Evidence and Practice
Understanding and managing depression in older people
Assessment and provision of continuing healthcare: an integrative literature review
How nurses can support informal carers of people living with dementia
Clinical
Assessment and provision of continuing healthcare: an integrative literature review
Review of providing continuing healthcare in terms of staff roles, training and competencies
How nurses can support informal carers of people living with dementia
Recognising the integral role of carers of patients with dementia is vital
Cognitive assessment using face-to-face and videoconferencing methods
Can small portable technology be effective in administering cognitive assessments?
Use of non-pharmacological interventions for chronic, non-cancer pain and comfort
This study may assist in planning effective pain treatment for older adults with chronic pain
Nutritional interventions for preventing malnutrition in people with dementia
People with dementia are at higher risk of malnutrition, which can have negative effects
How healthcare professionals can support older LGBTQ+ people living with dementia
Exploring some of the needs of older LGBTQ+ people with dementia
CPD articles
Understanding and managing depression in older people
Clinicians do not always recognise depression in older people as they attribute symptoms to the ageing process and the effects of failing health. Similarly, older people do not always appreciate that their symptoms relate to their mood. Understanding how depression affects older people can improve access to support, thereby improving overall health and quality of life. To ensure these outcomes we need a workforce with excellent communication skills that supports therapeutic relationships, promotes recognition of symptoms, and enhances assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management.
Helping people live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
How nurses can have a positive effect on the lives of people with COPD
Effective communication with older people
Nurses can overcome communication barriers through thoughtful interventions
Approaches to managing older people using opiates and their risk of dependence
There is little doubt that opiates have transformed healthcare, particularly in relation to pain management. However, many patients prescribed this type of drug develop problems such as dependency. Although we do not know how many older people have developed such problems due to opiate use we know that some will. It is important for nurses to understand the context in which opiates are used, as well as the specific needs of older people and how to respond to them.
Ethical practice in dementia care
This article draws on a range of case study examples from dementia care and explains how ethical theory can be applied to enhance professional practice. Ethical concepts are critically examined in this context and tensions between them are explored. The article demonstrates how an established ethical framework can assist with application in practice situations. It also argues that cultivating virtues, such as courage and receptivity, is an essential aspect of providing ethical nursing care for people with dementia.
Sexuality and sexual intimacy in later life
Sexuality is as important in older age as it is throughout life, and its expression can be positive, empowering, joyful and life-affirming. The concept of sexuality has many dimensions including identity, need and desire, relationships and behaviour, all of which develop through ageing and life experiences. The evidence on all aspects of sexuality in later life tends to focus on biological dysfunction rather than fulfilment, well-being and quality of life, and does not acknowledge the enormous diversity of older people in terms of age, sexualities, ethnicity and culture. However, the evidence base is growing and, in broad terms, what older people want is becoming more clearly articulated. This article acknowledges the current evidence and, building on this, suggests ways in which nurses working in health and social care services can address some of the challenges, enhance their own understanding and skills, and work creatively with older individuals to offer services that help them to live, and end, their lives according to their individual identities, choices and deepest, most personal, priorities.
How to
How to address the communication needs of older patients with hearing loss
Hearing loss is a common problem in older people and may have a negative effect on their care while in hospital, as well as resulting in significant cost to the NHS. This article outlines the findings of a two-year project in an NHS trust to improve the care of older people with hearing loss. An important outcome of the project was the development of a hearing loss toolkit containing good practice recommendations and tools to help staff in all NHS trusts, and other care settings, implement practical and cost-effective improvements.
How to use advance care planning in a care home
Admission to a care home is a major event for many individuals and, for some, a time when they may lose their independence. It is at this juncture that they should be given the opportunity to participate in planning their future care. An advance care plan (ACP) is a means for people with capacity to document their preferences for their care and to enable providers to advocate on their behalf. Some people will have lost mental capacity before admission to a care facility, so it is essential for staff to be familiar with the complexities of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to support residents approaching the end of life. This article outlines the processes of ACP and identifies resources available to support the introduction of ACP into care homes.
Practice question
Care home residents can benefit from carrying out everyday activities
Safety concerns prevent care home residents doing everyday tasks that benefit them
What is ageism, how can I recognise it and how can I deal with it in my workplace?
Discrimination against older people can mean inferior standards in services that affect them
How do I recognise and treat pain appropriately in a person with dementia?
A tool to help staff manage pain in dementia care uses four simple steps
Older people’s feedback on care
What are the best ways of capturing and drawing on older people’s experiences of care to improve my practice?
Why is future care planning so important for people living with frailty?
Why early conversations about end of life care are essential for people living with frailty
How can advance care planning improve end of life care for nursing home residents?
How PEACE planning can guide nursing home staff and community nursing teams