Medication side effects
Hassan (2017) defines medication side effects as unexpected or unwanted reactions or events to a drug or the general medication process. Medication side effects range from a simple problem such as running nose to a more complex side effect like a heart attack. Even though everyone is vulnerable to medication, older adults' risk is a little higher than the young and middle-aged population. The study has shown that close to 15 percent of older patients in extended care facilities and hospitals are likely to suffer medication side effects (Jaul et al., 2018). Common medication side effects among older adults include bone loss, never damage, joint pain, and falls. Even though each medication side effect has its specific prevention strategy, there are common strategies including reducing the number of prescribes, discontinuing medication, or frequently reconciling medication
Malnutrition
Malnutrition is one of the common potential hazards in a hospital setup. Scrinis (2020) defines malnutrition as deficiencies, imbalances, or excesses in an individual's energy or nutrients intake. Older adults are at the highest risk of being malnourished than young people because they take more medication and have different nutritional needs than young people. By taking more medicines in hospitals, older adults are at high risk of being malnourished. Besides, older people in hospitals have decreased immune systems, thus increasing their vulnerability to malnutrition. Some of the strategies that could be used by older adults to prevent malnutrition include eating plenty of vegetables and fruit and some milk and dairy foods .
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Immobility
Immobility refers to an individual's inability to move; it is common among older adults, particularly those in hospitals. Older adults in hospitals are at higher risk of becoming immobile, thus increasing their risk of developing chronic diseases such as vein thrombosis and cardiovascular diseases. Common strategies of reducing the risk of immobility in hospitals include conducting activity and exercise levels, reducing psychotropic medication usage, and improving the hospital environment.
References
Hassan, M. (2017). A Study on Drug's Side Effects due to Using GIT Drugs Without Prescription in Lower Class People in Bangladesh (Doctoral dissertation, East West University).
Jaul, E., Barron, J., Rosenzweig, J. P., & Menczel, J. (2018). An overview of co-morbidities and the development of pressure ulcers among older adults. BMC geriatrics , 18 (1), 1-11.
Scrinis, G. (2020). Reframing malnutrition in all its forms: A critique of the tripartite classification of malnutrition. Global Food Security , 26 , 100396.
