| CODE | NUR3315 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Care of the Psychogeriatric Patient | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Mental Health | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will consist of taught sessions and discussions about the subject matter in order to meet the study-unit's aims and learning outcomes listed below. The content will include: Roles of psycho-geriatric nurses. The strain on the caregivers; Theories of old aging. Problems of aging. Relocation stress syndrome, Grieving. Low self-concept. Social isolation. Self-care deficit in old age; Assessment: Cognitive, affective, behavioural responses. Stress and loss in old-age; Assessment: Activities of daily living, medications and substance abuse. Social support, Cognitive disorders. Dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease; Confusional states, disorientation, paranoia. Korsakoff's psychosis, Delirium (ICU psychosis) in general hospital care, Depression, self-harm and suicide in old-age, Sleep disturbances, Altered nutrition; Planning and implementing nursing care for psychogeriatric patients; Somatic (physical) therapies: Medications and ECT; Group work, reality orientation, validation therapy; Support groups. Patient education, Preventing illnesses in old-age, Patient safety, legal issues, services in Malta and abroad. Study-unit Aims: To enable the student to develop insights into the primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of the development of mental illness in the elderly and the provision of care for those suffering from organic brain syndromes. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - differentiate between & specify diagnostic criteria for dementia and delirium; - identify contributing factors in the development of mental illness in elderly people; - explain the importance of distinguishing between depression, dementia and delirium; - discuss the indications and implementation of the various therapeutic modalities that can be utilised for this client group; - demonstrate the ability to participate in the various therapeutic modalities that can be utilised for this client group; - develop strategies for the implementation of family group and individual therapies for the aged. 2. Skills (including transferable [generic] skills): By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - assess the health status and plan appropriate nursing care for the elderly client; - implement and evaluate the effects of the nursing care on the elderly client; - assess the impact of the development of mental illness in the elderly, and his/her spouse or family; - be able to participate in various therapeutic modalities that can be utilised for this client group. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Kitwood, T. (1997) Dementia reconsidered: The person comes first (rethinking ageing). Open University Press. ISBN: 0335198554. Matthew, L. (Ed) (1995) Professional care of the elderly mentally ill. Nelson Thornes Ltd. NY. ISBN 0412589907. Stokes, G (2000) Challenging behaviour in dementia: a person centred approach. Speechmark Publications Limited. ISBN: 0863883974. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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