Anto Andrijanic
A. Andrijanic - Prendersi cura della persona anziana fragile: specializzarsi per riconoscere le complessità e vedere oltre l’immediato
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Anto Andrijanic, a nurse specialising in geriatrics and gerontology, tells us what it means to care for frail older people and how essential it is to specialise in order to ensure effective care for this type of patient, who requires attention, sensitivity and specific training. This is a commitment that should apply not only to those working strictly within the geriatric field, but to all professionals working in different contexts, where the frailty of older people is nonetheless a constant presence.
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Anto Andrijanic, and I am a nurse specialising in geriatrics and gerontology. I work 90% of the time in the Surgery A ward at the Locarno Regional Hospital, La Carità. In the ward, I mainly care for elderly patients in the pre- and post-operative phases, focusing primarily on clinical monitoring, pain management, dressing and drainage, early mobilisation, prevention of complications and discharge. At the same time, I work 20% as an independent nurse in home care, with a focus on frailty and continuity of care.
Why did you decide to enrol on the DAS in Gerontology and Geriatrics?
I chose to enrol on the DAS in Gerontology and Geriatrics to consolidate my skills in this field in a structured and advanced manner. In the surgical ward, as well as in home care, I deal every day with elderly and, above all, frail patients: people with multiple co-morbidities, reduced functional capacity and complex care needs. In these complex situations, clinical assessment and management must be appropriately adapted from those required for adult patients in ordinary clinical conditions.
A key aspect of the DAS involves improving the management of complex and uncertain situations in the care of older people, by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. How has the training helped you to manage these situations more effectively?
Thanks to this training, I am able to assess frailty and risk factors in a more structured way, which enables me to plan discharges in a more targeted and effective manner. I have also strengthened my ability to prevent complications and to communicate effectively with medical staff and family members, which are essential aspects of working on the ward. In the context of home care, I have developed a greater ability to integrate clinical objectives with the patient’s quality of life, avoiding unnecessary interventions in favour of greater continuity and transparency in the care pathway.
Was there a module, a lesson or an experience that particularly stood out for you during the course?
I was particularly struck by the part of the course devoted to atypical signs and symptoms in older people, as it gave me the tools to interpret clinical presentations at the patient’s bedside in a completely different way. I can now recognise and understand more clearly how, in the most frail patients, a serious condition may present in a less typical manner and without the usual ‘classic’ symptoms.
A concrete example: a urinary tract infection or pneumonia in an elderly patient may occur without causing a fever or obvious pain (the classic symptoms), but may, for example, lead to sudden confusion (delirium), impair mobility, increase the risk of falls or cause a loss of appetite. Being able to recognise these signs early on allows for early intervention, helps avoid complications and enables a better and more targeted management plan to be put in place.