N213: Health Differences Across the Life Span 3

N213: Health Differences Across the Lifespan 3 Study Guide • Give ambulation assistance and provide appropriate tools such as a walker or cane; teach the patient to rock “side to side” to help facilitate legmovement • Give patient plenty of time for communication and provide other means, like flashcards • Offer assistance with range of motion and stretching exercises • Patient and family teaching for home safety, ADLs, andmobility Expected outcomes for Parkinson’s disease: • Patient remains free from injury due to impaired balance and tremors • Able to communicate needs • Demonstrates safe mobility • Demonstrates ability to perform ADLs with and without assistance • Verbalizes understanding of disease process, medications, and safety awareness Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) This disease was named after Lou Gehrig and is also called Lou Gehrig’s disease. It comes on at about 50 to 60 years of age and is a very progressive and debilitating disease. Males are more affected than females and death usually occurs within just a few years after symptoms begin, which is about two to five years. There is no cure or very many medical treatments other than supportive care at this time. The cause is unknown, but it causes deterioration of the nervous system that controls motor responses. It begins with profound weakness, which leads the muscles to atrophy, leading the patient to become paralyzed. This leads to respiratory failure and eventually death. Lou Gehrig’s disease does not affect cognition, the autonomic system, or sensory system. Your patient will seem debilitated, but will continue to hear your voice and feel sensations like discomfort, pain, hunger, etc. This is why it is of utmost importance to teach alternate methods of communication to your patient and their family. Signs and symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): • Fatigue and weakness of extremities • Dysphagia • Respiratory failure • Speech dysfunction Nursing assessment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): • Check respiratory: breath sounds, respiratory efforts, speech, patency of airway, and swallowing • Neurological checks: hand grips and muscle strength to all extremities • Full skin assessment for breakdown and pressure ulcers if patient is immobile ©2017 Achieve Test Prep Page 96 of 204