Nursing older people
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Nursing older people · Aug 2017
What support do nurses need to provide palliative care for people with dementia?
The aim of this project was to identify the support required by registered nurses and unregistered healthcare support workers to provide palliative care for people with dementia in an acute hospital in England. A quantitative approach was taken and participants were asked to fill in a questionnaire. Data were collated and analysed to identify support needs and any emerging themes. ⋯ Further needs were identified by respondents in supporting the family/carer of the person with dementia and being aware of available support to facilitate palliative care for people with dementia and support for end of life care (EoLC) planning. The findings suggest that further work is required in relation to dementia and EoLC. Practical and educational collaboration with EoLC/palliative care practitioners and dementia leads would be beneficial.
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Essential facts Improving how GPs and care home staff work together is essential if residents are to receive more timely care, according to the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE).
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The timing was uncanny. First came the upbeat tone of NHS England's progress report on its 2014 Five Year Forward View.
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UK policy and guidance state that people should have their preferences and priorities for end of life care recorded in the form of an advance care plan. However, for people with dementia and their families, issues of reduced capacity, difficulties with discussing end of life preferences and staff understanding can make this process challenges. This research focus summarises two studies that explore these issues.
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Nursing older people · Feb 2017
Diagnosis, prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections in older people.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in older people, with the prevalence increasing with age in both sexes. UTI is a frequent reason for emergency admission to hospital. There are many conditions that contribute to older people being more at risk of UTI and the main preventive strategy is to avoid the use of indwelling urethral catheters. ⋯ Diagnosis of UTI can be complex because older people do not always exhibit the signs and symptoms commonly associated with UTI. Diagnosis can be further complicated by a person's inability to provide a comprehensive history and by difficulties obtaining an uncontaminated, 'clean catch' urine specimen. Antibiotic therapy should not be used routinely for people with asymptomatic bacteriuria and, where antibiotics are required, healthcare professionals should follow local prescribing guidelines.