The patient’s temperature must be taken three times a day, or at least in the morning after awakening and in the evening around 5:00 p.m.. The temperature can be taken in the armpit (axillary), under the tongue (orally) or in the anus (rectally). If exact readings are required, the rectal method must be used.
Pulse and blood pressure checks
High blood pressure must always be treated
The number of beats per minute, their regularity as well as their strength provide important information about heart action. Average values for normal pulse rates in a reclining position are: adults 60 to 80, elderly people 70 to 90. The best place to count a person’s pulse is on the radial artery on the thumb side of either wrist. To count the pulse place the tips of the ring, middle and index fingers on the wrist below the thumb and move them in a massaging movement until you can feel the pulse beat. The beats are counted for 15 seconds with the aid of a watch with a second hand and then multiplied by four to obtain the pulse rate per minute.
The pulse check must be conducted daily; the pulse of severely ill patients must be taken even several times a day. Instructions are provided by the physician. High blood pressure is always dangerous and can lead to myocardial infarction and stroke. High blood pressure must be treated and observed, sometimes requiring daily blood pressure measurement for monitoring
Administration of drugs
When tablets are taken, ensure their correct dosage
The right drug is usually prescribed by the physician. The intake of a prescribed drug must not be discontinued without the physician’s consent. Exception: violent reactions to drugs and their side-effects when the physician is not available.
During a multiple treatment elderly people often lose track of things during intake. Therefore it is necessary to note the order, dosage and time that the respective drug must be taken. The dosage of a drug prescribed by the physician must in no way be changed, i.e. increased or decreased. The time (e.g. before or after meals) and duration (e.g. 5 or 10 days) that a drug must be taken can be of importance to its efficacy.
