Use fall risk assessment tools (Morse, Hendrich). Keep bed low, use non-slip socks, ensure call light is within reach. Address toileting needs promptly. Review medications that increase fall risk: sedatives, antihypertensives, diuretics.
Delirium is often the first sign of illness in elderly patients. Maintain day/night cycles, encourage family visits, ensure glasses/hearing aids are used. Address pain, constipation, urinary retention. Avoid restraints - they worsen agitation.
Elderly patients often take multiple medications. Know Beers Criteria - medications to avoid in older adults. Watch for drug interactions and adverse effects. "Start low, go slow" with new medications. Consider deprescribing when appropriate.
Elderly skin is thin and fragile. Use gentle cleansers, moisturize regularly, reposition every 2 hours. Use pressure-relieving devices. Assess skin daily and document any changes. Prevent skin tears with careful handling and padding bed rails.
Encourage patients to do as much as they can safely. Use "use it or lose it" principle - mobility and cognitive function decline without activity. Involve physical therapy, occupational therapy, and social work early in hospitalization.
🌻 Remember: Behind every elderly patient is a lifetime of stories, wisdom, and experience to honor!
