The long-term care facilities are conventionally associated with a wide range of medical activities framed to help people living with chronic health problems such as dementia. However, the debate regarding the capacity of these important facilities has been in the public domain for decades. The activities that are responsible for ensuring sufficient performance of long-term nursing facilities play a critical role in quality improvement and to a large part, the realization of cost minimization (Poitras & et al., 2016). The thesis underpins some of the activities that the health providers can consider implementing help patients in the long-term care facilities. Furthermore, it also examines some of the factors a nurse may consider while advising a client with dementia stage 1. Lastly, the paper also explores methods used to motivate and encourage the active participation of the patient in groups.
Elderly people living with chronic health conditions normally experience a continuous decline in everyday function. They typically suffer from performing cognitively complex duties as well as functional tasks that depend on gross motor function (Pate et al., 2019). Such as getting up from where they are seated as well as walking. Therefore, it is a requirement for health care homes to adopt new strategies or approaches aimed at improving high-standard health care.
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In my personal opinion, I believe exercise and social activities play a significant role in improving everyday function patients in long term care homes. Interventions addressing particular functional deficits such as immobility, proof to be vital to residents living in these long term care facilities. I will adopt the exercise approach as the first way of addressing the issue of immobility. Simple practice such as walking and short distance running exercise has shown to provide significant benefits to people living with chronic diseases like dementia. Regular measured exercise usually helps residents in long term care facilities to manage symptoms as well as improve their health. For instance, aerobic exercises are essential in improving heart health problems and endurance through weight loss during the practice. Consistence physical activity drives to a decreased disability, thus increasing the number of independently elderly people living with chronic difficulties. According to the current research, there exists accumulating reality effective exercise therapy is very helpful for increasing fitness and correcting various factors for developing complications. Therefore, exercise remains a vital activity in long term care hospitals.
Another important aspect I will consider implementing in long term care homes is the encouragement of social activities. Even though it has been confirmed in a few studies, social activities have been considered as one of the most powerful tools in the treatment of specific chronic diseases. Social activities always keep the mind engaged and sharp. This is a very critical element in the prevention of the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's health problems. As much as exercise remains extremely significant for a perfect life, personal connections with others also have a great positive impact on overall wellness. Connecting with other people also assists in keeping a positive mood, which is important in driving off depression. Elderly people who tend to be socially active have higher chances of a good level of immune-system functioning. Lastly, social activities enable elders to enjoy their restful sleep by preventing the feeling of isolated and lonely.
When with older adults, it is important to be careful with the way you handle them. Although social activities are essential for health improvement in elderly persons, not all of them take the initiative to join at least one social group (Warburton & Bredin 2016). This may be due to a lack of motivators or just ignorance. The first step I take to motivate my client to join a social group is through becoming a volunteer myself. Most people, especially old adults, believe by seeing and hearing from personal experience. Therefore, as a result, my client will much interest learn and experience what go through and understand the benefits. Through setting achievable and realistic goals also play a crucial role in motivating the elderly patients in long term care homes to accept joining social groups. Setting SMART goals traditionally helps the patient to personally evaluate if homework completion is achievable. Understanding the way to communicate with the patient is also essential. A quick and perfect conversation with the client is necessary. While others will need to do personal research before concluding, most can learn from effective communication. The use of statistics and existing evidence based on the benefits of social groups to the elderly can also help greatly. Numbers mostly never lie; therefore, I will incorporate statistical data to inform my client concerning gains made from joining social groups. I will carry researched evidence along with providing my patient with sufficient reasons for joining a social group.
Lastly, I will identify the perfect work environment for my patient. It is logical that a number of old adults prefer and receive motivation when in a group working on a similar exercise. However, other people dislike doing similar tasks others are doing. In essence, I will personally locate a working environment that suits my client to avoid disappointment. To encourage seniors to actively participate in social groups, you first need to listen carefully and clarify their personal desires. Every person is motivated when they talk about their priorities, especially the older people. By considering their opinions as important and accepted, seniors feel much motivated and respect; hence they can follow whatever you tell them easily (Carson et al., 2017). You also consider selling solutions to them rather than selling services. You tell these people what solution that such exercise carries to their life rather than emphasizing more on doing or joining the groups. At this age, most people usually focus on solutions to their personal problems regardless of the means to accomplish them. Therefore, it becomes valuable and encouraging when you shift your focus from service and capitalize on solutions.
Physical activity not only benefit people with dementia in various ways, but also is much helpful in, and relevant to most health outcomes. According to the world database, physical inactivity is one of the leading global risks for death (Warburton & Bredin 2016). Therefore, physical activity plays an important role in specific disease prevention, especially in older adults. While exercise and social activities continue to be powerful tools in the prevention of certain chronic diseases, health care provides prescribing exercise therapy are professionally required to understand the basics of exercise physiology and the underlying principles. It is also quite important for the nurses to know the basics of tailoring a program. Before tailor-making a program, the disease and its stage, the benefits brought by the training to the patient, the age of the patient as well as the objectives of the program. Notwithstanding, even though there exist potential benefits illustrate in literature, there is a need for further investigation concerning this topic.
References
Carson, V., Lee, E. Y., Hewitt, L., Jennings, C., Hunter, S., Kuzik, N., ... & Adamo, K. B. (2017). Systematic review of the relationships between physical activity and health indicators in the early years (0-4 years). BMC Public Health, 17(5), 854.
Pate, R. R., Hillman, C. H., Janz, K. F., Katzmarzyk, P. T., Powell, K. E., Torres, A., & Whitt-Glover, M. C. (2019). Physical activity and health in children younger than 6 years: a systematic review. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 51(6), 1282-1291.
Poitras, V. J., Gray, C. E., Borghese, M. M., Carson, V., Chaput, J. P., Janssen, I., ... & Sampson, M. (2016). Systematic review of the relationships between objectively measured physical activity and health indicators in school-aged children and youth. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 41(6), S197-S239.
Warburton, D. E., & Bredin, S. S. (2016). Reflections on physical activity and health: what should we recommend?. Canadian Journal of Cardiology, 32(4), 495-504.
