Select an older adult (65 years of age or older) to interview for approximately one hour. Do not choose a family member or someone that you know well for this experience.
You might try to arrange an interview with someone from church, in your neighborhood, the relative of a friend, a co-worker, etc. Conduct the interview face to face. Your visit might focus on a theme (such as physical health, relationships, coping, cultural background and practices, feelings about aging, good resources for the elderly, plans for living arrangements), OR it could be general in nature. Ask questions that elicit values, opinions and feelings. Most people will share their story if they have a willing listener.
Two questions to include in your interview are:
How has he or she changed since they were 25 years old?
Discuss their thoughts on illness and wellness? Has their personal definition of illness and wellness
changed over throughout their life? If so, how?
In addition, address two agencies in your local area that you can use as a referral source to enhance your own nursing practice. Give a brief overview of each agency and explain the opportunities the agency offers for improving health of older adults.
Optional questions are listed below.
After the visit, write a refection paper. Write the paper using APA guidelines. Include a cover page and a reference page. Each section of this paper will be graded on completeness of report, and critical reflection and thought.
Include two scholarly articles to support an idea from this interview. In addition, cite your textbook at least once in your reflection paper.
Optional Interview Questions
- What are the client’s greatest concern/stressors at this time?
- What other stressors/distresses in life at this time? Include those related to: basic growth need deficits; under or over affiliations with others; and insecure attachments (review developmental tasks for this age group)
- Are there any other stressors/distresses that are associated with losses (past or present) in the client’s life (either perceived, actual, or threatened losses, i.e. a history of loss)?
Therapeutic Needs
- What does the client think will help him/her to get well or healthier? Holistically what would he/she do to improve overall health?
Expectations
Immediate Expectations
- What does the client think will happen to him or her today and in the near future? (Regarding primary concern)
Long term expectations
- What does he/she see in their future? Is growth directed? Can client project him or herself into the future? How far?
- What relationship does he/she have with family?
- Is family nearby or accessible in other ways, i.e. telephone, calls, letters? Describe.
- Does the client have supportive friends that are available when needed? Have them discuss this; we aren’t looking for yes/no answers.
Health care system
- What is the client’s perception of the health care system? I.e. Is it perceived to be a resource or a stressor?
- How does the client use the health care system? Or not use the system? Does the health care system support successful aging?
- What does the client perceive that a professional nurse can do to assist him/her?
Internal Resources
- What strengths do they perceive they have?
- What are feeling statements the client makes at present? What have been the client’s patterns of feeling throughout life? Are any of the clients feelings related to loss?
Physiological states
- What are the physiological-need deficits, physical needs that exist? Think how to best ask this.
Successful aging
- What does it mean to age successfully?
