The Elderly

Researched by Rachel M.
2008-09

Dedication

I would like to dedicate my project to my grandma, Bonny Mears, because if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have been able to do my community service.  She is the one who asked the nurse if I could help her at Sun Towers. She also picked me up from there when I was done doing my community service.


Why I Chose This Topic

There are several reasons I decided to take this opportunity to study all about the elderly. First, I knew my grandma worked at Sun Towers so I could easily get to and from there. I also picked the this topic because I enjoy working with people.


Introduction

Did you know that more than 50%  of people who enter a nursing home will spend the rest of their life there? Also in nursing homes most elderly are depressed. There is also good things that can cure depression, like different activities to do in a nursing home. The nursing home has its ups and downs.


Depression

Many elderly people living in nursing homes experience deppression. Depression in the elderly can increase the risk of death. It even increases the risk of death more than physical illnesses. The elderly get depressed when dealing with death of loved ones, being unmarried, moving to a different place, or fear of death. The most likely reasons why elderly are depressed are because they have medical problems or disabilities. Depression lasts longer in the elderly than younger people. Depression can cause illnesses like diabetes, stroke, heart disease, Parkinson’s disese, or artritus. Late life depression affects six million Americans over 65, but only 10% receive treatment. Older adults are more likely to commit suicide. People over 65 account for 19% of all deaths by suicide.


To help depression, the elderly can take medicines. Most elderly can be sensitive to medicines, so doctors can have them take a lower dose. Another problem with taking medicine is that the elderly may forget or not want to take their medicine. Since most elderly already take medicine for other things, depression medicine can increase side effects.

Support from friends and family, support groups, and psychotherapy are very helpful to depression. People who are depressed often have bad eating habits, and don’t take vitamins and other treatments.

Requirements

Nursing homes have different requirements.  They have to be inspected once a year by law. There also has to be a nurse on duty all the time. Employment in nursing homes is increasing because the number of elderly is increasing.



What is a nursing home?


Over 45% of people over 65 will spend at least some time in a nursing homes. Nursing homes are healthcare places that provide nursing care and 24 hour supervision. Residents receive help with eating, dressing, walking, toileting, and taking a bath. There are over 16,000 nursing homes in the USA. The goal of the nursing home is to help people meet all their needs, including physical and social needs.
 

Career

Geratric Nurses are nurses that work with the elderly in different places. They work with the elderly in their homes, hostpitals, or nursing homes. Geratric Nurses do intensive care, emergency cardiac treatment, or oncology. Also they can give medications to the patients. Geratric Nurses also deal with paperwork, insurance forms, treatment plans, and patients records. They earn about $40,690.


Conclusion

As you can see, the elderly can have a tough time with life in a nursing home but also a good time. Depression can be tough, but with singing and sewing helping that, sometimes living in a nursing home can be fun.


 
How I Evaluate My Entire Project

 (1)  How thorough and complete was my project?
I think my project was complete because I have all the requirements.  I tried my best on my board and report. My report is very complete and thorough.

(2)  What would I do differently if starting over again?
If starting over I would spend more time in the nursing home listening to what all the elderly had to say and all their stories. I also would do more research on my project.

(3)  What major strengths does my project have?
Major strenths my project has is my board because it has lots of interesting pictures and information.

(4)  What weaknesses or problems does my project have?
Weaknesses my project has is my report because it doesn’t have a lot of information on everything.

(5)  What did I learn to do better during this project?
I learned to be more neat and organized with my materials and notes.

(6)  In what ways did I enjoy my study and work?
I enjoyed my study and work when I volunteered at the nursing home. All the elderly are very nice and fun to work with.



Who Helped Me With My Project
1.    Bonny Mears, My Grandma
2.    Pat, The nurse at Sun Towers
3.    Mrs. Heitman, My teacher
4.    Mrs. Goodpaster, My paper cutter




Who I Interviewed And What I Learned


I interveiwed Pat Durkee, the nurse at Sun Towers.  She is a nursing home nurse. She retired from an emergency room nurse and worked at a grocery store. There, she didn’t make enough money so she became a nurse for the elderly. She enjoys working with people because they have lots to offer. She said everyone there is unique. The most important people that work at a nursing home are the caregivers. Caregivers are nice and sensitive to everyone‘s feelings. There are about 140 People that live at Sun Towers. Only 40 are assisted living patients. The youngest person that lives at Sun Towers is 63. The oldest is 102 years old!

Volunteer Summary

My experience at Sun Towers was unforgettable. I helped a nurse named Pat. She was very nice and told me that she used to be a Pediatrician. She thought that the job was boring so she moved on to the emergency room. She loved this job so she kept it for a long time. Then she retired. A few years later she decided to become a nurse at Sun Towers.

 On the first day I worked for four hours. I put presents together for the elderly. Pat was giving them the presents for Christmas.  I thought that would cheer them up since some of their family doesn’t come visit them or they live too far away. There was candy, a teddy bear, and a Christmas card in each bag. I made 32 bags.

 After that, we went to lunch. There was an elderly lady and a blind man at lunch. When they got their food, the lady told the blind man where everything was. She would say, “Your sandwich is on your left, your soup is on your right, and your water is above that.”

 After lunch, some Christmas carolers came and sang Christmas songs. All the elderly enjoyed it. They danced and sang.  This is a good way for depressed elderly to be cheered up.

 The next day I went to a sewing class with Pat. The oldest person that lived at Sun Towers was there. They made wall hangings and then put rhinestones on them. She gave me something to sew. When I messed up, the elderly would help me fix it. We were listening to Christmas music. I also think sewing and singing relieves stress.

After that we went to lunch and everything was the same, the elderly lady, the blind man, and the Christmas carolers. This shows how eating in a cafeteria every day is not very pleasant and can get monotonous.

On the third day, I helped by cleaning the hand rails. They hadn’t been cleaned in six years! I wiped them with soapy water, then with wood cleaner to make it shiny. Whoever walked by smiled and asked me what I was doing. They were so nice.

I loved working at Sun Towers. Everyone was nice and they loved having a younger kid around. I think if more people volunteered, there would be less depression in the nursing home.

Bibliography

Durkee, Pat. Personal Interview. December 18, 2008

Geriatric Care. Chicago, Illinois: Fergeson Publishing Company, 2002.

“Depression in Elderly.“ December 1, 2008. <http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/depression/elderly.asp>

Henry, Stella M. The Eldercare Handbook.  New York: Collins, 2006.
Pp. 135-137

“Nursing Homes.“ October 28, 2008. <http://www.healthline.com/drug-directory>

“What is a Nursing Home?“ October 15, 2008. <http://nursing-homes.aplaceformom.com/>

“Elderly Health.“ December 1, 2008. <http://www.elderlyhealth.org/>

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