Empowering means providing with an opportunity or training to learn,discuss and decide independently. Nurse's play a key role in promoting the physical, physiological,social and emotional well being of elderly patients as they are vulnerable due to chronic illness or at risk due to decreased functional ability,diminishing cognitive functions and low immune status.Nurse play the role of a direct care provider, health care advocate and educator in ensuring the well being of elderly clients. Geriatric Nursing is the branch of nursing that equips nurses with all necessary knowledge and skills required in caring for an elderly client. Nurse's needs to empower the elderly client's with knowledge related to their health status, measures for self care and management as well as health promotion measures. They also need knowledge on rights of elderly with respect to health care needs. A nurse can also empower the elderly with training of essential skills to perform their basic needs with minimum or no assistance. Nurse can provide direct health care services as well as ensure active participation of the elderly patient in planning of care and decision making too.To be a successful educator the nurse must also posses the qualities of patience,honesty,a positive attitude and above all a sound knowledge on the topics related to care of elderly. Identification and reporting of threats like abuse also is included under the role of nurse as a care giver to elderly.Referring to community support groups as per requirement of the individual patients can also ensure maximum utilization of resources.
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