Geriatics 314 lec notes 10/19/21
Nursing care of the adults in chronic illness
 Chronic illness
- More than 6months – 1 year
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Explain the importance of sensory for adults w/
cataracts , glaucoma , macular degeneration ,
diabetes retinopathy & hearing impairment
 The sense connect the human body to the
environment .they allow individuals to be aware of
& interpret various stimuli , thus enabling
interaction w/ environment .
 It is important to understand the sensory changes
associated w/ aging to help older adults adapt &
function independently as possible .
DISTURBANCE IN SENSORY PERCEPTION
The sensory deficits can reduced ability to protect
oneself from hazards
1. Falls from unseen obstacle
2. Missed alarms & warnings
3. Ingestion of hazardous substances form not
recognizing bad tastes
4. Inability to detect the odor of smoke or gas
 Disturbances in senspry perception
 Visual & hearing impairment
 Visual & hearing impairments impairments w/
communication , social
 Olfactory , gustatory & tactile deprivation may
lead to nutritional problems & safety hazards .
A. Disturbances in sensory perception
1. Sensory impairment
a. Visual impairment
- Ability to see clearly that is an important part of
performing activities of daily living (ADL)
 Changes w/ aging
- Lens increase in density &
 Opthalmoscopic examination of the retina
1. Blood vessel have narrowed & straightened
2. Arteries seem opaquae & gray drusen
3. Localized arears of hyaline degeneration
may be noted as gray or yellow spots near
the canula
 Older w/ visual impairment
a. Loss of independence
 Signs of difficulty with vision
1. Squinting or tilting head to see
2. Changes in ability to drive , read , watch
television , or write
3. Holding objects closer to the face
4. Difficulty

 Common complains : floaters & flashes

1. Floaters appear as dots , wiggly lines or clouds
that a person may see moving on the field of
vision
- Occure more often after age 50 as tiny clumps
of gel or cellular

- Associated w/ brain tumor or cortical ischema

2. Ligh flashes Ligh flashes
3. Visual hallucinations

..no
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