Course Details

1. Describe the principles and the philosophy of nursing care to the elderly
2. Identify the characteristics of biological, social, psychological and functional changes
3. Describe the use of nursing history and the reasons of falls and their prevention
4. Define the theories of ageing, ageing population, the prospect of the population of Greece and Cyprus, and the principles of medication
5. Explain dietary changes and social problems of aged persons suffering from loneliness either at home either in health institutions
6. Describe problems of respiratory, musculoskeletal, digestive, neurological and urinary systems.
7. State nursing interventions to old patients with respiratory, digestive, neurological, urinary, blood, coronary, heart, metabolic diseases and hearing and vision disorders.
8. Describe the need for guidance and support of the family regarding care in the elderly

Demographics: Ageing. Prospect of the population of Greece and Cyprus

Ageing and old age: Overall assessment of aging from biological, social, psychological, functional and philosophical perspective- Definitions. Theories of ageing. Retirement. The ageing and the society. Philosophy and Principles of nursing care for the elderly. Problems of the elderly. Nossology of the elderly. The role of the nurse.

Assessment, design, implementing nursing care to old patients with: Neurological problems, Coronary heart disease, hypertension, Diabetes, Hearing problems. Vision problems. Nursing Intervention, Benign prostatic hyperplasia, Diseases of the respiratory system, Malignant neoplasm’s in the elderly, Orthopedic problems, Osteoporosis

Medication in the elderly

Institutions for the aged: Psychosocial needs of elderly people living at home and in institutions. Welfare services available for seniors

Psychological - social problems: loneliness, isolation, depression, suicidal behavior, confusion. Psychosocial needs of elderly people living at home

Moral and ethical issues related to seniors:  Nurses and the role of the family.

• Redfern S.J, Ross F.M. Nursing Care of the Older adult (Greek Translation), Paschalidis Medical Publication, 2010

• Carignan, Ann M., Gerontological Nursing, (Greek Translation) Ellin Medical Publication, 2003
• Needham, Joan F., Gerontological Nursing Care, (Greek Translation) Ellin Medical Publication,1999
• C. Eliopoulos, Gerontological Nursing, 6th Edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2004
• B. Bedford et all, Elder Care Strategies, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2003
• Mildred O. Hogstel, Cora D Zembrzuski, Meredity Wallace, PhD Hogstel, 2001. Gerontology: Nursing Care of the Older Adult. Thomson Delmar Learning

The course is delivered to the students by means of lectures, conducted with the help of computer-based presentations. Lecture notes and presentations are available through the web for students to use in combination with the textbooks Lectures are supplemented with clinical practice. During clinical teaching, students will be trained and will demonstrate their ability to assess, design, implement nursing care and to evaluate the results  under the guidance of nurse instructors, to elderly people in all states of health and illness in the community and in hospitals by providing care for elderly people hospitalized with neurological problems, pathological problems, surgical problems, orthopedic problems, heart problems, sensory disorders, osteoporosis and for elderly guests in nursing homes.