Nursing older people
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This article describes delirium and explains why its prevention is important. An enhanced educational package that was developed with care home staff to prevent delirium is outlined. The challenges and successes of the project are highlighted. Case studies and resources to enable healthcare workers to learn about delirium and take action to prevent it are provided.
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The aim of this study was to explore the presence of compassion fatigue in family carers who assist staff with care of older relatives in long-term settings. ⋯ Nurses working in long-term care settings should educate family carers about compassion fatigue, recognise its presence in them and provide support to family carers experiencing the condition.
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Nursing practice with older people has a broad compass, but for this issue of Nursing Older People we turn the spotlight on acute care. Older people account for a greater proportion of emergency department attendances and hospital admissions than younger people. They are also significantly more likely to present with non-injury, particularly cardiac-related conditions, and have multiple comorbidities ( Downing and Wilson 2005 ). The report by the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death on care in acute hospitals ( page 7 ) highlights the need for practitioners to recognise this, and to be skilled in multidisciplinary working, communicating with patients and relatives and managing end of life care in acute settings.