A Short Note On The Elderly Population : A Final Review Of Literature Synthesis

Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood through to meet the body 's needs for blood and oxygen. Basically, the heart can 't keep up with its workload. American Heart Association Statistics (2016) reveals that heart failure accounts for 36% of cardiovascular disease deaths. Projections report a 46% increase in the prevalence of Heart Failure (HF) by 2030 by affecting over 8 million people above 18 years with the disease. Healthy People 2020 goals are focused on attaining high quality longer lives free of preventable diseases, promotion of quality of life, healthy development and healthy behaviors across all stages of life (Healthy People 2020, 2015).

There are approximately 5.7 million people in the United States diagnosed with heart failure and about half of those diagnoses will die due to causes related to heart failure within five years (“Heart Failure”, 2016). Heart failure related deaths vary by geographic locations; however, they are most predominant among men and offer a greater risk to women if left untreated. Heart failure is a serious medical condition, if diagnosed and treated early enough, the chance of preventing death increase.

Heart Failure is a progressive heart disease when the muscle of the heart is weakened so that it cannot pump blood as it should; the blood backs up into the blood vessels around the lungs and the other parts of the body (NHS Choice, 2015). In heart failure, the heart is not able to maintain a normal range cardiac output to meet the metabolic needs of the body (Kemp and Conte, 2012). Heart failure is a major worldwide public health problem, it is the end stage of heart disease and it could lead to high mortality. At present, heart failure is usually associated with old age, given the dramatic increase in the population of older people (ACCF/AHA, 2013). In the USA, there are about 5.7 million adults who have heart failure, about half of the people die within 5 years of diagnosis, and it costs the nation an estimated $30.7 billion each year (ACCF/AHA, 2013).

8. List the nursing implications and education needs for each of the following categories of medication related to heart failure: See Attached

Heart failure affects nearly 6 million Americans. It is the leading cause of hospitalization in people older than 65. Roughly 550,000 people are diagnosed with heart failure each year (Emory Healthcare, 2014). Heart failure is a pathologic state where the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the demand of the body’s metabolic needs or when the ventricle’s ability to fill is impaired. It is not a disease, but rather a complex clinical syndrome. The symptoms of heart failure come from pulmonary vascular congestion and inadequate perfusion of the systemic circulation. Individuals experience orthopnea,

In Chapter 15: Aging and the Elderly, the U.S. birth rate has been falling for more than a century. It happens because children are more likely to survive into adulthood, and so couple have fewer children. As more women work outside the home, they choose to have fewer children. Greater material wealth and advances in medicine have raised living standards so that people benefit from better housing and more nutrition. The oldest segment of the U.S. population, is increasing rapidly and is already forty times greater than in 1900.

A resident at the time saw that although there is a hearty amount of evidence that illustrates that adhering to heart failure guidelines decreases the rate of mortality and morbidity, nationally there is modest adherence to heart failure practice guidelines. Doctors have voiced a multitude of reasons to this poor participation including but not limited to time constraints in a visit, inertia of patterns in practice, lack of awareness and lack of acceptance are a few. This new web-based tool, the “Smart” Heart failure sheet is designed to help connect previously compartmentalized information. It seeks to link guidelines to their patients’ clinical and laboratory characteristics and systematize adherence to heart failure guidelines. It accomplishes this by uploading pertinent patient-specific data, including laboratory and imaging results, procedure reports and relevant medications. Additionally it also provides tools, such as a flow chart for diuretic dosage and weights. Overall this tool is useful to help physicians identify patients who may benefit from a treatment. From there it provides support tools that alert the physician to a personalized medical treatment. The “Smart” Heart Failure Sheet acts as a registry for scholarly research and also provides educational resources to expand providers’ knowledge, thereby improving patient care (Battaglia,

In America we have very many ways people deal with their older relatives. Normally people put them in nursing homes or care facilities. I personally believe we should hold our elders in high regard. The older generations have seen and been through a lot of history, and have a lot of wisdom. Those who simply do not care about their older relatives are making a huge mistake.

The objectives of heart failure and cardiomyopathy education training are to help patients and their families get the learning, aptitudes, methodologies, critical thinking capacities, and inspiration vital for adherence to the treatment arrangement and support in self-care (American Heart Association, 2011). Moreover, the education will include recognition of signs and symptoms of heart failure, activity and exercise recommendations, compliance with medications, daily weight monitoring, and specific diet

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and the estimated cost of treatment is $32 billion yearly. Approximately 5 million people living in the United States suffer from congestive heart failure (CHF) and half of those diagnosed will die within 5 years. The quality and length of life for someone suffering from heart failure can be improved with early diagnosis, medication, physical activity, and diet modification (CDC, 2013). Congestive heart failure continues to account for more health care cost and readmissions than any other illness. The increase in the prevalence of CHF is contributed to the percentage of elderly population. Adherence to performance measures can increase patient outcomes (Mazimba, Grant, Parikh, Mwandia, Makola, Chilomo, Redko, & Hahn, 2012).

In this discussion post, I will address why I believe the older population are categorized as vulnerable, what puts them at risk and what can be done to eliminate some of the risk. Personally, I believe the older population are vulnerable to many different facets which put them at risk. These facets include; dementia, cognitive and sensory impairments, abuse and neglect, inadequate living conditions, and malnutrition (Culo, 2011).

The second category of medication and diet compliance is arguably one of the most important components of the outpatient treatment in this study. A separate and thorough literature review was conducted to examine the recently discharged heart failure patient with a plan for home. This literature review included systemic reviews and clinical trials that encompassed a plan for home therapy based on evidenced based practice. Identification and monitoring of high risk individuals, early use of ACE Inhibitors/ARBS, Beta Blockers and diuretics are paramount to the success of outpatient treatment (Collins, Pang, Fonarow, Yancey, Bonow, Gheorghiade, 2013). The use of nitrates and hydralazine should be considered in the recommended African American

The older adult population in the United States has steadily increased thanks to technology and medical advances. While this definitely is an undeniable achievement, it also creates some challenges that society was not as prevalent to face before. Now that people are living longer it’s also means that often times family members are becoming caregivers to their loved ones during their so called golden years. Not only may it be difficult to care for a loved one, but it also becomes even more burdensome when their loved has a disability. In fact “dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide.” (2016). Fortunately there are adult day centers that serve people with dementia and provide services that can benefit them. However many times caregivers are forgotten about and aren’t provided services that can also benefit them as well. While it does take a bit of pressure off of the caregivers while their loved ones are at the day center, it does not eliminate all the other effects. Many people may not be aware that there are detrimental effects that a caregiver may experience as a result of caring for someone with dementia.

Congestive heart failure is a chronic disease that requires daily monitoring and life style management. Affecting the elderly, and their family the adjustment is a challenge. Daily life skills include the monitoring of daily weights, intake and output, and a low sodium diet. The person with congestive heart failure is generally admitted to the hospital for medication adjustments when their symptoms increase. The patient is often times short of breath, with a decrease in energy and an increase in their weight. The patients are generally elderly 60-65 years of age or older, and when comparing African Americans to Caucasians the African Americans have a 1.5 greater chance of developing heart failure ("Heart Failure," 2017). The

As the population ages heart failure is expected to increase exceptionally. About twenty-two percent of men and forty-four percent of women will develop heart failure within six years of having a heart attack. “Thirty years ago patients would have died from their heart attacks!” (Couzens)