Elderly 101

Independent Study Mentorship Fall-2018

Aesha Desai
Mrs. Kristi Click
 DISCLAIMER!

Some of the information portrayed in this presentation is

from outside sources
 Dr. Vipulkumar Patel

– Private clinic located at 3828 Hughes Court,

Suite 105. Dickinson, Texas, 77539.
– Primary Care Physician / Internist.
– Board certified in internal medicine.
– Day to day Dr.Patel works mostly with geriatric
and elderly patients.
 Mentorship Site

https://www.cityfeet.com/cont/listing/office-property-for-sale/3828-hughes-ct-dickinson-tx-77539/cs3701416
 What is ISM?

– ISM (Independent Study Mentorship), an advanced

academic (AA) course for students to mentor an adult in
chosen career path, to help them gain a deeper perspective
on a specific profession they are interested in.
– With the mentor and the teacher-facilitator, each student
will create a unique plan of study and receive individual
instruction.
– Mentees are required to complete a series of requirements
that showcase their experience during the mentorship.
 Elderly 101 ?

• The way geriatric patients are cared for in a way that can help
them deal with diseases and illnesses. Covers some of the
generic problems that occur and what steps an elderly patient
can take to treat those problems.
• I chose this topic because I was interested in seeing what
steps are taken for geriatric patients before, during, and after
a diagnosis or problem arises with their health as their age
increases.
Vera Moulton Wall Center. “Diagnostic Tests & Procedures.” EHR
NationalSymposiummed.stanford.edu/wallcenter/patient_care/patient-
resources/diagnostic.html.
 Key point 1: Common Problems
1. Joint Pain
• Affects about 50% of elderly over the age of 65.
• Refers to joint pain where your bones decrease their range of motion over time.
• Common areas include hands, back, hips, and neck.
• Relate back to arthritis and osteoporosis (diseases).
2. Sensory Impairments (Hearing and Vision Loss)
• Hearing loss and vision loss are two of the main issues.
• Hearing loss due to changes/damage to the nerves in the ear along with excessive
noise exposure.
• Eyesight becomes a problem due to the lens in your eye losing flexibility over time.
Barr, Kathryn Rateliff. “Water Aerobics Exercises for Seniors.” Healthy
• Can be repaired through surgery, hearing aids, focal lenses, and medications. Living, 21 Nov. 2017, healthyliving.azcentral.com/water-aerobics-
exercises-seniors-6713.html.
 Key point 1: Common Problems (cont.)

3. Wrinkled Skin/Sagging
• Caused by the shortening of telomeres as cells continue to divide over the
years and multiply .
• Happens with aging due to the skin becoming thinner and thinner, losing its
ability to protect itself from damage.
• UVB rays break down collagen and elastin fibers that lose their shape and
elasticity over time in the skin's dermis layer.
• Common areas include face, neck, and hands.
• Some elderly patients choose to inject Botox giving them a more youthful
look.
 Key Point 2: Diseases Found In Elderly
1. Heart Disease
• Remains the leading cause of death in elderly patients due to
smoking, diet, lack of exercise, and weight gain, and many
other factors leading to a certain type of heart disease.
• Types include high blood pressure (HBP), high cholesterol,
arrythmia, stroke, coronary hear disease, etc.
• Diet remains an important prevention tactic to regulate heart
problems and possibly intervene them along with regular
exercise and reduced stress.
• Patients can be prescribed several medications to help deal
with this disease.
 Key Point 2: Diseases Found In Elderly (cont.)
2. Alzheimer’s Disease
• A form of Dementia when the brain is damaged by Alzheimer's, small
strokes that occur in the brain, and brain injuries occurring over
time.
• Cause difficulty thinking, memory loss, and difficulty problem solving
everyday tasks or events.
• The real cause of Alzheimer’s is unknown although, believed to relate
with lack of proper diet, physical activity, and social engagement.
• Some signs and symptoms include worsening conditions in body
hygiene, disoriented mood, difficulty speaking or walking, confusion, “Alzheimer's Disease - Google Search.” Rodak's Hematology: Clinical
etc. Principles and Applications - Google Search, g.co/kgs/xYSfSS.
 Key Point 2: Diseases Found In Elderly (cont.)
3. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
• An infection in any part of the urinary system.
(Kidneys/Urethra/ Bladder)
• Chances of receiving a UTI are higher in females due to the
reason that bacteria can reach the bladder of a woman more
than it can in males.
• Signs and symptoms include burning sensation during
urination, pain/ pressure in lower region of abdomen, etc.
• Patients are usually asked to give a urine sample to then be
tested positive/negative for a UTI.
• Some treatments include antibiotics, increasing intake of Rosen, Margery D. “Diagnostic Tests Detect Risks for Diseases and Best Treatments.” AARP, 1 May 2015,

