4 Year Nursing Degree Programme (BSc Cur) Mental Health Nursing

NU2P09 -Working with the Older Person (5 ECTS)

Learning Outcomes

Following completion of this module the student should be able to:

• Discuss the concept of healthy ageing and outline the biopsychosocial, cultural and spiritual processes that influence aging and mental health in the older person. 
• Describe national and international demographic changes in relation to the older person and their impact on health service provision and the psychiatric/mental health nursing profession.
• Identify mental health problems that affect the older person.
• Apply the use of the nursing process/nursing model in the care of the older person with a mental health problem.
• Examine the role of the psychiatric nurse when caring for older people with mental health problems
• Discuss the contribution that family/carers make in the care of older people with mental health problems

Module Learning Aims

This module will provide the theoretical basis that underpins the delivery of comprehensive nursing care for the older person with mental health problems living in a variety of settings. Throughout the module emphasis is placed on the promotion and maintenance of independence and adaptation while taking into account the bio-psychosocial, cultural and spiritual changes that occur as a result of the ageing process. In addition, government and other mental health policies influencing the provision and delivery of mental health care for the older person will be outlined. The importance of working with clients’ families and/or carers is addressed together with the relevant statutory and voluntary organisations as an approach to the care of the older adult.

Recommended Reading List

• Adams T. (2008) Dementia Care Nursing: Promoting Wellbeing in People with Dementia and their Families. Palgrave Macmillan, London.
• An Bord Altranais (2009) Professional Guidance for Nurses Working with Older People. An Bord Altranais, Dublin.  
• Cattan M. (2009) Mental Health and Wellbeing in Later life. Open University Press, Maidenhead.
• Department of Health (2014) The Irish National Dementia Strategy. Department of Health, Dublin.
• Downs M. & Bowers B. (2008) Excellence in Dementia Care, Research into Practice, McGraw-Hill, Maidenhead.
• Draper B. (2013) Understanding Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementia's, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London and Philadelphia.
• Keady J., Page S. & Hope K. (2009) The person with dementia. In The Art and Science of Mental Health Nursing 3rd Edition. (Norman I. & Ryrie I., eds), Open University Press, London, pp. 550 - 575. 
• Kitwood T. (1997) Dementia Reconsidered: The Person Comes First. Open University Press, Maidenhead.
• McCrae N. (2013) Older people with functional mental health problems. In In The Art and Science of Mental Health Nursing 3rd Edition. (Norman I. & Ryrie I., eds), Open University Press, London.
• McCrae N. (2013) Older people with Dementia. In In The Art and Science of Mental Health Nursing 3rd Edition. (Norman I. & Ryrie I., eds), Open University Press, London.
• Morris G. & Morris J. (2010) The Dementia Care Workbook.  Open University Press, London

* Additional readings will be given for each unit of learning.