ABSTRACT
After reading this chapter you should be able to:
talk confidently about ageism, discrimination and abuse in older people;
discuss legal, ethical and professional issues in caring for older people; including using the NMC (2009b) Guidance for the Care of Older People;
distinguish between advanced directives/living wills and lasting and enduring power of attorney, saying how they can help older people;
say how the Court of Protection and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 can help older people;
discuss end of life issues relating to older people, including resuscitation/‘not for resuscitation’, withdrawal of medical treatment, permanent vegetative state and euthanasia, together with implications for nursing;
discuss how nurses can use the National Service Framework for Older People single assessment process to further the interests of older people;
discuss the place of covert medication when nursing older people;
use knowledge gained from this chapter to further develop your portfolio, being able to critically address the problems within the student activities set.
