Nursing Older People

25/07/2024

Skin tears in older people: a guide for nurses

This article explores the prevention, evaluation and treatment of skin tears using the case of an individual living with a skin tear in a community setting.

Assessment, prevention and management of skin tears in older people

18/07/2024

Adult malnutrition: the questions nurses need to ask

Over three million people in the UK are malnourished or at risk of malnourishment, but it often goes undetected.

Find out how to identify and manage the condition.

Over three million people in the UK are malnourished or at risk of malnourishment, yet it often goes undetected. Find out how to identify and manage the condition

11/05/2024

Wound care in older people: overcoming the challenges of assessment and management

Wound care in older people: overcoming the challenges of assessment and management

02/05/2024

How can nurses prevent pressure ulcers in frail older people?

This RCNi learning module discusses the complexities of pressure ulcer prevention and outlines the importance of education.

https://rcnilearning.com/online-learning-for-nurses/cpd/pressure-ulcer-prevention-in-frail-older-people/wyeW

25/04/2024

Falls in care homes reduced by 35% after residents were offered decaf coffee.

Read more about this nurse-led initiative to reduce toileting-related falls.

Reduction in toileting-related falls credited to use of decaffeinated drinks, shown to reduce urgency in those with an overactive bladder or incontinence

18/04/2024

Older people with diabetes are at higher risk of developing dementia and new guidance helps nurses support patients to manage both safely.

Get an overview of the guidance and practical advice.
Learn more with this expert advice article from Nursing Older People> https://rcni.com/nursing-older-people/opinion/expert-advice/older-peoples-care-advice-on-managing-diabetes-and-dementia-204621

16/03/2024

Learn about pressure ulcer prevention in frail older people.

This CPD module discusses the complexities of preventing pressure ulcers in frail older people and emphasises the role of structured educational programmes that incorporate effective clinical leadership and multidisciplinary teamwork.

The 2-hour module from RCNi Learning can count towards your revalidation portfolio.

➡️https://rcnilearning.com/online-learning-for-nurses/cpd/pressure-ulcer-prevention-in-frail-older-people/wyeW

14/03/2024

Dementia can have significant adverse effects on people’s ability to eat and drink sufficiently.

This CPD article provides an overview of nutrition and hydration issues commonly experienced by people with dementia, and outlines tools for nutritional screening and assessment.

https://journals.rcni.com/nursing-older-people/cpd/improving-nutrition-and-hydration-in-older-people-with-dementia-in-care-homes-nop.2022.e1389/full

Improving nutrition and hydration in older people with dementia in care homes

02/03/2024

Deconditioning is commonly associated with hospitalisation in older people and is caused by complex physiological changes occurring as a result of immobility.

This CPD article explains the importance of preventing hospital-associated deconditioning and nurses’ role in this.

Recognising, reducing and preventing deconditioning in hospitalised older people

20/02/2024

Falls increase the risk of frailty and frailty increases the risk of falls.

This article from Nursing Older People discusses exercise as a falls prevention strategy in hospital and in the community and supports nurses to develop their knowledge and confidence in promoting exercise in older people.

Discover more >

Exercise as a falls prevention strategy in the care of older people

17/02/2024

Delegating healthcare: when and how nurses can do it safely?

Find out what delegating healthcare activities entails and get guidance on how nurses can promote safe and effective delegation.

What delegating healthcare activities entails and how Skills for Care’s guiding principles can help nurses promote person-centred, safe and effective delegation

15/02/2024

Although UTIs can be mild and easily managed, they can lead to serious infection, sepsis, and even death

This Nursing Older People article offers tips on prevention, diagnosis and timely treatment to improve quality of life, reduce risk of adverse behavioural symptoms and outcomes including sepsis.

Tips on prevention, diagnosis and timely treatment to improve quality of life, reduce risk of adverse behavioural symptoms and outcomes including sepsis

15/01/2024

Older people’s care: a Parkinson’s dementia toolkit for nurses

Learn more about a toolkit for detecting and managing Parkinson’s dementia and how it can help nurses assess people with Parkinson’s and start important patient conversations.

A toolkit for detecting and managing Parkinson’s dementia can help nurses support and assess people with Parkinson’s and start important patient conversations

12/01/2024

‘While our bodies and minds may age, the need to be treated with dignity and respect remains’

Zena Aldridge disputes the ageist view that incontinence is an inevitable part of ageing and encourages nurses to advocate for change.

Ageism plays a part in why the effects of incontinence for older people are considered so differently and nurses should continue to provide dignified care

26/12/2023

Recognising deterioration in nursing or care home residents is not always straightforward.

