RT Journal
A1 Ruskin PE
T1 AGing and caring
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 1997
FD December 8
VO 157
IS 22
SP 2672
OP 2672
DO 10.1001/archinte.1997.00440430154033
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1997.00440430154033
AB I WAS INVITED to present a lecture to a class of graduate nurses who were studying the "Psychosocial Aspects of Aging." I started my lecture with the following case presentation:The patient is a white female who appears her reported age. She neither speaks nor comprehends the spoken word. Sometimes she babbles incoherently for hours on end. She is disoriented about person, place, and time. She does, however, seem to recognize her own name. I have worked with her for the past six months, but she still does not recognize me.She shows complete disregard for her physical appearance and makes no effort whatsoever to assist in her own care. She must be fed, bathed, and clothed by others. Because she is edentulous, her food must be puréed, and because she is incontinent of both urine and stool, she must be changed and bathed often. Her shirt is generally soiled