Care of Confused Client | Case Study

Care of Confused Client | Case Study CARE OF A CONFUSED CLIENT CLIENT PROFILE Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus spread through body fluids and effects cells of the immune system called CD4 cells or T cells. HIV destroys these cells reducing the body’s ability to fight infection. When this happens the HIV virus is then knows as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). When a client has AIDS they can have symptoms such as forgetfulness, confusion and difficulty paying attention. This occurs when the HIV virus has infected the brain causing a condition known as AIDS Dementia Complex (ADC). When a client presents with ADC as a healthcare provider the key aspects of writing up these clients care plans would have a strong emphasis on safety. (Centres for disease control and prevention 2014) John not his real name for privacy reasons is a client who recently presented to the facility where i work with AIDS and has been showing signs of ADC which has made his home life very hard to manage and increasingly unsafe. The ADC has left John with episodes of confusion. As a new client i must first put together Johns care plans as they are vitally important in determining Johns care. These care plans also assist the multidisciplinary team ensure Johns mental and physical needs are met. As a confused client, John may lack the capacity to process the basic activities of daily living (ADL). Therefore as a healthcare provider i would also have to act as an advocate to ensure his needs were met. This can be ensured on a day to day basis by gaining the respect of John and by including him and by gaining his consent on any decisions concerning his care. This may include implementing all relevant care plans. John’s personal hygiene is important in promoting his positive self-image. This can be achieved by the following steps: Always ensure his hands are washed after toileting His face is washed daily He has regular baths or showers His teeth are brushed twice daily John may not want to allow me to carry out some of these duties but to ease the situation i may take a few steps to help in Johns care. Use pleasant smelling shampoo, bubble bath or soap Play music that John likes Always explain as you carry out tasks Be sensitive to Johns mood Always check toilet to ensure it is in working order and the bathroom is not too cold Enquire how John prefers to have these tasks completed (ie bath or shower) Always let john help as much as he can Nutrition care is also very important because the healthier John is physically the less confused he may become. This can be achieved by ensuring John eats regular meals. Sometimes because John is confused he will refuse to eat so it is important the nutritionist is informed in order to provide supplements which can substitute for solid foods. This is vitally important as to force feed clients is unethical so therefore it would be more beneficial to encourage supplement drinks. A urinary output and bowel movement chart is also an essential part of Johns care plan as it helps the multidisciplinary team regulate John’s bodily functions to prevent him from getting constipation or dehydration which would leave John who is confused more confused. Sometimes John may not have the ability to control his own intake of solids or liquids (ie too much or too little) so it is important for a fluid and solids chart to help balance his bodily needs. Falls risk assessments should also be completed and put in practice to ensure Johns safety when he is carrying out his basic activities of daily living. Always assist John when he is attending bathroom or having to move from one area to another Ensure bathroom is clear of clutter when taking John to bathroom for washing or toileting Remove all clutter from Johns bedside (ie ensure all cables are tidied away and walking frame if needed is within his reach ) Ensure John has suitable footwear (ie good fitting with rubber soles to prevent slips) Ensure all bathroom fittings are stable and in good working order Proper handrails are in place to assist Johns needs Walking to and from bathroom is clutter free Other concerns i might have for John is the risk of him developing a pressure sore. Confused/Immobile clients like John are more susceptible to pressure sores through poor nutrition intake and decreased mobility. Measures put in place by the multidisciplinary team to prevent these sores are pressure relieving cushions, mattresses and regular monitoring, and turning of John as to aid his circulation. The Waterlow scale also plays important role in determining who is at risk of developing a pressure sore. All these measures put in place will enhance the physical well-being of John however as healthcare support workers we must provide holistic care for John involving his social and mental well-being. One aspect of holistic care is ensuring John’s spiritual needs are met. This may vary from individual to individual and as a carer we must never be bias towards a client’s personal belief. John’s dignity is vitally important but this may lack because he sometimes gets confused therefore i must act as an advocate and ensure his rights and dignity are met. Simple measures can include making sure privacy is provided when attending personal hygiene needs. At times John may lack the ability to be able to stand safely. Therefore a hoist may have to be used. This could be a frightening experience for John so as the carer it would be vital to use good communicating skills to reassure him of his safety and dignity by insuring the curtain is drawn at these times. Regular checks of John to ensure he remains properly clothed so as to prevent embarrassment for him or his loved ones during visiting times. As John’s carer I would always explain and involve him in decision making involving his clothing when dressing or the type of food he prefers to eat as not to presume I could choose just because he sometimes gets confused. When a client has ADC the usual treatment is a drug cocktail called highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) which reduces the amount of HIV in the blood reducing the damage to the brain. As a carer it is important I monitor the consumption of this medication as John might forget to take it or take too much. Other important factors in treating a person with ADC are to help John stimulate his mind by motivating him with hobbies that he is interested in. It is also important to ensure the family include John in social events such as birthdays, weddings or any event for which he could attend to interact. Interaction, motivation and other therapies that are all beneficial in reorienting a confused client.