Discuss Two Care Priorities For Amalie Jones With Justificat

Discuss two care priorities for Amalie Jones with justification and nursing care planning

Amalie Jones, an 89-year-old woman with a complex medical history, is experiencing multiple health challenges that require comprehensive nursing care. Among these, two critical care priorities stand out: pain assessment and management, and increased risk of social isolation and bereavement. Addressing these priorities effectively involves utilizing theoretical frameworks such as Miller’s Functional Consequences Theory of Healthy Ageing and the Levett-Jones Clinical Reasoning Framework, ensuring holistic, person-centred, culturally sensitive, and dignity-preserving care.

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Introduction

The aging population presents unique healthcare challenges that necessitate tailored, holistic nursing interventions. For Amalie Jones, a woman of advanced age with multiple comorbidities and social changes, prioritizing aspects of her well-being becomes paramount. This essay explores two identified care priorities—pain management and social isolation—justifying their significance within her context and proposing structured nursing care plans guided by Miller’s Functional Consequences Theory and the Levett-Jones Clinical Reasoning Framework. The analysis emphasizes adopting a person-centred approach that maintains dignity, honours cultural background, and addresses modifiable risk factors to enhance her quality of life.

Pain Assessment and Management

Effective pain management is crucial for Amalie, considering her rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and recent weight loss—signs of potential ongoing pain and discomfort. Chronic pain significantly impacts older adults’ functional capacity and psychological health (Gordon et al., 2015). In Amalie's case, pain not only hinders mobility but may also exacerbate her social withdrawal, depression, and nutritional deterioration. Therefore, a comprehensive pain assessment using validated tools such as the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) or the visual analogue scale tailored for cognitively intact elderly patients is essential (Ferreira et al., 2017).

Justification for prioritizing pain management stems from evidence linking poor pain control with decreased functional independence, increased risk of falls, and diminished quality of life (Maldonado, 2017). The symptoms described, such as joint stiffness, swelling, and painful movement, suggest active inflammatory processes and deteriorating joint health needing prompt intervention. Moreover, her suspected non-adherence due to pain could be mitigated through nurse-led education, medication review, and non-pharmacological strategies like heat therapy, gentle exercise, and relaxation techniques (Hofmann et al., 2014).

Care Planning Using Levett-Jones' Framework

The initial step involves establishing clear goals: reducing Amalie’s pain to a tolerable level, enabling greater mobility, and improving her overall comfort and function. Specific objectives include achieving measurable pain reduction (e.g., at least 30% decrease on NRS) and enhancing her participation in daily activities.

Taking action encompasses pharmacological interventions—optimizing analgesic use, considering adjuvants like topical NSAIDs, and reviewing her medication adherence—coupled with non-pharmacological approaches. Education about medication timing, managing side effects, and implementing physical therapies forms part of the strategy, always respecting her cultural background and preferences.

Outcome evaluation involves ongoing assessment of pain levels, functional status, and patient feedback. Objective measures include pain scores and mobility assessments; subjective measures encompass Amalie’s self-reported comfort and satisfaction. Regular interdisciplinary consultations ensure adjustments align with her evolving needs.

Addressing social isolation and bereavement

Amalie’s social withdrawal, marked by physical inactivity, loss of contact, and cultural disconnection, poses significant risks to her mental health and overall well-being. She feels a strong sense of community attachment, yet she is increasingly isolated, which may lead to depression, cognitive decline, and further deterioration of her health (Cacioppo & Cacioppo, 2014).

Importance of addressing social isolation is supported by evidence connecting loneliness with heightened morbidity and mortality amongst older adults (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2015). Her recent widowhood, limited mobility, and reluctance to burden her daughter accentuate her vulnerability. Hence, targeted interventions are essential to reconnect her socially, preserve her dignity, and foster a sense of control.

Using Levett-Jones' framework, the goals include restoring meaningful social engagement, reducing feelings of loneliness, and supporting her psychological resilience. Strategies entail facilitating community participation through culturally appropriate activities—such as virtual German cultural groups—and reinforcing existing social contacts via phone calls and scheduled visits (Hawthorne et al., 2016).

Nursing interventions include coordinating with community services like elderly social clubs, arranging volunteer companionship programs, and collaborating with mental health professionals if necessary. Cultural sensitivity is vital; thus, understanding her German background and preferences informs tailored social activities and communication approaches.

The evaluation of outcomes involves assessing Amalie’s participation levels, mood, and perceived social support through validated tools like the UCLA Loneliness Scale and direct patient feedback. Continuous reassessment ensures interventions are meaningful and adapted as her circumstances change.

Conclusion

Effective management of Amalie Jones’s complex health and social needs requires a holistic, person-centred approach grounded in nursing theory and clinical reasoning. Prioritizing pain control and addressing her social isolation are essential to improve her quality of life, functional independence, and emotional well-being. Applying frameworks such as Miller’s Functional Consequences Theory and Levett-Jones' Clinical Reasoning Framework ensures nursing interventions are intentional, culturally sensitive, and dignity-preserving. Ultimately, fostering active participation, respecting her wishes, and continuously evaluating outcomes are key to providing compassionate, effective care for her as she ages.

References

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• Hofmann, M., et al. (2014). Non-pharmacological interventions for osteoarthritis: A systematic review. European Geriatric Medicine, 5(4), 235–241.
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