Mr. M, who is a 70-year old, is living in an assisted-living facility. Mr. M’s health has deteriorated in the past two months, which has made the facility concerned, and a test has been ordered. Laboratory tests have been done, and evidence has been found on high blood pressure, high blood counts, and blood cells. The patient also has problems remembering things, including the names of his family members. An analysis is done to assess the physical findings, the psychological and emotional impact of the condition on the client and his family, and the best intervention.
The Clinical Manifestations Present in Mr. M
Several clinical manifestations are identified in Mr. M’s case hence the need for intervention. The patient has shown signs of memory loss as he has difficulties remembering the names of his family members. Also, Mr. M is found to have become easily agitated and has also become aggressive. The aggression explains the fear seen in the patient. A laboratory test has shown an unusual lymphocyte count of 6700 (cells/uL). The patient has further been found to have a blood pressure of BP 123/78 HR 93 RR 22 Pox 99%, a warning sign for an imminent high blood pressure complication. Also, Mr. M is overweight since his weight stands at 80kgs, which is high for a 70-year old who is only 69.5 inches.
The Primary and Secondary Medical Diagnoses that should be Considered for Mr. M
The primary medical diagnoses in Mr. M’s case are hypertension and Alzheimer’s Disease. The initial laboratory tests have shown high blood pressure, which is the main symptom of hypertension. Also, the patient is overweight, which adds to the evidence required to justify hypertension as a condition affecting the patient. The other diagnosis is Alzheimer’s Disease, which is the main cause of dementia and is shown by the patient’s forgetfulness. Mr. M has problems remembering his family members’ names. Mr. M also cannot remember his room number and has difficulties performing basic chores, which further shows the probability of Alzheimer’s Disease. The patient’s medical history gives a basis for secondary diagnosis. The secondary diagnoses would, therefore, be hypercholesterolemia and appendectomy. Generally, the patient has other underlying health conditions, but hypertension and Alzheimer’s Disease are the primary causes of his current state.
The Abnormalities to Expect When Performing Nursing Assessment
The diagnoses lead to an expectation of several abnormalities when assessing Mr. M’s situation. First, Mr. M is expected to be in a lot of pain, although he does not admit. The high number of white blood cells and lymphocytes lead mean that an infection or inflammation is to be expected. Also, the patient has shown signs of forgetfulness, and it is expected that their responses will be hard to go by. Besides, the patient does not remember most of his history, which might make the assessment difficult. The abnormal AST/ALT ratio might mean that the patient has a history of smoking and drinking, leading to liver abnormalities.
Effects of Current Health Status
Mr. M’s health status has hindered him from carrying out his Activities of Daily Living (ADL). The loss of memory makes it difficult for Mr. M to carry out basic activities such as dressing, bathing, and feeding himself. His movement has also been greatly impacted by his inability to make basic life decisions. The psychological impacts seen are that Mr. M seems confused and forgetful. The forgetfulness has affected the patient’s feeling of belonging as he cannot remember his family members’ names. The extreme agitation and aggression have affected the patient’s relationship with his family. Also, Mr. M’s family members are stressed because his health is deteriorating day-in-day-out.
Interventions for Support
Several interventions can be employed to help Mr. M. Prescriptions can be done to improve the patient’s mental health. However, the best that can be done in Mr. M’s case is to treat the symptoms and slow the progression of his diseases. A caregiver is required since Mr. M’s condition does not allow him to be sent on self-care. The support from Mr. M’s family and the facility will play a crucial role in determining his outcome.
Problems: Actual and Potential
Memory problems form the first actual problem to Mr. M. the patient has shown signs of memory loss, and that is expected to worsen is proper medication is not found. The second actual problem is seen in the patient’s inability to perform basic activities such as dressing, bathing, and feeding. Mr. M has relied on help on ADL. A third actual problem is experienced in the following prescriptions. Mr. M has become forgetful and cannot follow the prescriptions without failure. Poor adherence to medication might worsen the situation. A potential problem associated with Mr. M’s problem is depression. Mr. M has shown signs of stress and anxiety, which are potential causes of depression. Also, the patient’s poor relationship with people due to aggression might cause challenges in saving him from depression.