HEALTH EDUCATION IN GERIATRIC

We begin by defining two important terms in the world of healthcare:
The health promotion is a group of measures implemented in order to promote an optimal state of physical, mental and social development in the population. This group of measures includes actions in the field of health education, public health policy, disease treatment and preventive measures.

Health education is a basic tool in promoting health and preventive action. It is a method of intervention that is also part of the care provided.



Preventative measures are classified according to the disease stage where they develop. So we can speak of:

• Primary prevention, when we try to prevent the occurrence of injuries and disease through risk factors and promoting healthy lifestyles.
• Secondary prevention, which attempts to detect and treat early asymptomatic disease and existenes although so far.
• Tertiary prevention, which attempts to avoid consequences, relapse, and promote the rehabilitation and recovery of the same.

The goal of health promotion in the elderly population is to maintain the highest degree of autonomy and prevent the onset of disease, ie preservation of health.

NURSING ACTIVITIES

To achieve these goals we have set, we will have an impact on a number of parameters for health promotion:

• Control of blood pressure at least 1 time per year.
• Lipid Control every 5 years to prevent dyslipidemia
• Annual ECG over 75 years to prevent arrhythmias
• Bone Densitometry at 65 years to prevent osteoporosis
• Annual fasting glucose to prevent diabetes mellitus
• Annual review of the mental state by Pfeiffer or MEC to prevent cognitive decline
• Annual review of the state of mind to prevent depressions
• Control of TSH every 5 years to prevent hypothyroidism, especially in women
• Control of vitamin B12 every 5 years to prevent pernicious anemia
• Annual monitoring fecal occult blood to prevent colon cancer screenings making up to 75-80 years in patients with good health
• Mammogram every 1-2 years to prevent breast cancer until 70 years or more if life expectancy is 5 to 10 years
• Pap smear every 3 years to prevent cervical cancer
• Digital rectal exam and PSA test for prostate cancer prevention
• Annual audiometric study to prevent hearing loss
• Study yearly eye to prevent presbyopia, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration

BIBLIOGRAPHY

González Sánchez, R. Educación para la Salud. Influencia en ancianos hipertensos, 1999. Disponible en: http://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0864-21251999000400003