(WebMD2014) On conclusion by involving John in decision making and implementing the relevant care plans I the carer will ensure holistic safe care and optimise his ability to recover or manage his illness. This is achieved through good communication trough the multidisciplinary team always remembering that John and Johns family are the most important factor of the team. BIBLIOGRAPHY WEB PAGES Centres for disease control and prevention (2014) what is hiv [online],available:http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/whatishiv.html[12/12/2014]. Webmd(2014)hiv and dementia [online],available:http://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/guide/hiv-dementia[9/12/2014]. COARSE MATERIAL Creative training (2013)†healthcare assistant traineeship†,5n2770:care skills, Dublin:solas. [Type text][Type text][Type text] Does Population Growth Pose Threats To Humanity? Does Population Growth Pose Threats To Humanity? Over the past decades, population growth has grown significantly and the earths resources are not replenishing fast enough to keep up with the growth rate. Increase in population had put more pressure on the earths resources as they are being used more. Excessive population has led to congestion, poor living conditions, pollution, and general environmental degradation. Research Purpose The main purpose of this paper is to determine how population growth is affected the way we live, our environment and consequently, the sustainability of mans activities. i.e. will the effects of these activities have an effect on the capacity of the earth to sustain humanity? Method of inquiry The method of inquiry for this paper will be literature review. Various literatures by different authors will be used to determine whether population growth does pose a threat to humanity. Limitations of the study The study was limited to the effects of population growth on humanity. Working definitions Humanity Refers to the human species Population Number of species inhabiting an area at a specific time Over population Overpopulation refers to the state where a species inhabiting an area put pressure on the ecosystems as the ecosystems can no longer be able to sustain the population Population growth Refers to the increase in the population of a certain area over time. Environmental degradation Refers to the deterioration of the state of the environment due to mans activities. Scope of Inquiry This paper will cover works of various authors who have written on population growth, over population and the effects of population growth on the environment. Literature Review Effects of population growth on the environment Thomas Malthus argued that means of subsistence affected the increase or decrease of a population. Malthus first brought the population problem to attention; he brought up the issue of food supplies and arithmetical ratios. According to Malthus, while population increased geometrically, food resources would only increase arithmetically. Over time, this theory has proven to be true in the sense that population tends to increase if people have the means of subsistence to maintain the population. i.e. as peoples means of subsistence increase, they significantly increase in population. As human population continuously growing, the biggest issue facing the Earth is the collective demand humans put upon it. Increase in the total population also increased consumption of resources. Besides that, excessive population growth is responsible for many of our Planets issues: traffic congestion, poor living conditions, global warming, employment difficulties, hunger, poverty etc.; it also causes environmental pollution and degradation (Wilson). Yet, land, water, mineral and other natural resources are diminishing due to population growth. As such a large population living on Earth and sharing scarcity of resources like water and food. Humans were compelled extract resources to meet their demands, at the same time, use modern technology abusively to modify the environment. Of all the humans who have ever lived, 6.4 percent are alive today. The number of people is overwhelming natural systems, destroying biodiversity, and challenging efforts to control global warming. Because of the increased availability of family-planning services, fertility is declining worldwide-from 2.56 children per woman at present to a projected 2.02 in 2050 (Wenner). Wild fires have become a common phenomenon due to poor land management, increased carelessness by the people, cutting down of trees leaving large tracts of bare land and many other issues like lack of clear policies governing land use. Fresh water is hard to access due to the increased population and destruction of water catchment areas, which has also led to the loss of biodiversity (Shaw 201). Climate change may occur gradually but some of its effects may be irreversible and in some cases, unstoppable. For example, seas levels are rising due to melting of ice. Some areas have become more prone to the effects of earthquakes due to the excavation of these areas in search of fuels. (Herald). Energy use patterns as a result of population growth Food is a form of energy; however, it is also a consumer of fossil fuel that is used in its production, transportation, and preparation. A study calculated the energy intensity of food production from agriculture, transportation, processing, food sales, storage, and preparation for 2007 as 8080  ± 760 trillion BTU. In 1995, approximately 27% of edible food was wasted, and the study concluded from this that 2030  ± 160 trillion BTU of energy were embedded in the 2007 wasted food (6464). While the above figures only reflect the United states, the overall increased energy use in the whole world has increased at an alarming rate. This is due to the increased energy demands for purposes of industrialization and mechanization. Recent food shortages, blamed in part on the growth of the bio-fuels industry, have created a new awareness of the relationship between food and energy. Over last 50 years we have seen increased agricultural productivity thanks to the adoption of new technologies and inputs, which are largely based on fossil fuels. Minimal