Page 430 - Saunders Comprehensive Review For NCLEX-RN
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Box 13-1
Physiological Changes in Older Clients That
Increase the Risk of Accidents
Musculoskeletal Changes
Strength and function of muscles decrease.
Joints become less mobile and bones become brittle.
Postural changes and limited range of motion occur.
Nervous System Changes
Voluntary and autonomic reflexes become slower.
Decreased ability to respond to multiple stimuli occurs.
Decreased sensitivity to touch occurs.
Sensory Changes
Decreased vision and lens accommodation and cataracts develop.
Delayed transmission of hot and cold impulses occurs.
Impaired hearing develops, with high-frequency tones less perceptible.
Genitourinary Changes
Increased nocturia and occurrences of incontinence may occur.
Adapted from Potter A, Perry P, Stockert P, Hall A: Fundamentals of nursing, ed 8, St.
Louis, 2013, Mosby; and Touhy T, Jett K: Ebersole and Hess’ toward healthy aging, ed 8,
St. Louis, 2012, Mosby.
Box 13-2
Measures to Prevent Falls
▪ Assess the client’s risk for falling; use agency fall risk assessment scale.
▪ Assign the client at risk for falling to a room near the nurses’ station.
▪ Alert all personnel to the client’s risk for falling; use agency fall risk alert
procedures and methods as necessary.
▪ Assess the client frequently.
▪ Orient the client to physical surroundings.
▪ Instruct the client to seek assistance when getting up.
▪ Explain the use of the nurse call system.
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