Running Head: COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT

Community Assessment

Antonio Lopez

Mt. San Jacinto College

N238 Gerontology and Community Nursing

October 03, 2017

Professor Hughes MSN-Ed, RN, PHN

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Community Assessment

The student nurse Antonio Lopez interacted with a few residents in an assisted living

community. One resident, Ms. PA, had a lot to tell the student nurse and was willing to

participate in the student nurse’s exams. The student nurse conducted a functional and cultural

assessment, Mini-Mental Status Exam (appendix A), Moore’s Functional Dementia Scale

(appendix B), and a Home Safety Guide for Older Adults (appendix C) on the resident. Ms. PA

said she was glad to have someone to talk too.

Ms. PA had recently lost a son and was grieving. She was in disbelief that she has

outlived all her children. She is 92, has a light skin color, she is 5 feet and two inches, weighing

160 pounds. She does not need supplemental oxygen. Ms. PA can get food from her plate and

into her mouth without help, she has complete control over her urination and defecation, and

cleans herself after using the toilet without help. She does have problems standing, she broke her

leg six months ago and needs assistance ambulating and transferring herself from the bed to a

wheelchair. She needs some assistance getting dressed and needs assistance bathing.

Culturally Ms. PA was born and raised in the United States of America. She speaks

English, understands common health terms, such as pain, temperature, fever. She uses her arms

and hands to get peoples attention, nods her head for yes and no. She uses basic nonverbal

communication. Ms. PA values her family. Her great grandfather came from Poland and landed

in New York. From New York, her grandfather went, wagon-covered to Tennessee. She was

born in 1920 and in 1924 her father and mother decided they were all going to California. The

family got in the Model T Ford vehicle and traveled all the way to California where they met up

with other family members in Los Angeles. She lived in Los Angeles most of her life, she

believes that she came to Menifee 5 years ago. Ms. PA says she is not picky, she does not mind
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different types of food and enjoys spicy food the most. Ms. PA says she only has her

grandchildren and loves when they come to visit her at the facility. Women in her family work

and the children’s job is to get an education. Ms. PA believes a person should do what the doctor

tells them to do to stay healthy. Eventually everyone becomes ill, it’s a natural process, just like

aging and dying. Ms. PA had an elementary education, but became a manager and leader in a big

cosmetic company. Ms. PA does not have a religion preference.

Ms. PA is beginning to lose her vision and says it makes it difficult for her to write or

draw anything. In the Mini-Mental Status Exam she was not able to write a complete sentence,

but she had some ability to draw out a simple shape. She had trouble remembering an object told

to remember at the beginning of the exam and had trouble spelling the word world backwards.

Ms. PA also had trouble remembering the day of the week as well as the date, see appendix A.

In Moore’s Functional Dementia Scale, Ms. PA scored a 27, which is low. She has

difficulty completing simple tasks one her own such as dressing and bathing. She spends time

either sitting or other purposeless activity a good part of the time. She also has trouble

remembering and has sudden changes in mood some of the time; see appendix B.

The student nurse noticed a relatively safe environment for the resident. The only things

that need changing where the way the door to the restroom opened and the sliding glass door

needed a decal, so people can know whether they are open. The student nurse notified a certified

nursing assistant of the safety updates that can be made. For the complete Home Safety Guide

for the Older Person see appendix C.

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References

Berman, A., Snyder, S., & Frandsen, G. (2016). Kozier & Erb’s Fundamentals of Nursing (10th

global ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.

Eliopoulos, C. (2014). Gerontological Nursing (8th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams

& Wilkins.
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Appendix A
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Appendix B

Module 1 – Roles of the Gerontology Nurse in the Community

Study Guide 1.3
Moore’s Functional Dementia Scale
Directions: Rate each item according to the following scale
1. None or little of the time 2. Some of the time
3. Good part of the time 4. Most or all of the time
Scores: The higher the score the more functional problems with dementia
Lowest
Score Item
Function
Score

4 Difficulty completing simple tasks on own, e.g. dressing, bathing

4 Spends time either sitting or other purposeless activity

4 Wanders at night

4 Hears things that are not there

4 Requires supervision or assistance in eating

4 Loses things

4 Appearance is disorderly if left to own devices

4 Moans

4 Cannot control bowel function

4 Threatens to harm others

4 Cannot control bladder function

4 Needs to be watched carefully so does not injury self

4 Destructive of materials around self

4 Shouts or yells

4 Accuses others of bodily harm or stealing possessions-when you are sure

accusations are not true

4 Is unaware of limitations imposed by illness

4 Becomes confused and does not know where he/she is

4 Has trouble remembering

4 Has sudden changes in mood , e.g. gets upset, angered or cries easily

4 If left alone, wanders aimlessly during the day

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Appendix C

Module 1 – Roles of the Gerontology Nurse in the Community

Study Guide 1.4
Home Safety Guide for the Older Person
Directions: Complete the following checklist in all the following areas. Depending on
the clinical situation, some areas may or may not be appropriate.

Check Ask Yes No NA

A. ENTRY/EXIT

Walkway Is the outside walkway even? X

Is there a sturdy railing? X

Lighting Is the walkway lighted? X

Do all entrances have lights? X

Doors Are doors in good repair? X

Are doors easy to open and close? X

Windows Can you open and close all windows?

Do all windows have locks?

Sliding glass doors Do your sliding glass doors have a double lock? X

Do all glass doors have decals so you will know

whether they are open?

Can cabinet doors and drawers be opened X

easily?

B. THE BATHROOM

Door Does the bathroom door lock have an emergency

release?

Does the door open outward rather than into the

room?

Bathtub/shower Does the bathtub/shower area have a sturdy grab X

bar?

Can you get into and out of the bathtub or shower X

without difficulty?

Can you sit or stand safely in the bathtub or X

shower?

Does the bathtub or shower have a non-skid mat, X

abrasive strips, or non-slippery surface?
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Check Ask Yes No NA

Faucets Is the water temperature regulated? X

Can you easily operate all faucets? X

Toilet Is a raised toilet seat available? X

C. THE BEDROOM

Lighting Is there a lamp or light switch near your bed? X

Is there adequate light to carry out activities such X

as reading and taking medication?

Is there a lighted path from bedroom to the X

bathroom?

Furniture Is the furniture in the room arranged so that you X

can move around easily?

Bed Are the beds at an appropriate height for transfer? X

Closet Is the closet organized so that clothing and other X

stored items are within reach?

D. ALL LIVING AREAS

Lighting and Can you turn on a light switch without first having X
electricity to walk through a dark area or room?

Is there sufficient lighting to carry out activities X

such as reading and crafts?

Is the lighting glare-free? X

Furniture Is the furniture in good repair and appropriate X

height?

Is furniture arranged for ease of movement X

through the room (IE. not crowded)?

Floor and floor Are all floor surfaces non-slippery? X

coverings

Are all loose area rugs and runners throughout X

the unit slip resistant or secured to the
floor?

Is all flooring or carpeting throughout the unit, X

including the stairs, free from holes?

Are all exits and passageways free from clutter? X

Are all thresholds level with the floor or no more X

than 2 inch in height?

E. SPECIAL CONCERNS
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Check Ask Yes No NA

Fire safety Is there a fire emergency exit plan? X

Are there smoke detectors in recommended X

locations (e.g. near the sleeping areas)?

Is there a fire extinguisher? X