AGING AND IMMOBILITY

Mobility or ability to move in the medium surrounding the individual, it is essential to have autonomy, being an essential component of human life.

The immobility can be defined as decreased ability to perform activities of daily living impairment of motor functions.

It can be distinguished:

-       A relative immobility, in which the old man leads a sedentary life but is able to move with more or less independence

-       An absolute immobility involving chronic bed rest, being very limited postural variability.

Immobility increases with age:

-       The 18%> age 65 have trouble getting around without help from 75 years and over 50% have trouble leaving home, of which 20% are confined to their homes.

-       To understand the importance of severe functional impairment involving the immobilization suffice it to say that 50% of the elderly who die acutely immobilized within six months.

Causes in Elderly Patients Immobility.

-       Physiological changes with aging.

-       Frequent Illness

-       Social factors.

-       Environmental causes

Complications Associated Immobility.

-       After prolonged immobility are changes in the various organs and systems also tend to perpetuate the syndrome. Affected systems are the most important cardiovascular and musculoskeletal, although affecting most organ systems.

-       Its impact on the prognosis of the old assets may be more relevant than the underlying disease itself, can appear even after short periods of bed rest.

Management by Nursing Immobility

-       A) Plan of action

-       B) General care of disabled patients

-       C) Prevention of complications.

Progressive Approach to Mobility

Patient Lodging

Sitting In a Chair.

Standing

Ambulation

Maintenance

People at Risk Of Syndrome Immobility

Two groups must identify:

Aged sedentary that is one who has incorporated into its everyday activity vigorous physical exercise, clearly impact on energy consumption.

Frail elderly (From the perspective of mobility), it is one that has limited extra activities, while maintaining an appropriate level for community living. It has just enough functional reserve and strength, muscular endurance and flexibility scarce. It usually coexist various geriatric syndromes

The primary care physician should periodically assess functional abilities in these two groups of elderly and those who have recently been discharged from hospital. 

Finally as far as nurses are concerned, Nursing's role is coordinating ambulation activities, enabling staff to recognize residents' ambulation potential, teaching staff methods of improving participants' self-esteem, and encouraging staff to ambulate residents as part of daily activities, such as using the bathroom and walking to the dining room.

To improve the success of a walking program, be sure to educate staff on the benefits of walking and include the nurse aides in interdisciplinary conferences to develop effective individualized approaches. It may be helpful to have start and stop points for the ambulation route of residents, changing the distance walked according to individual need. Facilities have also found success in providing rewards for the residents' accomplishments, such as offering a favorite food or presenting a certificate or recognition.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

-Inmobility problemas and solutions,  Intentional Caregiver; [quoted the 24/04/13] Available in: http://www.intentionalcaregiver.com/immobility-problems-and-solutions/

- Physiological Changes Associated Whit Aging and Inmovility, Journal of Aging Research Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 468469; Available in: http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jar/2012/468469/

- Margareta Lindgren, Mitra Unosson, Mats Fredrikson, Anna-Christina; Immobility – a major risk factor for development of pressure ulcers among adult hospitalized patients: a prospective study; available in: http://liu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2:242329

- HOFFMAN, Gloria Basic Geriatric Nursing 5th Edition. Elsevier 2012.