Nursing Care of the Postmenopausal Woman, 3rd Edition
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The nurse can encourage older women to attend fire education and prevention programs. Many organizations that ca - ter to older adults have such programs. Many fire departments have fire safety programs for seniors, where someone from the department will assess the se- nior’s home to determine the need for smoke alarms and identify existing fire hazards. The firefighters will install the
smoke alarms and educate the senior and their family or caregiver about their use. They will also follow up to determine if the alarm is still in working order. The nurse can help to promote a safe living environment by educating older women about the importance of having working smoke detectors, removing hazardous heaters, and setting the hot water heater to 120°F or below (NFPA, 2022).
CASE STUDY 3-1
An 85-year-old woman who has been widowed for 15 years lives in a large two-story home. Her house was built in the early 1900s and lacks some of the amenities of a modern home. Her bedroom is upstairs, and the bathroom is down the hall from her bedroom. Even though the house is large, the woman tends to stay mainly in the kitchen and the small family room that she reaches by taking a step down. For reasons of economy, she keeps the thermostat at 60°F and uses a space heater in the family room. She also frequently wraps a blanket around herself as she goes between rooms. She keeps the door to the family room closed to keep the heat in. One day, the woman decides to warm up with a cup of tea. She puts some water on the stove to boil and goes back into the family room to wait. Wrapped in the blanket, she becomes drowsy in the cozy warmth of the space heater. An hour later, she jerks awake to the shrieking of the smoke detector. The house is full of smoke, as all the water in the kettle has boiled away, melting some of the kettle’s coating and causing the burner to smoke. Question 1 : What are some of the factors that make this situation risky? Commentary on question 1 : This older woman lives alone. Her risks include her age and living accommodations. She has to use stairs. Also, there is a step down into her family room. Keeping the thermostat too low can be dangerous for an older adult, whose body is unable to thermoregulate as efficiently as that of someone who is younger. This woman is in danger of indoor hypothermia. She uses a space heater and wraps herself up in a blanket that could catch fire or cause her to fall as she walks around with it wrapped around her. There is a closed door between her and her kitchen, which could have prevented her—especially if she is hard of hearing—from being awakened by the kettle’s whistle. Question 2 : If you were the nurse, what would you recommend to reduce risks in this situation? Commentary on question 2 : This woman would be at less risk if she moved into a one- story house or an apartment in a senior citizens’ complex. Or if she can afford it after selling the house, assisted living may be a good option. She may continue to live independently for as long as she is able, but she needs others close by for emergencies. Serious discussions with the woman and her family are warranted. Areas that need to be discussed include the possibility of home modifications; routine visits from family members, friends, and/or neighbors; and a means of summoning assistance in emergencies (e.g., by using a cell phone or a medical alert system).
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