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Aging:
What It Is and What It Is NOT 3
Inservice or Class Hours Objectives: At the end of this class, you should be able to:
Introduction There are more aging people in the United States than every before. Many
people say it is the “Graying of America”. We have learned a lot about these
people and their needs in the last few years. Many old people are young in body
and mind. Some are not. All old people are not all the same. They are
different. They all have different needs. This class will teach you about aging and the normal changes of aging. To
learn about the problems of aging people and their care, take our classes“Aging: Common Problems and Care I: Skin,
Nails, Muscles, Bones and Respiration”, “Aging: Common Problems and Care II:
Heart, Blood, Digestion (GI), Urine Tract, and Nervous
System”, and “Aging: Common Problems
and Care III: Eyes, Ears, Taste, Smell, Reproductive and Endocrine Systems,
Thinking and Emotions, Social and Legal Aspects”. Are All “Old” People
the Same?
All of us know “old” people. It may be a parent. It may be a grandparent.
It may be a neighbor or a person from church. It may also be the person that
you take care of. Think for a minute about these “old” people. Are they all the
same? Or, are they different? Think about how they all are in a physical way.
Are they all in poor health? Think about how they are in a mental way. Are they
all confused? Think about how they are in a social way. Do they go out or do
they all stay alone in their home? Think about how they are in terms of money.
Are they all poor? Do all “old” people have the same spiritual needs? Are they
different or, are they all the same? Are
all “old” people set in their ways? Or, are some different? Think about all of
the “old people that you know. Make a list. How are they the same and how are
they different? I think that they are different in many ways and the same in
only a few ways. Not all “old” people are the same. Not all “old” people have
the same needs. Not all “old” people want to be treated the same. We must care
for them in different ways. We must also communicate with them in different
ways, as based on their own special needs. What is “Old”? The meaning of the word “old” is always changing, as more and more people
get old and live longer than ever before. Some people use these words for these
ages: 60 to 74 Young-old 75 to 84 Middle-old 85 and older Old-old 55 to 64 Older 65 to 74 Elderly 75 to 84 Aged 85 and older Very
aged Even though people of these ages are referred to as old-old, aged, etc.,
it still does not mean that all people of a certain age are the same. They may
have many differences. Some Basic Terms Geriatrics – special medical care and treatment for the older
adult
Gerontology
– the study of the older adult Gerontophobia – a fear of aging and that lack of
acceptance of older adults
Ageism – a dislike of older adults; age discrimination
Tell Me More About
Older People ·
The number of old people increased by 4.3 million
people from 1999 and 2009,. ·
More than 1 in 8 people in America are old. ·
People who live to 65 will live about another 18
years. ·
There are more older women
than older men. ·
More older men, rather than women, are
married. ·
About ½ of older women live alone. About one half of
older women (49%) age 75+ live alone. ·
Nearly 475,000 people over 65 care for their grand
children. ·
The number of old people will rise to 55 million in
2020 which is a rise of 36% over 2010. ·
The number of people 85 and over will increase to
6.6 million in 2020, which is a rise of 15% over 2010. ·
The average income for older men is $25,877 and
$15,282 for older women. Social Security is the biggest income for these people. ·
80%
of older people own their own home. 20% rent their home. ·
17.2
% of those 65 and older still work. ·
About
41.6% of older people, NOT living in a health care place, say that their health
was very good. ·
About
37% of old people have some form of a minor or major problem such as vision,
hearing, walking, etc. How
Do You Feel About Aging and Aging People It is important for you to look at yourself and how you feel about older
people before you start learning about this group of people. Do you have
negative feelings about them? Are you guilty of ageism? Many people place a great value on youth, beauty and wealth. People tend
to think less of those who are NOT young, beautiful or rich. It is very hard
for young people to even know what it is like to be old until they, too, age. They also may fear it. Some 20 and 30 year
olds are using special creams to fight off wrinkles. Some young people in their
30s are getting facelifts. Many young people try many things to fight off
aging. Also, many old people use and do many things to look younger. They do not
want to look “old”. They want to look younger. Gray hair goes away with hair
dye. Wrinkles go away with plastic surgery. Skin looks younger and fresher with
make up. Some people and cultures say that aging is NOT wanted and others say that
aging is a good thing. Some people believe that old people have more wisdom and
value than young people. Aging is good for these people. Why Are People Living Longer and Longer? People are living longer and longer ever since our earliest times. At the
time of the birth of Jesus, the average person lived 20 years. To live until 40
was rare. At the time of the birth of the United States in 1776, the average
life was 35 and it was rare to see a person that was 60 or more. By the time of
our Civil War (1860), the average life span was 40. During the year 2000, life
expectancy increased to over 70 years of age and that age is still increasing. There are several reasons for this increase of life span. Babies are
living even when they are very small or ill. Before, they died. Deadly
infections and diseases have been wiped out with vaccines and drugs. People do
not get smallpox any more because they get the vaccine. Many people in the past
died from it. People can fight off infections like strep and the flu with good
medical care and drugs. People with long term chronic illness, like diabetes
and heart disease, can live long with good care and drugs. All of these things
used to kill people at young ages. Now, people prevent these things (smallpox)
or they get good treatment and care (diabetes and heart disease). Why Do People Get Old? There is no fountain of youth. People, all people, age. Some say that
people begin to age as soon as they are born. It is a long process. No one knows
for sure why people age, but some have some thoughts about it. Biological
Aging Some people say that people age because the cells of the body change or
“age” over time. The person may have their own “biological clock”. This clock
keeps ticking as the cells of the body and the body itself changes. For
example, a woman reaches menopause; hair turns gray; and the skin changes.
