Older Adult Respiratory Assessment
Published: 05 April 2020
Published: 05 April 2020
When presented with a critically ill patient, it is crucial to conduct a systematic assessment of that person in order to identify and respond appropriately to any potentially life-threatening conditions (Smith & Bowden 2017).
When conducting a respiratory assessment, it is important to monitor changes in vital signs in order to recognise a deteriorating patient. You need to be familiar with what is normal so that you can distinguish what is abnormal (ACSQHC 2019).
Although the assessment procedure for older adults is similar to the one used for younger adults, there are some physiological differences between the two age groups that should be considered.
Generally, breathing and heart rates (resting) do not change much with age (MedlinePlus 2018). For a healthy, average adult, the normal rates are:
(MedlinePlus 2019)
Although vital signs do not change much with age, there is a gradual decline of lung function over time, starting from about the age of 35 (American Lung Association 2018).
The following are some of the physical changes related to ageing that may cause lung function decline:
(American Lung Association 2018)
These changes may cause tiredness or shortness of breath. Furthermore, a weaker immune system means older adults are more susceptible to developing pneumonia (American Lung Association 2018).
These changes are natural over time, however, they should be gradual and subtle. Sudden changes should be assessed by a health professional (American Lung Association 2018).
Causes of respiratory distress may include:
(Healthdirect 2019; Australian DoH 2020)
(University of Rochester Medical Center n.d., Resuscitation Council UK 2015)
If the older adult has a cognitive impairment such as dementia, it may be difficult for them to communicate, especially in emergency situations. Therefore, it is crucial to assess for the physical symptoms above in case the patient is not able to verbalise their needs (Dementia Australia 2017).
Early recognition of respiratory distress and deficit is vital to the successful management of sick patients and the prevention of further deterioration or arrest. In order to manage respiratory distress, it is important to have a systematic approach to assessment (Smith & Bowden 2017).
The ABCDEs approach - Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability and Exposure - is a simple and effective method of assessment.
When assessing the airway, you should consider the following:
(Resuscitation Council UK 2015)
When assessing the breathing, you should consider the following:
(Resuscitation Council UK 2015)
Refer to How To Assess a Deteriorating / Critically Ill Patient (ABCDE Assessment) for a comprehensive explanation of the ABCDE assessment process.
You need to be aware of what is normal before you can recognise what is abnormal. It’s helpful to establish a baseline to compare progress or deterioration. Use a systematic approach, such as ABCDE.
The goal of assessment is not to make a diagnosis but to identify a deteriorating patient and respond to the symptoms in order to prevent arrest. Consider oxygen, suction and medication depending on the assessment (Resuscitation Council UK 2015).
Following the initial assessment (and resuscitation if required), a secondary structured assessment should be undertaken to identify any other key signs or symptoms (Resuscitation Council UK 2015).
When assessing the airway, the life threat to identify is airway obstruction. This is a medical emergency that may result in hypoxia, damage to the brain, kidneys or heart, cardiac arrest or death. It requires prompt management so that the patient can be oxygenated (Resuscitation Council UK 2015).
(Subscribers Only)
Question 1 of 3
True or false? Respiration and heart rates do not change much with age.
Start an Ausmed Subscription to unlock this feature!
Abbie is a Nurse Practitioner currently working in a Specialist Allergy Clinic in Brisbane. She has been a paediatric nurse for over 20 years originally working in the UK before moving to Australia with her young family 8 years ago. Abbie has a diverse career working with some of the most vulnerable patients. She has worked in paediatric oncology , emergency and general paediatrics. She has worked for NGO's in the fields of child protection and parental support as well as currently working with re- settled refugees. Abbie is a passionate nursing advocate and has just started the new challenge of blogging. See Educator Profile
Ausmed’s Editorial team is committed to providing high-quality and thoroughly researched content to our readers, free of any commercial bias or conflict of interest. All articles are developed in consultation with healthcare professionals and peer reviewed where necessary, undergoing a yearly review to ensure all healthcare information is kept up to date. See Educator Profile