Elders With Disabilities

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Elders with disabilities are vulnerable due to their high risk for unfavorable health outcomes. The negative effects of the aging process is further impaired by the disability. The social factors that affect vulnerability of elders with disabilities include the loss of family and friends for social support. With lack of assistance to preform activities of daily living, the disabled elder may change location into an assisted living facility. The cultural factors on vulnerability include predispositions for certain diseases and conditions, possible decreased knowledge of health condition in the minority population, and use of beliefs in practices to treat health problems (Nies & McEwen, 2011). Language barriers may also negatively impact …show more content…

Also, additional community resources should be provided to elders with disabilities that assist with improving their ability to independently function. The three levels of prevention to improve this vulnerability include (primary) preventing health problems before they occur, (secondary) early detection and quick interventions, (tertiary) rehab and reducing disability after diagnosed with the disease (Nies & McEwen, 2011). Primary interventions that assist with improving vulnerability in this population to promote optimal health include encouraging routine screenings and examinations. For example, the nurse would encourage clients to complete annual physicals with blood work, mammograms, rectal exams, and colonoscopies. Furthermore, primary interventions to decrease vulnerability and support independence include providing community education programs and assessing the potential financial hazards and barriers of saving money. Secondary interventions to maintain optimal health in disabled elders include treatments of new health problems before symptoms occur. Treatment may include changing a diet to a low calorie diabetic diet in newly diagnosed diabetic elders. Finally, the tertiary prevention for the elders with disabilities would entail maintaining improved nutrition

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