ADLs #1 - Midterm Flashcards
Define ADL
- All activities required to care for oneself
- self-care activities a person performs daily to remain independent and to function in society
- learned in childhood
- adults complete these tasks automatically
List the ADLs
- personal hygiene and grooming
- dressing
- eating
- walking and moving about (ambulating)
- using the toilet
- cognitive processes
List factors which can interfere with an individual’s ability to complete their ADL
- vision impairment
- emotional illness
- bed rest
- pain
- paralysis
- diseases such as multiple sclerosis, arthritis and Parkinson’s disease
Give examples of adaptive devices that are available for patients to use to make a task easier
- personal grooming aids (soap-on-a-rope, long-handled bath brush, electronic toothbrush, Velcro fasteners)
- eating aids (suction cups on bottom of plates, unbreakable glasses, plate guards, straws)
- walking aids (cane, crutches, walker, wheelchair)
- toiletry aids (grab bars, built-up toilet seat, commode chair)
- other aids (book rest, page turner, remote TV and radio controls, rubber doorknob)
Identify the role of the health care aide in assisting patients with ADL.
- allowing as much independence as possible
- offering encouragement
- don’t rush the patient
- ensure that adaptive devices are working and ready
- providing ADL training at time patient would normally perform the activity
- using clear, simple and brief instructions
Define admission
- official entry of a patient into a hospital or other health care facility
- sets the tone for a patient’s entire health care experience
- first impressions of the facility made by health care aides and co-workers
- helps facility gather necessary information about the patient
Define transfer
- move of a client from one place to another (one room to another or one facility to another)
- patient can be moved from one unit of the facility to another, or leave to go home
- patient can be frightened or in pain, unsure of the future
Define discharge
- official departure of a client from a hospital or other health care facility
- usually a happy event but can cause stress and take an emotional toll on the patient
- written order from doctor required for patient to be discharged
Describe the health care aide’s role in the admission procedure and special considerations for the patient being admitted to a long-term care facility
- treat patient and belongings with respect
- do not rush the admission process
- offer refreshments
- listen to concerns or questions
- help them feel at home
- show them their room and explain how to use equipment
- offer to help unpack belongings
- explain that team respects client’s privacy
- explain how to use the call bell
- provide resident with choices as to where their belongings will be placed
- make sure frequently used items are placed for easy access
Why is admitting a patient to a long-term care facility different to admitting a patient to an acute care facility?
Long-term care:
- facility is the patient’s new home
- can experience feelings of grief or loss due t leaving home
- resent loss of independence and privacy
- confused during admission and angry later
- family experiences mixed feelings (grief, guilt, relief)
- patients keep a larger number of personal belongings than at acute care
- keep belongings locked or kept at home
Discuss why patients might be transferred.
- patient may request a different room
- patient’s medical condition may change (new nursing unit)
- patient may need to be transferred to another part of the hospital for tests or procedures
- patient’s condition may require transfer to another facility
Discuss the health care aide’s role in the transfer procedures.
- prepare the new unit
- prepare the patient by calming and reassuring them and telling them what will happen beforehand
- help move the patient from the bed to a wheelchair or stretcher
- collect and keep track of the patient’s personal belongings
- report the transfer and tell nursing staff in new location
- strip the bed of linens, remove soiled supplies and equipment from old room
Discuss the health care aide’s role in discharge procedures.
- help the patient get dressed, collect and pack personal belongings, check drawers
- assist with discharge planning by keeping nurse informed of patient’s abilities with ADLs, and reporting any questions patient has
- help with transport by escorting patient from the facility
- ease the discharge by making it as pleasant as possible
- perform follow-up procedures like disinfecting and returning equipment
Define body mechanics
- special ways of standing and moving one’s body to make the best use of strength and avoid fatigue or injury
- coordinated use of body parts to produce motion and to maintain balance
- references to posture and base of support
Define posture/body alignment
-the way in which body parts (head, trunk, arms and legs) are positioned in relation to one another, whether lying, sitting or standing
Define base of support
-the area on which a object rests to prevent the object from tipping
Discuss the importance of using good body mechanics.
- poor posture: muscles, joints and ligaments become fatigued as they work to maintain proper balance
- good posture: allows body to work smoothly with least amount of effort and makes people look better
Describe the correct standing posture.
- feet are flat on the floor about a foot apart
- arms hang loosely at the sides
- chest slightly raised , abdominal muscles are tight and buttocks tucked in
- slumping can lead to backache but keeping the spine unnaturally straight can also cause strain on the back muscles and knees
What are the rules of the centre of gravity on the body?
- a firm centre of gravity is essential (the point where most of its weight is concentrated, when standing its in the centre of the pelvis or lowest part of the trunk *yoga strengthens body’s core muscles and improve posture)
- the higher the centre of gravity, the easier it is to unbalance the body
- when feet are close together, centre of gravity is somewhere around the waist = top heavy
- making yourself more compact will lower centre of gravity, you become more stable and it is harder to unbalance you (keeping feet apart and knees bent = low centre of gravity)
List basic rules or principles for proper body mechanics.
- keep body in good alignment with a wide base of support, two feet are shoulder width apart
- use the stronger and larger muscles of your body (muscles in the shoulders, upper arms, hips and thighs)
- NOTE: the back has many short, relatively weak muscles that are meant to provide for trunk flexibility, not for lifting heavy loads
- **most important: think through and plan your moves before you start
1) straight back
2) tight abdominal muscles
3) knees slightly bent
4) feet shoulder-width apart
5) one foot close to the person or object being moved and one slightly behind
6) feet pointing straight ahead
7) shift weight from the foot closest to the load onto the back leg
8) keep elbows bent at the sides to avoid injury
9) keep the load you are carrying close to your body
10) include as many caregivers as is necessary to complete the task safely
11) several small moves are safer for both patient and care provider compared to one long move
12) safely transfer and position according to the care plan or change in patient status
Differentiate between strain and sprain.
Strain: caused by the over-stretching or overexertion of a muscle; usually causes pain but no visible swelling; treatment may involve rest and support for the affected part
Sprain: wrenching or twisting of a joint; more serious; extremely painful; may involve damage to the surrounding blood vessels (extensive bruising), muscles, tendons and nerves; requires medical attention; treatment involves rest, elevation, and reduction of swelling
What are good practices when lifting a patient with 2 or 3 people?
- designate one person to be the leader to provide direction for the transfer
- when team is in position and good alignment, leader will verbalized the count of 3
More than one caregiver may be needed if the patient has which characteristics?
- obese
- low or active muscle tone
- uncooperative behaviour
- requires the use of patient care equipment or devices, or has had recent hip surgery or lower limb surgery
Identify the benefits of frequent turning and positioning of patients.
- all individuals, regardless of their degree of independence, must have their position changed frequently
- provides good body mechanics for the health of the health care provider and for the patient
- promotes comfort and well-being, makes breathing easier, promotes circulation, prevents pressure ulcers