Nursing Care in Older Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Nurses’ Roles That Should Not Be Overlooked

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis in older adults. The symptoms of the disease cannot be clearly identified because they are often similar to other types of arthritis. As a result, older adults with rheumatoid arthritis received treatment and nursing care that may not fit their problems resulting in dysfunctional joints. Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain, fatigue, insomnia, disability, poor balance, and decreased activities of daily living. These effects lead to falling. In addition, fear of falls leads to limitation of activities resulting in reduction of quality of life. Therefore, the important nurses’ roles that should perform before dysfunction of joints includes 1) managing pain, 2) preventing dysfunction of joints 3) reducing the fatigue 4) enhancing activities of daily living, and 5) promoting self-esteem. These nurses’ roles can promote older adults with rheumatoid arthritis in increasing self-confidence, reducing the burden of family, community, and society as well as reduction of the medical expenses.