Elderly care. Automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators.
The automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators (AICD) is a commonly accepted treatment for an increasing number of elderly clients at high risk for ventricular dysrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. With increasingly successful use of AICDs, a unique group of gerontological patients has emerged with special physical, educational, psychosocial, and emotional needs. Gerontological nurses will encounter these clients in acute care settings as well as in home health care, nursing homes, senior citizen centers, and adult day health-care centers. Nurses need basic information about AICDs to plan for the continued care, teaching, guidance, and reassurance of these clients and their families.