NSG 4055 LGBT Community Discussion

NSG 4055 LGBT Community Discussion

Sample Answer for NSG 4055 LGBT Community Discussion Included After Question

NSG 4055 LGBT Community Discussion

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1. A vulnerable population to disease and illnesses is the LGBT community. It is unfair to say that almost everyone in the community have HIV but data suggest that transgender men may still yet be at elevated risk for HIV acquisition (How HIV Impacts LGBTQ People, 2017) . The reason why they are a vulnerable population is because once contracting HIV or any other type of disease, such as Hepatitis, the body decreases its immunity and the person may have higher risk of contracting any infection or illness due to being immunocompromised. The challenges the community faces on a day-to-day basis are having to be more aware and conscience of the environment that surrounds them.. for example, at this moment during the COVID pandemic, it is a challenge for a person of the community to have to be extra careful when going out and make sure they follow the CDC guidelines so that they don’t contract a respiratory infection that can compromise the lungs, especially if they are known to have an underlying condition. Other challenges they face is having to deal with discrimination, having people think that every gay or lesbian person has HIV or hepatitis, but that is not the case. Being job less, homeless, and lack of health insurance often results in LGBTQ people engaging in behaviors that facilitate the spread of HIV (How HIV Impacts LGBTQ People, 2017). In order to help alleviate these challenges there are HIV prevention, treatment, and research programs to assist with ending the HIV and AIDS epidemic worldwide not just in the LGBTQ community. Major advancements in HIV prevention, treatment, and care have put an AIDS-free generation squarely within reach. HIV tests are faster and more reliable than ever before. HIV medications are safer and more effective, and there are now several ways to prevent the spread of HIV, including condoms and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (How HIV Impacts LGBTQ People, 2017). Other methods of alleviating these challenges is to educate the community about the current reality of HIV as well as the effects of stigma on the very communities that are most in need (How HIV Impacts LGBTQ People, 2017).

Reference:

How HIV Impacts LGBTQ People. (2017, February). Retrieved August 30, 2020, from https://www.hrc.org/resources/hrc-issue-brief-hiv-…

2. The two healthy people 2020 objectives for older adults I feel are most important are “reduce the proportion of older adults who have moderate to severe functional limitations” and “increase the proportion of older adults with reduced physical or cognitive function who engage in light, moderate, or vigorous leisure-time physical activities.“ When I read the first objective what comes to mind is Alzheimer disease. Speaking from experience, I have cared for a lot of patients who have Alzheimer disease who have moderate to severe functional and cognitive limitations. Most of the time they are either confused or non-verbal, bed-bound and unable to do anything for themselves. Alzheimer Disease (AD) is a non-reversible type of dementia that progressively develops over many years. AD is characterized by memory loss, problems with judgment, and changes in personality. Severe physical decline can also occur along with deteriorating cognitive functions. AD is the fifth leading cause of death in Americans age ≥65 years (Alzheimer’s Association, 2018). There is no cure for AD, medications and management strategies may temporarily improve symptoms.

The second objective is “increase the proportion of older adults with reduced physical or cognitive function who engage in light, moderate, or vigorous leisure-time physical activities.” Regular physical activity is one of the most important things one can do for their health especially for older adults. It can prevent many of the health problems that seem to come with age. Older adults are encouraged to do at least 150 minutes of moderate to intensity aerobic physical activity 3 times a week to reduce heart disease risks and help strengthen bones and muscles. Physical activity is especially important for older adults because it helps reduce their chances of heart diseases. Heart diseases are the most common cause of mortality, primarily affecting older adults (Cappola, et al, 2005). Older adults are in increased risked of heart disease due to physical inactivity, comorbidities, and sedentary lifestyle (smoking and diet)

Reference

Alzheimer’s Association. (2018). 2018 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 14(3), 367-429.

Cappola, A. R., Fried, L. P., Arnold, A. M., Danese, M. D., Kuller, L. H., Burke, G. L., … & Ladenson, P. W. (2006). Thyroid status, cardiovascular risk, and mortality in older adults. Jama, 295(9), 1033-1041.

3. Chronic illnesses are debilitating in older adults. Most of the chronic illnesses not only take a toll on their daily activities, but they also cause depression and they may end up dying from the disease. The two strategies that can be implemented to provide and maintain functions are exercise and nutrition. According to the NIH, you can still exercise even if you have a health condition like heart disease, arthritis, chronic pain, high blood pressure, or diabetes. In fact, physical activity may help. For example, an African American older adult with diabetes would benefit from, physical activities like brisk walking, riding a bike, swimming, weightlifting, and gardening are safe, especially if you build up slowly(NIH). Exercise helps the body. It improves health and builds muscles. But before you do any exercise you should contact your primary physician and get there advice before starting. The next strategy that can be implemented to provide comfort and maintain function with an ethnically diverse older adult with chronic disease is nutrition. Teaching nutrition in culturally diverse older adults with diabetes about healthy nutrition can be tedious. Most older adults learn by hand on so you would have to educate them on how to choose a healthy diet for a diabetic. They also need to be educated on the number of carbs they can eat within a meal. Educate them on what foods are bad for their health and what types of substitutes you could implement to assist in making healthier food choices. Next, we have to provide healthy recipes with the patient’s particular ethnicity, race, culture, or beliefs in mind that can aid with nutrition compliance. Exercise is very important in keeping your heart healthy. Older adults need to make healthy dietary choices that can help you feel your best and stay active. It can also help you lower your risk of developing some health conditions that are common among older adults (FDA). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a tool to help you make informed food choices that can have positive effects on your health and wellness.

References

National Institue on Aging. Exercising with Chronic Conditions. Retrieve from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/exercising-chronic-…

The U.S. Food and Drugs Administration. Using the Nutrition Facts Label: For Older Adults. retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/food/new-nutrition-facts-label…

4 The main issue with choosing two strategies for anything in the nursing field is the fact that each patient is so diverse that choosing two strategies for one patient may not even be options for another. With that being said, focusing on the idea of providing comfort and maintaining function does help to narrow the scope to allow for generalized topics. Activities of Daily Living (ADL) would be a great place to start when trying to maintain function. Depending on the patient and their baseline functionality, the nurse could provide strategies for modifying recipes for ethnic dishes so that meals would fall within the guidelines for their specific diseases. For example, if a patient has any form of cardiac diagnosis, education could be provided to reduce, eliminate, or replace the salt utilized for those specific dishes.

Another strategy I would try to implement for a number of chronic diseases is to promote physical exercise. There are a vast number of exercises that require little to no cost to the patient, with the easiest exercise being to walk. Examples of environments that older adults can utilize for exercise include, “neighborhood and community parks; safe and usable sidewalks; hiking and biking trails; swimming pools; community recreation centers; and stairways that offer a safe, convenient, and attractive alternative to the use of elevators and escalators” (King, 2001).

Regardless of a patient’s age, comorbidities, or ethnicity, the goal of everyone I have ever met is to be able to do as much as they can, for as long as they can. Simple things such as changing a few ingredients in a meal or getting out of the house and walking several days a week is an easy way to maintain function as we get older without deviating too far outside of our ethnic traditions. These strategies are extremely basic as it was previously stated but they can be heavily modified depending on ethnicity or chronic disease.

References:

King, A. C. (2001). Interventions to Promote Physical Activity by Older Adults. (cover story). Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences & Medical Sciences, 56(10), 36.

A Sample Answer For the Assignment: NSG 4055 LGBT Community Discussion

Title: NSG 4055 LGBT Community Discussion

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