocate for when working with an older person population
Community health nurses advocate for various issues to support older adults, ensuring comprehensive healthcare access, including primary care, geriatric specialists, and preventive screenings while advocating for policies that make healthcare more affordable and accessible (Abbasinia et al., 2019). They push for affordable healthcare policies to reduce costs, making effective medication management essential by addressing polypharmacy and ensuring adherence. Chronic disease management is supported through education and self-management programs. Mental health services are prioritized, with efforts to reduce social isolation and address underdiagnosed issues like depression and anxiety. Nurses promote home and community-based services, including in-home care and adult day care, to support aging in place and offer respite for caregivers (Flaubert et al., 2021). They emphasize safety and fall prevention through home modifications and community programs, advocate for nutritional education and meal programs, and ensure reliable transportation options for medical visits and social engagements.
Nurses advocate for elder abuse and neglect awareness, financial planning support, and legal assistance, recognizing these as crucial areas of protection and empowerment for older adults. Health literacy and education initiatives help older adults navigate healthcare systems and utilize digital health tools effectively. Advocacy for end-of-life care includes advance care planning and access to palliative care, while fostering community and social support networks through senior centers and intergenerational programs further enhances their quality of life. Culturally sensitive advocacy ensures that healthcare services respect and accommodate diverse cultural backgrounds, promoting culturally appropriate care and language access services (Flaubert et al., 2021). They advocate for training healthcare providers in cultural competence to improve patient interactions and outcomes. Overall, nurses help create a supportive environment that enables older adults to live with dignity, independence, and an improved quality of life.
References
Abbasinia, M., Ahmadi, F., & Kazemnejad, A. (2019). Patient advocacy in nursing: A concept analysis. Nursing Ethics, 27(1), 141–151. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733019832950
Flaubert, J. L., Menestrel, S. L., Williams, D. R., & Wakefield, M. K. (2021, May 11). The role of nurses in improving health care access and quality. The Future of Nursing 2020-2030 – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573910/
