Teaching Learning Project

We have to do a teaching learning project for a patient in a long term care facility, preferably someone we took care of in clinicals.

My problem is that I can't seem to come up with something to teach to someone who has been in a long term care facility for 10 or more years. I have only had 2 patients in clinical and I can't come up with anything.

Any suggestions??

[rpbear]

Think of some of the big problems that affect people in long term care. Like UTI's, constipation, immobility, depression and lonliness, pressure ulcers and skin breakdown, and diet issues like fliud intake. Take these things and teach about some of them that affect your pt. Even though they have been in long term care for ten years doesn't mean that there is nothing to teach them.

Good luck!

[suzy253, RN]

What is the patient diagnosis? Any meds you can teach about...why they're taking them, side effects. Yes, and I agree with previous poster, skin breakdown, etc. Lots of things to teach I'm sure. Good luck.

[kahumai, RN]

If the patient has diabetes, you can teach something like proper glucose control, foot care, or nutrition. If they're not diabetic, try something like proper positioning if they have peripheral vascular disease (arterial vs. venous insufficiency = different positions), and if all else fails, teach them about their meds. Half the time, they have no clue what side effects to look for or what they do.