Essay on Long Term Conditions

The Integumentary is a vast organ system composed of exocrine glands, hair, nails, and the most commonly known organ, the skin. As a large system, it can be susceptible to many different types of diseases, one of these diseases are called Psoriasis. This affects a large portion of the Integumentary system, the skin. Psoriasis are considered to be a widespread, common and recurring disease that can be chronic at times. Psoriasis are defined by its appearance of light silver in color, flaky, rash on many parts of the Epidermis.

Long-term care can be defined as a broad set of paid and unpaid services for people who are mentally or physically disabled, or whose chronic illness places them in need of medical or personal assistance for long periods of time. “It is estimated that there are more than twelve million Americans of all ages whose mix of serious disability and chronic illness places them at the high risk for functional decline, hospitalization, or nursing home placement.” (Benjamin) Several different populations require long-term care services, and the needs of these populations vary. In addition to the elderly, many of the long-term care users are younger persons with physical disabilities; persons with developmental disabilities; and persons with chronic

Areas of red skin that doesn’t go away when pressure applied, sore skin, dry skin, hot or cold areas of skin, blisters or broken skin should all be reported. Discoloured skin should also be reported.

“A long term condition is defined as a condition that cannot, at present be; but can be controlled by medication and other therapies” (Department of Health)

The aim of this essay is to define a long term condition (LTC) and explain why this is important for nurses. Common symptoms may accompany many LTC’s and how these are treated, along with the impact on patient and carer will be considered. The patient chosen for this case study shall be referred to as John to

Identify a range of interventions that can reduce the risk of skin breakdown and pressure sores.

Psoriasis: This is a common, chronic and recurring skin disorder that changes and alters the life cycle of skin cells. It causes cells to accumulate quickly on the skin surface. The extra cells from the skin forms a thick, itchy, silvery scale and a red patch. It can appear at any part of the body such as the knee, scalp, elbow etc. it is treated with drugs applied to the skin, ingested and with ultraviolet radiation. This disease has affected about 1%-5% of the world population and it is more common to the light skinned people. Psoriasis may persist throughout a person’s life as it comes and goes but it is usually reduced during the summer period when the skin is exposed to ultraviolent radiation and flare ups are common during

Long term care can be defined as medical, social, and personal care services that happen on a recurring basis for people with chronic, physical, or mental disorders. Long term care can be provided in a wide range of environments and usually include symptomatic treatment, maintenance, and rehabilitation for patients of all ages. Most long term care aims to prevent deterioration and promote social adjustment to the stages of decline. The majority of patients who are currently receiving long term care are 65 years of age or older.

Long-term conditions (LTC) are defined as “any ongoing, long-term or recurring condition that can have a significant impact on people’s lives” (National Health Committee NHC, 2007, p. 116). Two out of three adults within NZ have or have had a LTC, resulting in the most prominent cause for hospital admissions, premature deaths and an increase in health expenditure (Auckland District Health Board, 2013). This assignment will cover Olivia’s (pseudo name) experience of living with a LTC and how this has impacted her life. A reflection on learning about LTC will be included as well as a discussion on the implications I may encounter in my future practice when caring for a LTC patient will conclude the assignment.

The pathophysiology of psoriasis is characterized by epidermal hyperproliferation, enhanced antigen presentation, T helper 1 cytokine production, T cell expansion, and angiogenesis. (El-Darouti and Abdel Hay, 2010 ).

Background: Plaque psoriasis is a painful autoimmune disease that affects up to 3% of the US population.1 Moderate-to-severe psoriasis can have significant psychological and physiological effects on a person’s health and although psoriasis can be controlled, it cannot be cured, so medications play an important role in reducing related comorbidities and improving patients’ quality of life.2

Health care is a fascinating industry. So many types of care are included within the industry. Health care can be very broad or very specific. Health care is also comprised of different types of health care. One specific sector is long-term health care. Long-term care plays a huge role in the health care continuum. This paper will define long-term care and a continuum as well as discuss the services provided and how these services fit in the continuum of care, the resources that go along with long-term care and how it contributes to overall health care resources, and how long-term care services

Most of the time those in LTC need care for a long time because the disease is often one that cannot be fully cured. An example of this would be dementia. Quality of life was also discussed, it involves lifestyles, pursuits, living environment, clinical palliation, human factors and personal choices. Lifestyle would be still being able to enjoy activities you like to do like gardening. Living

As previously stated, Psoriasis is caused by a mistaken trigger in the Immune system. “Normally, T cells help protect the body against infection and disease.” (NIAMS, 2013) When the disorder triggers the immune system, it causes the T cells to activate and trigger other immune responses. This will develop the redness and scaling of the

Psoriasis was copied from the Greek word psora, which means “to itch” (Jean, 2011). Psoriasis is a chronic, long lasting autoimmune skin disease that disturbs the speed of the growth cycle in skin cells (Stress-Related Disorder Sourcebook, 2016). Normal, healthy skin cells replace dead skin cells every twenty-eight to thirty days (Langley, 2005). Skin is the largest organ in the body. It protects from the environment, regulates body temperature, helps coordinate immune system regulation, function of touch sensations, waterproof, and prevents toxin substances from entering the body (Langley,2010). Psoriasis effects greater than three percent