human labor is therefore being less used and mechanization has been highly adopted. Mechanization of the agriculture sector, improved fertilizers, more resilient crops, and the development of pesticides, all of which rely on fossil fuels, are the reasons for the increased productivity. The food waste figures do not include food wasted on the farm, in fisheries, and during processing and relies on outdated food consumption and waste data, some of which is from the 1970s (Wenner). Because of economic and population growth, the total amount of food production and consumption has grown since the latest food loss study for 1995, and the portion of income Americans spend on food has dropped. From this, the researchers hypothesized that the current amount of food wasted to be higher compared to the USDAs 1995 estimates. If this is true, addressing food waste represents an opportunity for avoided energy consumption. Population growth has led to heavier traffic, rural urban migration causing urban sprawl, increased depletion of natural resources and increased emission of CFC gases that are responsible for the ozone layer depletion. In the United States, immigration by people from the less developed countries is the main cause of increasing population and it is estimated that over the next four decades population growth caused by immigration will account for 82% of the total population growth. Every year, more than a million people achieve permanent residency and become American Citizens (U.S. Census Bureau). As the immigrants move into the United States, they do not change their consumption patterns and they tend to increase the countrys emission in an alarming rate. The environmental impact of a society can be measured by multiplying the number of people by the capita influence and the index of environmental damages caused by people. The environmental damage of the society in this case could involve the power used in lighting and heating, paper factories that use trees to manufacture paper and many other industries that people have put up for economic reasons. This does not necessarily mean that the highest level of development have cause more environmental damage. Lower and sometimes the lowest levels of development underestimate the environmental impact e.g. most of the poor people use fuel wood for their daily uses. This therefore leads to massive cutting down of trees though this may occur in small stages but over a period of time, the damage made could be far much worse than estimated. Higher developments on the other hand may overestimate environmental damage. This is because most of the industries in most countries have environmental poli cies that have been put in place to safeguard the environment. In most cases, higher developments yield more benefits and do less damage to the environment. Human enterprise has significantly grown from the 19th Century. . There is therefore a need to develop policies to help curb this predicament. As standards of living and life expectancy continue increasing, there has been need for more technological innovations and therefore, industries have led to increased carbon emissions and this continues rising. The forests have been cleared to create more space for development and the natural ecosystems have been thrown out of balance. The coral reefs face are now on the verge of extinction as they face stress form pollutants in the ocean, tourism, fishing and carbonate chemistry which is a result of the increased carbon dioxide in the ocean surface waters (Shaw 205). At the lowly levels of industrialization, energy use perhaps underestimates ecological impact. For instance, underprivileged people can cause severe environmental damage through deforestation in search of firewood. At the uppermost development levels, use of energy probably miscalculate environmental impact; for instance, a given quantity of energy use in Japan, Western Europe, or the US, certainly provides additional benefits with less harm than the same amount used in Russia or Poland due to the greater effectiveness and tighter environmental bylaws. Although these countries pose severe dangers due to increased industrialization, developing countries in Africa affect the environment as people expand their farms for food sufficiency. Conclusion A pioneering analysis of the worlds ecosystems reveals a widespread decline in the condition of the worlds ecosystems due to increasing resource demands. According to the World Resources Institute (WRI) if the decline in the Worlds ecosystems continues, human development and the welfare of all species could be greatly affected in a negative way since the ecosystems capacity to produce food, water , maintain the biodiversity and storage of atmospheric carbon and provision of recreation opportunities would be thoroughly compromised (Wilson). To make matters worse, as our ecosystems decline, we are also racing against time since scientists lack baseline knowledge needed to determine properly the conditions of such systems. Population growth has largely been felt in biodiversity where it is now being considered a primary threat (Wilson). This is because, increased population has led to the introduction of exotic species in a bid to satisfy human needs and wants economically and these exotic species are throwing the delicate ecosystem out of balance. Illegal and unregulated hunting, fishing, and trade in wildlife products are also deleting many species (Wilson). Population growth, therefore, can be considered the greatest threat to humanity it is therefore necessary to curb rapid population to be able to manage our environment and live sustainably. Alternative energy sources also need to be established so as to reduce the dependence on bio-fuels. Work Cited Census Bureau. World Population: 1950-2050. June 28, 2010. November 20, 2010 Cuellar, Amanda Webber, Michael. Wasted Food, Wasted Energy: The Embedded Energy in Food Waste in the United States. Environmental Science Technology. 44. 16 (2010): 6464-6469 Herald. Human population growth. January 20, 2004. November 20, 2010. Shaw. Rapid Population Growth and Environmental Degradation: Ultimate versus Proximate Factors. Environmental Conservation, 16(1989): 199-208 Wenner, Jennifer. Population growth. Population growth and resource depletion. January 02, 2009. November 21, 2010 Wilson, E. Environmental Impacts from Unsustainable Population Growth. October 31, 2010. November 20, 2010.