Case Study Of A Patient Suffering From Stroke Discussion
Question
Case Study Carefully read the case study below and address the following associated questions. The required word count is 50-70 words if it is stated otherwise. Please follow APA 7th Style of referencing. Scenario: You are taking care of a newly admitted 78-year-old resident, Ms. Wong, in an Aged Care unit. She suffered a stroke last year, resulting in right-sided weakness on the upper and lower limbs. She now walks with the help of a 4-wheely walker and needs assistance with her ADLs due to the weakness of her right arm. She is a retired Registered Nurse. She has a past medical history of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and osteoporosis. She also has osteoarthritis and complains of pain during rest and mobility. She has age-related hearing problems and has not checked her hearing since the stroke. She uses one hearing aid on her right ear. She is currently on multiple drugs for all these conditions and worries about forgetting to take her medications on time. When her medication was checked, it appeared that she had medication dispensed from several pharmacies, and many drug containers were duplicated. She had missed some medication doses on several occasions. She lives alone and has always been single. Her mother passed away two (2) years ago, and Ms. Wong, who was much attached to her, deteriorated mentally and physically after the incident. Ms. Wong’s brother, Chan, is her next of kin and getting a family member into an aged care facility is frowned upon in his culture. Chan did not have another choice and felt terrible about admitting Ms. Wong into the care facility. What are the factors that indicate Ms. Wong was a victim of polypharmacy? What are the dangers of polypharmacy? How does this affect Ms. Wong? Case Study Of A Patient Suffering From Stroke Discussion
Expert Answer
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Step 1/2
Q1) In Ms. Wong’s case, the factors indicating polypharmacy include her use of multiple medications for several chronic conditions, her reliance on several pharmacies, duplicated drug containers, missed medication doses, and the worry about forgetting to take medications. Her medication management is further complicated by her hearing difficulties and the weakness of her right arm. These factors suggest that her medication regimen may not be optimized, and careful medication review and management are necessary.
- Explanation for step 1
Polypharmacy is a widespread issue, particularly in the elderly population, where patients are prescribed multiple medications for different health conditions. Polypharmacy occurs when a person is taking more medications than clinically necessary, and it can lead to adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, and decreased adherence to medication regimens. The risk of polypharmacy increases with age, as patients are more likely to have multiple chronic conditions that require medication management.
Step 2/2
Q2) Polypharmacy can lead to several dangers for patients, including adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, decreased adherence to medication regimens, increased healthcare costs, and decreased quality of life. Adverse drug reactions are one of the most common complications of polypharmacy and can lead to hospitalization and mortality. Drug interactions can cause unexpected changes in drug efficacy or toxicity, and it can be challenging to identify and manage them when patients use several medications from different sources. Decreased adherence to medication regimens can occur when patients are prescribed multiple medications, leading to missed doses, medication non-adherence, and treatment failure. Increased healthcare costs can result from unnecessary medication use, and decreased quality of life can occur due to medication-related adverse effects. Case Study Of A Patient Suffering From Stroke Discussion
In Ms. Wong’s case, polypharmacy can exacerbate her chronic conditions, increase her risk of falls, and cause confusion or memory impairment, leading to missed doses and medication non-adherence. Her hearing difficulties and the weakness of her right arm may further complicate her medication management, making it challenging to identify and manage adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, and decreased adherence to medication regimens
Final answer
Hence we conclude that ;
Polypharmacy is a significant issue for the elderly.
- Ms. Wong may be a victim of polypharmacy due to several factors.
- The dangers of polypharmacy include adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, decreased adherence to medication regimens, increased healthcare costs, and decreased quality of life.
- Polypharmacy can exacerbate Ms. Wong’s chronic conditions, increase her risk of falls, and cause confusion or memory impairment, leading to missed doses and medication non-adherence. Case Study Of A Patient Suffering From Stroke Discussion