Elderly care

Food first: supporting adults with poor appetites

Malnutrition is a cause and consequence of disease, and affects at least 3 million adults in the UK, most of whom live in the community. By helping these vulnerable patients to eat the right types of food rather than use inappropriate supplements, practice nurses can not only help prevent and treat malnutrition, but also save the NHS millions of pounds each year.

Women and dementia: Unlocking the key to diagnosis

What if you do not understand why you are in a strange room, what the word ‘surgery’ means on the door, and you have forgotten that it means you are there for a checkup? What if your GP or practice nurse wants to examine you, but you cannot remember the words to explain that you are confused and frightened? This can be the reality for people with dementia, and women are more likely than men to experience its impact, either as patients themselves or as family carers.

NHS Health Checks: time to raise awareness about dementia

The NHS Health Check is changing again. Since the beginning of April 2013, practice nurses have been expected to raise the issue of dementia when seeing patients aged 65-74. But why (I can hear you ask)? Surely we have enough to do! This article explains why dementia matters, and sets out your role in the NHS Health Check.

Did she fall or was she pushed?

Falls are a relatively common occurrence in older people and can have serious consequences for their health and independence. Many falls are preventable, and the annual review provides an excellent opportunity for practice nurses to consider how long term conditions and medication may ‘push’ an elderly patient into a fall.

Dementia: Making a difference in primary care

Dementia is a term used to describe a syndrome that can be caused by several illnesses, but the result is a decline in a person’s abilities to function socially, mentally and in relation to the everyday activities of living. The condition is having an increasing impact on individuals, families and care services as the UK population ages. However, practice nurses can help make the experience of living with dementia more positive for the patient and their families or carers.

Taking steps to improve care of patients with dementia

Taking steps to improve care of patients with dementia – Zoë Elkins, Penny Garner

Dementia is common. This article describes specific ways to improve communication these patients, including the SPECAL photograph album and observational tracking.

The varicose vein consultation: an aide-mémoire

Varicose veins affect about 25% of adults in the UK,1 with roughly equal prevalence in men and women, although women are more likely to present. Approximately 50% of varicosities involve the great saphenous vein (GSV), 30% the short saphenous vein (SSV), and 20% both.2 Patients may present to primary care with aesthetic concerns, or with symptoms including night cramps, itching, mild swelling of the ankles or a dull ache in the legs (usually exacerbated by standing for long periods and worse at night). The motivation for presentation should be sought as this will guide your management strategy.3 Varicosity size may not correlate with the severity of symptoms as reported by the patient.

Diabetes In The Elderly

As the world population continues to age and the proportion of the elderly suffering from diabetes increases compared to other age groups, the health burden of diabetes in the elderly is set to continue to rise. Practices need to be prepared to cope with a near doubling of the number of elderly people with diabetes over the next twenty years. In this article, we review the particular challenges of managing diabetes in the older patient.

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