Find out how to use RESTORE2 and why it’s important in older people’s care.

Subtle changes in an older person’s presentation can be a precursor to deterioration, so what do nurses and care home staff need to look out for and act on?

19/11/2023

How can nurses identify deconditioning in an older person?

This Nursing Older People practice question discusses the symptoms to look out for and what interventions to use.

Nurses can help manage the risk of deconditioning syndrome in older people in hospital by recognising the symptoms and encouraging them to be more active

10/11/2023

Congratulations to Care Home Memory Assessment Service - WINNERS of the RCN Nursing Awards Nursing Older People category.

Dementia nurse consultant Kumar Ponnusamy wanted to address the memory clinic waiting list and create a memory assessment service to focus on diagnosis and improving dementia care in care homes.

Mr Ponnusamy created nurse-led multidisciplinary meetings for case discussion, diagnosis and devising care plans, including reviews of antipsychotic medication. He also offered clinical supervision to mental health practitioners involved in the assessment process.

https://rcni.com/nurse-awards

02/11/2023

Older LGBT+ people in social care: how to improve their care

Some LGBT+ older people fear that care home settings are heterosexual environments where they could face homophobic abuse.

Learn how nurses can create a safe and inclusive environment.

Older LGBT+ care home residents can experience homophobic discrimination from those who are meant to be caring for them – find out how nurses can help

12/10/2023

Spotting and managing frailty in the emergency department: a guide for nurses

Find out what screening tools to use and why early detection is so important.

Frailty is a common issue in emergency departments and nurses can use screening tools to identify it and improve patient outcomes with early detection

01/10/2023

How plans to boost nursing recruitment have let down social care

The social care sector needs its own nursing plan to tackle the challenges of recruitment and retention, but can benefit from the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.

The social care sector needs its own nursing plan to tackle the challenges of recruitment and retention, but can benefit from the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan

24/09/2023

Polypharmacy is a significant issue for many older people, including those with frailty.

This article explores the benefits of medicines optimisation and deprescribing for older people with frailty and polypharmacy.

Benefits of deprescribing for older people with frailty and polypharmacy: part two

06/09/2023

At the age of 21, Teun Toebes moved into the closed ward of a nursing home to begin living alongside people with dementia.

This taught the nurse that systems must change – to see those living with dementia as people, not patients:

A nurse says that his new housemates have taught him systems must change – to see those living with dementia as people, not patients

31/08/2023

‘People with dementia often ask questions that are hard to answer due to cognitive decline and memory loss’

Find out what the pros and cons are of ‘therapeutic lying’ in dementia care.

While truth should always be the starting point, some lies – or ‘untruths’ – can minimise distress, although they can raise ethical concerns for nurses and carers

11/08/2023

What does a comprehensive geriatric assessment involve?

This practice question discusses how they can help nurses support older people living with frailty by providing a person-centred and holistic review of their health.

A comprehensive geriatric assessment helps nurses support older people living with frailty by providing a person-centred and holistic review of their health

02/08/2023

Diabetes care: how to improve outcomes for care home residents

Find out what the most recent national guidance is for diabetes care for residents in care homes and how nurses can use it to improve care.

Diabetes management can fall through the gaps when older people transfer to care homes, but a series of national resources aims to reverse this trend

23/07/2023

Are virtual wards and hospitals at home the future of frailty care?

Services to keep people out of hospital are seeing a major expansion as part of a new NHS plan.

Find out more about how virtual wards work:

Services aimed at keeping older people out of hospital, with a focus on those living with frailty or at risk of falls, can benefit nurses and patients alike

12/07/2023

‘Social care must be given parity with healthcare if the government is truly committed to the interdependence of the two sectors.

Click here to read more >

Staffing in social care is in crisis and failing to create a long-term workforce plan for the sector will have lasting implications for older people and the NHS

13/06/2023

Continence care at the end of life: a guide for nurses

Find out what the options are for helping people with continence issues and how nurses should talk to patients about it.

Managing continence issues at the end of a person’s life requires a sensitive, patient-centred approach to ensure their comfort and dignity are maintained

03/06/2023

Have you heard of the consultant Admiral Nurse role?

One nurse talks about her new post in Dementia UK’s first frailty-specific nursing service, including what the role covers and why she loves it.

Kerry Lyons talks about her new post in Dementia UK’s first frailty-specific nursing service, what the role covers, why she loves it and her career so far

20/05/2023

Dementia diagnosis rates: nurses can make a difference

Consultant editor Zena Aldridge argues that improving dementia diagnosis rates improves the lives of people affected at all stages.

An accurate diagnosis leads to understanding and access to appropriate information, advice, support and symptom control for the person and their carers