Need help writing a Journal Note for Geri.

what nursing knowledge did you apply when caring for or assessing your clients?

• took vital signs and needed to know and recognize abnormal parameters when taking vital signs for any age group
  
• helped plan a group water coloring activity to accommodate elderly clients with _____deficits (vision, physical dexterity? what was the intent of the activity?) think about the fine hand movements you had to assist some people with. helping clients achieve a normal level of functioning is a nursing skill.
  
• performed a functional/behavioral assessment - you need to know norms when doing assessments and recognize anything abnormal because abnormal cues indicate potential nursing problems
  
• interviewed one of the clients for an essay using therapeutic communication and listening skills.
  

did you observe cultural differences in the way geri client adapts psychosocially to aging?

• hearing
  
  
  • some people were hard of hearing and/or wearing hearing aids.
    
    
  • how did they cope with this? did they lean closer to people to hear them talk?
    
    
  • did some isolate themselves from groups and sit by themselves because they could not hear others?
    
    
  • did some not participate in groups or activities because they could not hear well?
    
    
  • were they disruptive in groups constantly asking, "what did you say?" if they missed hearing something?
    
    
  • did the people with hearing problems seem to speak louder than everyone else? did you notice others speaking louder to them?
    
    
  [*]vision
  • some people had vision problems or were nearly blind.
    
    
  • how did they cope with this? did they squint or get right up in people's faces in order to see them better?
    
    
  • did they ask "what was that?" if they missed seeing?
    
    
  [*]physical mobility
  • how many needed assistive devices? and what kinds? were they always appropriate for them? did they use them correctly?
    
    
  • did physical mobility prevent them from joining in any group activities?
    
    
  [*]dress
  • what kind of dress did the people wear: was it up to date or 20 years old and look (and smell of mothballs) like it came out of a 20 year old closet?
    
    
  • were their clothes clean? wrinkled?
    
    
  • notice any incontinence?
    
    
  [*]cultural
  • in some cultures, the elderly are cared for by their younger family. . .did you see any younger family members there attending to them?
    
    
  • what kinds of things did the people talk about (what was of interest to them)? current events? or, did they discuss subjects that happened 20 and 30 years ago?
    
    
  • was any teaching going on?
    
    
  • what kinds of activities (beside the water coloring) were going on that were group (social) activities? singing? card playing?
    [i once watched a group of seniors playing bridge and thought it was amazing until i realized they really didn't know what they were doing and they were all confused!]
    
    

I worked with geriatric patients for many years. I'm sure there are a few things I missed.