Elder Woman

Today I interviewed an elderly woman who is a resident in the Webster County Nursing Home. As I entered her room, she was sitting up awake and alert. As we talked, I explained to her that as a nursing student, I’m required to complete a paper on any person over the age of sixty-five. I asked her if it would be okay to interview her. She enthusiastically agreed, therefore, I proceeded with the interview.

I first took her vital signs. They were as followed:

Temperature (oral): 97.8

Pulse: 92

Respirations: 22

Blood Pressure: 170/60

She stated my name, followed by hers. She said that she was at home but couldn’t recall the time or the year. Therefore, she was oriented to person and place but not to time. As she spoke, her speech was clear and understandable. Her hair and scalp was clean and intact. Facial structures and ears were symmetrical. Her hand-grips were strong and equal. Her nail beds were clean with a capillary refill of < 3 seconds. Her skin was warm and dry with no signs of bruises or abrasions on upper extremities. Her breath sounds were equal bilaterally with no coughing present. Her apical heart rate was 96 beats per minute.

During the course of the interview, she stated that she was born in Tupelo, Ms on September 6, 1921. She worked as a meter maid in Clarksdale, Ms for over twenty years. She said that she was married in Roanoke, Virginia but she couldn’t recall the year that it occurred. She had two sons but couldn’t remember their birthdates. She said that the only surgery she has experienced was a hysterectomy, which was done some years after her second son was born. She has not been hospitalized in years and never used any type of home remedies that she could recall. She stated that for her age, she feels that her health is excellent. The most exciting historical event that she experienced was when her husband came home from the war. Her advice for bringing children up in today’s society was “Leave them alone and don’t spank them”, but when asked what she would teach future generations, her answer was “discipline”.

Her basic overall health is good. She has no chronic illness other than Alzheimer’s disease. According to Erick Erickson’s theory of psychosocial development, she has experienced the first seven stages of trust/mistrust; autonomy/shame; Initiative/guilt; Industry/inferiority; Identity/role confusion; and Intimacy/isolation. She is in the last stage, it is expected that she come to terms with the way she has lived her life and accept the fact that she can’t relive it. I feel that the last stage in her life may not be completed because of the lack of mental capability that she has acquired due to Alzheimer’s disease

I then proceeded into a medication assessment. The daily medication regimen and price list is as followed:

Namenda 10mg. tablets, twice a day; monthly price: $141.78

Lexapro 10mg. tablets, once daily; monthly price: $71.10

Detrol La 4mg. tablets, once daily; monthly price: $92.37

Aricept 10mg. tablets, once daily; monthly price: $144.63

Aspirin once daily; monthly price: $3.98

The total combined monthly cost of all medications equaled to $453.56.

I then performed a safety inspection of her room. The bathroom provided handrails along each wall and an emergency pull cord was located near the toilet. The housekeeping and floor care was provided by the facility and was noticeably well kept and free of clutter. Light switches were located near the doorways along with an overhead pull cord light. Ambulating assistance devices were located in the room but several feet from her bed. I noticed the wheels on the wheelchair were not locked. Side-rails were located