A health problem that primarily affect the older adult population.
Sample Solution
PowerPoint Presentation: Rheumatoid Arthritis in Older Adults
Slide 1: Title Slide
Title: Rheumatoid Arthritis in Older Adults: Navigating Complexity with Compassionate Care
Subtitle: An Advanced Practice Nursing Perspective
Presenter: [Your Name/Nurse Practitioner Student] Date: June 25, 2025
Slide 2: Introduction & Learning Objectives
Title: Understanding RA in the Geriatric Population
Content:
- Brief overview of the aging demographic and the increasing burden of chronic inflammatory diseases.
- Introduce Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) as a systemic autoimmune disease primarily affecting joints, but with significant extra-articular manifestations.
- Highlight the unique challenges and presentations of RA in older adults.
Learning Objectives: By the end of this presentation, Advanced Practice Nurses will be able to:
- Describe the incidence, prevalence, and distinct pathophysiology of Rheumatoid Arthritis in older adults.
- Educate on comprehensive assessment strategies, including genetic/genomic considerations, for geriatric RA.
- Discuss evidence-based pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options tailored for older adults.
- Formulate patient-centered education plans incorporating management, cultural, and spiritual considerations for geriatric RA patients.
Speaker Notes: "Good morning/afternoon, colleagues. Today's session will focus on a significant challenge in gerontology: Rheumatoid Arthritis in older adults. While RA can affect people of all ages, its presentation, progression, and management in the elderly population carry unique complexities. Our goal today is to equip ourselves with the knowledge and tools to provide truly comprehensive and compassionate care to these patients."
Slide 3: Incidence & Prevalence of RA in Older Adults
Title: The Scope of Geriatric RA
Content:
- Incidence: While RA can present at any age, there's a bimodal distribution with a peak incidence in middle age and a second, smaller peak in older adults, often termed Late-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis (LORA), typically after age 60.
- Prevalence: Affects approximately 0.5-1% of the global adult population.
- Prevalence increases with age, though the rate of new diagnoses might slightly decrease after age 70 compared to 60s.
- Estimates suggest up to 30% of all RA cases are LORA.
- Affects women more than men overall, but the male-to-female ratio tends to equalize in LORA.
- Contributes significantly to disability and reduced quality of life in the elderly.