Assessing The Elderly Essays Examples

TINETTI BALANCE and GAIT ASSESSMENT SHEET

PATIENT’S NAME: __N/A____ EXAMINER: _STUDENT’S NAME___ DATE: ____26/1/2015_
Balance assessment
Ensure that the patient is in an armless and hard chair.
Gait assessment
The patient is required to stand along the therapist and walk across the room with or without the aids starting with the normal pace then rapidly.

Interpretation

Given the scores, the interpretation of the results is required. In terms of generalities, when the patient’s Tinetti scores is less than or even equal to 18, then the patient’s risk of falling is quite high. When the range is between 9 and 23, then the patient’s risk of falling can be classified as moderate. However, when the range is greater than 24 or equal to the same, the risk is low (Loretz, 2005).

Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living

Interpretation
The Kats index is a measure of the patient’s dependence or independence with regards to the daily activities of living. The six activities are given a scale of 0 or 1 with the former implying that the patient needs assistance while the latter implies that the patient is totally dependent with regards to that particular activity (Resnick, 2012). In general, when the patient’s index hits 6 then that patient is totally independent whereas when it hits 0 then the patient needs assistance.
Interpretation
This tool assesses the availability of safety hindering objects in every section of the client’s house and in so doing; the caregiver checks every corner of the house referring to the checklist. The ‘Yes’ gives an indication that the house is in order while the ’No’ implies that that particular object needs improvement or replacement (Netting & Williams, 2014).

The barthel index

PATIENT’S NAME: __N/A____ EXAMINER: _STUDENT’S NAME___ DATE: ____26/1/2015_

Activity Score

FEEDING
0 = unable
5 = needs help in activities such as cutting and spreading butter or requires modified diet
10 = independent 5

BATHING

0 = dependent
5 = independent (or in shower) 0

GROOMING

0 = needs to help with personal care
5 = independent face/hair/teeth/shaving (implements provided) 0

DRESSING

0 = dependent
5 = needs help but can do about half unaided
10 = independent (including buttons, zips, laces, etc.) 0

BOWELS

0 = incontinent (or needs to be given enemas)
5 = occasional accident
10 = continent 0

BLADDER

0 = incontinent, or catheterized and unable to manage alone
5 = occasional accident
10 = continent 5

TOILET USE

0 = dependent
5 = needs some help, but can do something alone
10 = independent (on and off, dressing, wiping) 5

TRANSFERS (BED TO CHAIR AND BACK)

0 = unable, no sitting balance
5 = major help (one or two people, physical), can sit
10 = minor help (verbal or physical)
15 = independent 5

MOBILITY (ON LEVEL SURFACES)

0 = immobile or < 50 yards
5 = wheelchair independent, including corners, > 50 yards
10 = walks with help of one person (verbal or physical) > 50 yards
15 = independent (but may use any aid; for example, stick) > 50 yards 10

STAIRS

0 = unable
5 = needs help (verbal, physical, carrying aid)
10 = independent 5

TOTAL (0–100): 35

Conclusion
Tinetti Balance and Gait assessment
The patient in question is in a moderate risk of falling due to the age factor. For instance, the patient cannot balance in his or her seat, requires assistance in order to rise from the seat, is unsteady when standing up, starts to fall when nudged, is unsteady when making a 360° turn and uses the arms to support while sitting down.

Katz index of daily activities of living

According to the caregiver’s markings, the patient’s safety is guaranteed at home. This is because the client’s home has ensured that everything that is required to ensure his or her safety is available.

The barthel index for daily activities of living

Just like the assessment performed using the Katz index, this tool also shows that the patient is in dire need of assistance with regards to the daily activities of living like dressing, grooming, feeding, transferring and others (DeLisa, Gans, & Walsh, 2004). According to the score, the patient is at 35 out of 100, which is a very poor score indicating that the patient will require assistance every now and then.

References

DeLisa, J. A., Gans, B. M., & Walsh, N. E. (2004). Physical medicine and rehabilitation medicine: Principles and practice. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Loretz, L. (2005). Primary care tools for clinicians: A compendium of forms, questionnaires, and rating scales for everyday practice. St. Louis, Mo: Elsevier Mosby.
Netting, E. F., & Williams, F. G. (2014). Enhancing Primary Care of Elderly people. New York: Routledge.
Resnick, B., & Resnick, B. (2012). Restorative care nursing for older adults: A guide for all care settings. New York: Springer.