NURS 4L04_Week7_Lecture_2025

NURSING FOUNDATIONS: CARE OF PERSONS WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONCERNS

  • Week 7: Tuesday February 25, 2024

Agenda

  • Field Trip: Alzheimer Society next Monday

  • Sign-Up Sheets and Consent Forms

  • Lecture Topics:

    • Lubkin Chapters 2 & 4:

      • Ch. 2: Social Isolation

      • Ch. 4: Powerlessness

    • Varcarolis Chapter 29: Recovery, Survivorship, and Public Mental Health Approaches

  • Key Themes:

    • Psychosocial adjustment for individuals living with recurrent and persistent mental illness

Social Isolation (Lubkin Chapter 2)

  • Health Connection:

    • Linked to serious health conditions (CDC, 2021)

    • 1/3 of adults 45+ feel lonely

    • 1/4 of adults 65+ are socially isolated

    • Loneliness: Feeling alone despite social contact

    • Social Isolation: Lack of social connections

    • Older adults more vulnerable due to:

      • Living alone, loss of social support, chronic illness, hearing loss

Factors Contributing to Social Isolation

  • Personal experiences of loneliness and isolation

  • Mental or physical challenges:

    • Chronic disease, disability, discrimination

  • Access to resources:

    • Rural living, transportation issues, language barriers, violence/abuse

  • Major life changes:

    • Divorce, unemployment, loss of loved ones

Health Risks of Loneliness (CDC, 2021)

  • Increased Mortality Risk:

    • Comparable to smoking and physical inactivity

    • 50% increased risk of dementia

    • Links to heart disease (29% increase) and stroke (32% increase)

    • Associated with raised levels of depression, anxiety, and suicide risk

    • Devastating impacts on heart failure patients

High-Risk Groups for Loneliness

  • Low-income individuals

  • Young and older adults

  • Individuals living alone

  • Immigrants and LGBT+ population

Factors for Immigrants and LGBT+ Populations

  • Immigrants: Language barriers, family separation

  • LGBT+: Fear of rejection, social stigma, feeling of not belonging

Factors Related to Chronic Illness and Isolation

  • Sensory impairments, medications, financial constraints

  • Background in caregiving, technology comfort, personality types

  • Impacted by global health crises like COVID-19

Understanding Social Isolation and Its Consequences

  • Definition:

    • Distance from desired relationships leads to poor health outcomes

    • Can be voluntary or involuntary; affects social quality

  • Negative Impacts:

    • Vulnerability, confusion, helplessness

    • Mental health decline, increased isolation

Assessment of Social Isolation

  • Tools:

    • The Social Isolation Scale (SIS)

  • Attributes covered:

    • Number of contacts, quality of relationships, feelings of belonging

Interventions for Social Isolation

  • Empower individuals by increasing freedom of choice

  • Foster social interactions, self-management in healthcare

  • Provide support, respite for caregivers, and use of technology

Local Resources for Support

  • Seniors Community Programs

  • Niagara Gatekeepers

  • Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region

  • Older Adult Programs in Niagara Falls

Powerlessness (Lubkin Chapter 4)

  • Concept of Powerlessness:

    • Defined as perceived or actual lack of strength to effect change.

  • Feels associated with fear, anxiety, and loss of control.

Understanding Powerlessness in Chronic Illness

  • Situations where individuals feel controlled by external forces.

  • Loss of employment, function, and social connections contribute.

Coping with Powerlessness

  • Shift towards understanding of power and resources available.

  • Emphasis on autonomy and patient-choice in care.

Recovery, Survivorship, and Mental Health Approaches

  • Importance of addressing social determinants of health.

  • Interventions should focus on empowerment and community support.

  • Insights into Mental Illness:

    • Common occurrence, with substantial risks like comorbid conditions and stigma.