fluids, www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2015/disease-diagnostic-tests.html.
 Key Point 3: Various types of treatments
• Treatments for diagnosed patients include…
- Medications
- Symptoms from the patient (which are not reliable all the
time)
- X-rays or screening tests
- Various forms of therapy
- Most common way of treatment would include
Medications
• Whatever the disease or issue, doctors must efficiently asses
the patient to see if they really need a certain type of
medication because some medications can worsen a patient's 1624107937820108. “Treatment Options for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).” IBDrelief,
condition www.ibdrelief.com/learn/treatment.
 Key Point 4: Diagnostics Procedures/Tests
• These are tests performed on patients to help diagnose a
certain disease.
• Some are physical in which the doctor performs a series of test
and movements on a patient to determine the cause.
• Some are verbal in which the patient describes what their signs
and symptoms are but that is not the most reliable way of
getting a diagnosis.
• Some are based on test that are taken physically but must be
processed in either a lab or processed with machinery.
(Screenings, blood tests, x-rays, biopsies, etc.)
• Nowadays patients can be diagnosed with a disease through “Michigan Care Management Resource Center.” Elderly Population | Michigan
Care Management Resource Center, 27 Apr. 2016, micmrc.org/topics/elderly-
online visits and checkups with their doctor. population.
 Key Point 5: What happens after diagnosis?

• The most common steps taken after include…

- Referrals to specific doctors/facilities concerning certain requirements
- X-rays or screenings of certain areas (Mammograms, Bone Density Scan,
etc.)
- Mediations for the disease for a prescription to be picked up at pharmacy
- Forms of physical therapy
- Surgery to solve the health issue at hand
- If the need for hospice care, home care services, or nursing homes are
required then that is also an option for the patient
 How To Perform Diagnostics on Patients?
1. The most common diagnostics are physical tests and
observations done on a patient by the doctor or nurse. These are
just some of the physical diagnostic tests, however there are
many more. (Vital Signs)
• Pulse= Can be taken with a stethoscope and fingers in different
regions of the body. Most common pulses are Carotid (neck),
Radial (wrist), and Apical (apex of the heart).
• Temperature: Can be taken manually with the back of the hand
but is difficult when trying to determine exact temp. Can also be
taken digitally with thermometers. Most common areas for “Michigan Care Management Resource Center.” Elderly Population | Michigan Care
temperature include Rectal (for babies), Tympanic (ear), and Management Resource Center, 27 Apr. 2016, micmrc.org/topics/elderly-population.

Axillary (underarm).
 How To Perform Diagnostics on Patients? (cont.)

• Blood Pressure: Can be taken with a blood pressure cuff

making sure that the patient is relaxed while inflating the
cuff with the pump. Once inflated, insert a stethoscope on
the flat side of the elbow crease. While inflating and
deflating you are measuring your systolic and diastolic
blood pressure.
• Respiration Rate: The number of breaths a patient takes/
how many times the chest rises in 1 minute. Average RR is
anywhere between 12-16 breaths. This vital sign can be “Sepsis.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
taken with no materials needed. 28 Aug. 2018, www.cdc.gov/sepsis/diagnosis/index.html.
 What do Medicare and Medicaid Cover?
Medicaid and Medicare are two separate Government funded programs created to
provide health insurance for older and lower-income Americans.
• Medicare: Federal program that provides health coverage for older adults ranging
from age 65 and up. This also includes individuals who have a severe disability
regardless of their income.
• Medicaid: A State and Federal program that provides health coverage to individuals
how have a very low income. This program is made up of mostly lower-class
individuals and some middle-class individuals.
Individuals who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (Dually Eligible) have both
Medicaid and Medicare working closely to provide health coverage at a very low cost.
 Ways to Prevent Common Signs of Aging
Signs of aging are natural as an individual gets older. Preventing these
signs are very hard since most of its genetics. Many preventions take
place at a younger age to help reduce the look of them a person ages.
• Ways to prevent signs of aging include…
1. Protection from UV rays or sunlight= Can damage skin
2. Not smoking= Can cause several other complications as well
3. Drinking less alcohol= Can cause other complications as well
4. Well-balanced diet including hydration=Contributing to many other “What Causes Our Skin to Age?” Employment and Benefits | American Academy of
areas of the body Dermatology, www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/anti-aging-skin-care/causes-
of- aging-skin.
 Current Event
My current event mentions the way that the health industry is changing in a
way that it utilizes technology.
• Now patients can do an online visit with their doctor and not have to drive
all the way down for a minor concern or request from their doctor.
• With the help of technology, patients can now even record their health
status and previous data about their health to help doctors have quick
access to their progress.
• Does have a downside when it comes to the demand of doctors if much of
the interaction can now be handled by 2 doctors rather than 5.
• Can benefit society with all the advancements that are happening with the
industry and the new and improved changes that are to happen soon,
 Product

