Student health clinic for the frail elderly Background: The frail elderly (85years or older), represent a high-risk client group who often "fall through the cracks" of home health care services after medicare services are reached. The student health clinic for the frail elderly was developed in response to this identified unmet need, to continue home care services. Procedure: Nursing students were matched with the frail elderly in their homes. Students made telephone contacts followed by home visits over a ten-week period, to provide health assessments, client teaching, medication monitoring, community resource identification and referrals. Data Collection: Comprehensive physical examination and client interviews provided initial baseline data. The Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale, Katz Functional Status Review, Mini-Mental State Exam and a Medical Profile were also utilized. Client Outcomes: Over the ten-week period, there were no deaths, no admissions to nursing homes, and no decrements in activities of daily living or functional status. There was significant improvements in mental status (t (19)=2.03, p=.05); nutritional status (t (19)=2.77, p=.01), and client satisfaction expressed in qualitative comments. Student Outcomes: Students indicated improved interviewing techniques 10 (100%), clinical assessment skills 9 (90%), teaching skills, 10 (100%) and knowledge of community resources 9(90%). Students indicated an increased knowledge of resources available to the elderly and confidence in community health nursing practice. Implications/Conclusions: Unmet needs in underserved elderly populations continue to increase. Partnerships between universities and community agencies provide win-win situations for students, service providers, clients and families. This project provided data that can influence policy related to health care financing.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be able to: 1. List 4 responsibilities and functions of a student nurse, in the delivery of home health care to the frail elderly. 2. Describe the procedures for assessment and data collection in the provision of home care for elderly clients. 3. List 3 advantages of home care. 4. Evaluate a client outcome as a basis for policy development, in financing health care
Keywords: Community-Based Partnership, Students
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Northeastern University, Bouve College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing - Boston MA. 02215.
South Shore Visiting Nurses Association - Braintree - MA. 02184
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.