Nurse On Duty

Application of Graceful Ageing

Every day we meet different people with different needs, backgrounds and attitudes. This includes the elderly. In the hospital setting, we encounter them as patients who need care and compassion to help them gain full recovery.

Sister Letty G. Kuan formulated her Graceful Ageing Dissertation/ Theory. There are three concepts in this theory: Acquisition, Struggle, and Legacy. According to her, (Acquisition) past experiences, upbringing, and recognition in childhood is essential to overcome (Struggle) the challenges of daily living in mid-life. If struggles are met Legacy is gained and one will experience a happy and harmonious ageing. Those who had unhappy and unfulfilled childhoods have bitter and difficult ageing. These are the patients that are hard to provide nursing care.

With Sister Kuan’s theory, the nurse can determine and assess a patient and her attitude basing in the Acquisition-Struggle-Legacy concepts. This will provide better understanding on the nurses’ part in respect to the patient’s attitude. With this data at hand, the nurse can plan and intervene appropriately.

Just yesterday I encountered an elderly couple. The wife was admitted due to body weakness and her blood glucose levels have risen. The patient and her husband were so polite so the nurse-patient relationship was very smooth and it was not easy for me to set goals and implement my plan of care.

I have not encountered an elderly patient that is excessively grumpy yet. I can imagine how difficult it would be for a nurse to intervene for them. The nurse should be very careful in letting the patient understand the procedure and in asking for consent. An extra dose of understanding and compassion should be given.

This is where we can appreciate the beauty of Sister Letty Kuan’s Graceful Ageing. With it we can understand the nature of the elderly’s attitude. This will be our guide in providing care for them.

Sister Kuan’s theory however, is not only applicable to ill patients, but among all retirees. This will be our gauge on how to deal with all elders whether ill or well alike.  

   

Charles Joseph Yu Verano