– My product is about one of the many diseases found in elderly

patients: Osteoporosis
– Shows what a checkup/diagnosis of a patient with osteoporosis
would go through when seeing their doctor.
 Conclusion
• From this mentorship I learned how different things work out in the
medical field, weather it be the patients, face to face interactions,
behind the scenes work that get the patient to a place where they can
fix a problem with their health and eventually prevent it from
happening again.
• I also learned about the different ways a doctor can asses a situation
and what goes on in his/her mind that helps them deicide what happens
next in a patient’s diagnosis.
• Along with those, I learned about the different minor details that are
very important in determining the condition of a patient and how the
body is reprogrammed when there is a disease in the body.
 Thank You!

• My parents, for providing transport to and from my mentorship and being 100% supportive of anything I
wanted to do in life.
• My mentor for helping me understand information and guiding me through this whole process.
• The rotating UTMB students that helped me learn a lot through this whole experience.
• Mrs. Click for pushing us to our limits and being understanding and supportive of anything we decided
to go further with in the class.
• Friends for supporting me during the whole process.
 Works Cited
– “What Is Arthritis?” Www.arthritis.org, www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/understanding-arthritis/what-is-
arthritis.php.
– “Aging & Health A to Z.” Health in Aging, www.healthinaging.org/aging-and-health-a-to-z/topic:hearing-
loss/info:causes-and-symptoms/.
– Vann, Madeline R. “The 15 Most Common Health Concerns for Seniors.” Stroke Center - EverydayHealth.com, Everyday
Health, 1 Aug. 2016, www.everydayhealth.com/news/most-common-health-concerns-seniors/
– “Alzheimer's Disease - Google Search.” Rodak's Hematology: Clinical Principles and Applications - Google Search,
g.co/kgs/xYSfSS.
– “Smart Second Skin Reduces Eye Bags and Wrinkles – or so It Seems.” New Scientist, New Scientist,
www.newscientist.com/article/mg23030734-200-smart-second-skin-reduces-eye-bags-and-wrinkles-or-so-
it-seems/.
– “What Causes Our Skin to Age?” Employment and Benefits | American Academy of Dermatology,
www.aad.org/public/skin-hair- nails/anti-aging-skin-care/causes-of-aging-skin
 Works Cited
– Staff, HITC. “Quest Diagnostics, Inovalon Launch Real-Time Analytics at Point of Care Solution.” Healthcare IT News, 30
Sept. 2015, hitconsultant.net/2015/09/30/quest-diagnostics-inovalonreal-time-analytics-point-of-care/.
– “Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/women/guide/your-guide-urinary-tract-infections
– DailyCaring. “Prevent and Manage the 10 Most Common Chronic Diseases in Older Adults.”DailyCaring, 10 Aug. 2017,
dailycaring.com/prevent-and-manage-the-10-most-common-chronic-diseases-in-older-adults/.
– “Homemade Face Creams for Wrinkles.” BeautiSecrets, BeautiSecrets, beautisecrets.com/homemade-face-cream-for-
wrinkles.
– “Temperature: Oral Rectal, Tympanic and Axillary Using Digital Thermometers.” Nationwide Children's Hospital,
www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/health-wellness-and-safety-resources/helping-
hands/temperature-oral-rectal-tympanic-and-axillary-using-digital-thermometers.
– “Differences between Medicare and Medicaid.” Medicare Interactive, www.medicareinteractive.org/get-
answers/medicare-basics/medicare-coverage-overview/differences-between-medicare-and-medicaid.