Developing a training program in mobility rehabilitation for nurses working in the institutions for the older clients

Abstract

For many older people living in the institutional care the goal of maintaining or restoring independent movement is central to their quality of life. The literature suggests that the functional mobility of older persons living in institutional care may be lost due to a variety of factors. Data taken from the Foyer Saint George's Beirut addressed several questions. How knowledgeable are nursing personnel regarding elderly people? What are the myths about aging? What does normal aging mean? Do nurses stereotype the aged? What is the relationship between changing attitude and education? The finding in this long essay reveals that the lack of knowledge may affect quality of care resulting in abuse of elderly people, decrease in quality of life and increase in staff tensions. Nursing is viewed as separate from rehabilitation, therefore, the nurse's role in rehabilitation remains as yet unrealized and undervalued. To address this problem we design the individualized nursing care plan as an educational tool to improve attitudes and skills of service providers when they interact with the elderly and we highlight the need for specific education for the role of the nurse as a rehabilitator and for further research to explore the role