Final answer:
Nurses caring for elderly patients must consider age-related alterations such as susceptibility to diseases and physical frailty, the trends of elderly poverty, the risk of elder abuse, and cultural attitudes towards aging. These factors are integral in shaping individualized and compassionate care plans for the elderly.
Step-by-step explanation:
When planning care for elderly patients in a long-term care facility, it is important for the nurse to consider various age-related alterations. Elderly individuals may have increased susceptibility to conditions such as frailty and diseases like Alzheimer's or cystitis. Moreover, there is a societal shift towards elderly individuals planning for their old age, which includes choosing suitable housing and setting up living wills.
It is essential for healthcare providers to be aware of elderly poverty trends, which have been affected by economic factors such as the 2008 recession. Risks of elder abuse also become more significant as some elders grow more physically dependent on their caregivers. The care strategies must address the complex needs arising from these challenges in a professional and compassionate manner, while actively combating ageism.
Considering cultural attitudes is also important, as these can shape how society views elderly care. As the nurse focuses on the individual needs of each patient, they must also contend with the increasing cost of elder care due to a declining working-age population willing to provide this care. Nurses must balance medical, social, and psychological aspects, understanding and adapting to the evolving attitudes towards aging.