How to nurse the geriatric patient

Abstract

Veterinary nurses should have a good understanding of the geriatric years and ageing process for the many patients seen in practice on a day-to-day basis. With this understanding, it is also important to provide advice and support to those owners with a geriatric pet, guiding and monitoring the patient throughout their older years. Ageing is a normal, progressive but irreversible process within the body, and bodily functions and systems will begin slowing down. Implementing care plans for the geriatric patient can improve the quality of their care, as nurses can assess and address the many systems and potential disease processes that may be affecting the patient.