Posted: January 12th, 2023

Mr. M. is a 70-year-old male who has been living at an Helped living facility

Given Mr. M’s current condition, there are several actual or potential problems he faces.

Loss of independence: Mr. M. has become dependent on many ADLs, which can lead to a loss of independence and self-esteem.
Increased risk of falls: Mr. M.’s unsteady gait and wandering increase his risk of falls, which can lead to injury.
Increased agitation: Mr. M.’s confusion and agitation can lead to an increased risk of aggressive behavior, which can be dangerous for both Mr. M. and those around him.
Decreased quality of life: Mr. M.’s decline in cognitive and physical abilities can lead to a decrease in his overall quality of life.
References:

American Geriatrics Society. (2019). Delirium in Older Adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 67(4), 739-751
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Mr. M. is a 70-year-old male who has been living at an Helped living facility. He has a history of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, appendectomy, and tibial fracture. He is currently taking Lisinopril, Lipitor, Ambien, Xanax, and ibuprofen. Over the past two months, Mr. M. has been experiencing a rapid decline in his cognitive and physical abilities. He has difficulty recalling names, remembering his room number, becoming agitated and aggressive, dependent on ADLs, and wandering at night. The Helped living facility has ordered testing to better understand his condition.

Subjective clinical manifestations present in Mr. M. include memory loss, confusion, agitation, fear, and wandering. Objective clinical manifestations include a temperature of 37.1 degrees C, blood pressure of 123/78, heart rate of 93, respiratory rate of 22, oxygen saturation of 99%, and a weight of 87 kg.

Based on the information presented, primary medical diagnoses to consider for Mr. M. include delirium and urinary tract infection (UTI). Delirium is a sudden onset of confusion and changes in cognitive abilities, which is consistent with Mr. M.’s symptoms of memory loss, confusion, agitation, and fear. UTI is also a common cause of confusion and cognitive decline in older adults, which is supported by the laboratory results showing a moderate amount of leukocytes and cloudy urine. A nursing diagnosis that can be formulated from these medical diagnoses is “Acute confusion related to delirium secondary to UTI as evidenced by memory loss, confusion, agitation, and fear.”

When performing a nursing assessment for delirium and UTI, one would expect to find confusion, disorientation, changes in cognitive abilities, and symptoms of a UTI such as frequency, urgency, and dysuria.

Mr. M.’s current health status can have a significant impact on his physical, psychological, and emotional well-being. The decline in cognitive and physical abilities can lead to a loss of independence and increased dependence on others, which can lead to feelings of helplessness and frustration. The confusion and agitation can also lead to a decline in his quality of life, as well as that of his family.

Interventions that can be put into place to support Mr. M. and his family include:

Promptly treating the UTI with antibiotics
Identifying and treating any underlying causes of delirium, such as medication side effects or electrolyte imbalances
Implementing a structured routine and consistent staffing to provide a sense of security and familiarity
Implementing non-pharmacological interventions such as reorientation, validation therapy, and reality orientation
Encourage family support and provide education on how to manage his condition.
Given Mr. M’s current condition, there are several actual or potential problems he faces.

Loss of independence: Mr. M. has become dependent on many ADLs, which can lead to a loss of independence and self-esteem.
Increased risk of falls: Mr. M.’s unsteady gait and wandering increase his risk of falls, which can lead to injury.
Increased agitation: Mr. M.’s confusion and agitation can lead to an increased risk of aggressive behavior, which can be dangerous for both Mr. M. and those around him.
Decreased quality of life: Mr. M.’s decline in cognitive and physical abilities can lead to a decrease in his overall quality of life.
References:

American Geriatrics Society. (2019). Delirium in Older Adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 67(4), 739-751

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