Others people believe that the body just runs out of healthy genes. Harmful
genes then take over to produce the signs of aging. Still more believe that DNA
damage, radiation and a break down of our immune system lead to aging.
Recently, “free radicals” have been found to perhaps lead to aging.
Antioxidants (vitamins A, B, C, C, folic acid) lower these “free radicals”. Psycho-Social
Aging Some
believe that people age for a number of things NOT having to do with the human
body. These people believe that people age because they:
Myths
About Aging There are many things said about older people that are just not true.
Some of these false myths are below:
Now, here is the truth about older people. All old
people are NOT the same. Often the age of the person is not the best way to
know about the person, their strengths and weaknesses. Some 90-year-old people
exercise daily; some take college courses; some are very active in their area
(church, civic groups, politics, etc.). Aging does not affect our personality.
It remains about the same. Old people keep these personality differences as
they age. Happy old people who liked to talk as a young person continue to be
happy and talkative as they age. Old people
can still learn and they are not always “forgetful”. Aging does not mean that
the person can not learn. Their long-term memory stays good for most. Some have
short-term memory problems but they cope with this and can learn. They may
“think things out” more than when they were younger. My own Father took college
courses, and passed, when he was in his late 80s. The mental functions of older
people should stay the same. Confusion is NOT a normal sign of aging. Many old
people are NOT sick and frail. Some are very healthy and with no disability. For
example, Jack LaLanne is still physically active in his mid 90s. Older people
can, and should, exercise on a daily basis. Healthy aging involves many things,
including a good diet and exercise. Although some older people may need some
assistance because they have some disability, many more are NOT dependent on
others. Old people
do NOT have to lose their teeth. Good dental care is needed. Socially, NOT all
old people are lonely, alone and withdrawn. They remain active. Most old people are NOT alone. More than ½ of people
who are 65 and older live with a spouse or with other family members. Less than
one out of five live alone. Also, many old people remain active and involved
with family, friends and other friends. Some may enter a senior group home or
an assisted living place with lots of activities. Retire at 65? Not the case at all. Look at these
people, their age and what they are doing.
And, the list can go on and on. The
Special Needs of the Older Person
As you learned, not all people are the same, but some, or many, older people may have some of these health problems.
Success with aging has these parts:
Normal Changes With Older People Physical Changes
Skin,
Hair and Nails Some of the normal skin changes are: · The skin becomes more fragile. Skin tears may happen. · Rashes are more common. Contact with some soaps and “make up” can lead to rashes. · The skin may become more pale. The person may be more prone to bad sunburn. · “Age spots” or “liver spots” may appear. · Skin tags may appear, mostly on the neck. · The skin may become more thin. Wrinkles appear. · Dry skin may occur. · The hair gets gray and faded. · Hair thins on the head, under the arms and in the pubic area. · Nose and ear hair becomes thicker and more visible. · Facial hair for women may appear. · Finger nails and toe nails get thick. · The sweat glands in the skin slow down. The person may not tolerate hot rooms because this “cooling” (sweat) slows down. · Red, purple or brown spots may begin on the arms and legs. Take our course “ Aging: Common Problems and Care I ” to learn more about these changes, some common problems of the skin, hair and nails, and patient care. Muscles
and Bones
Some of the normal bone and muscle changes are: · The bones lose calcium. · Bones get weaker and thinner. · The disks of the spine get smaller so some will have a curve in the spine and lose a couple of inches in their height. · The joints get less flexible and less mobile. · Muscle tone gets less. · Muscle mass gets lower. · As muscle mass gets lower, fat builds up. Take our course “ Aging: Common Problems and Care I” to learn more about these changes, some common problems of the bones and muscles, and patient care. Respiratory
System
Some of the normal respiratory systems changes are: · The nose gets more dry. · The vocal cords lose their elastic so the voice of the person may change. · Lung capacity may decrease. · Breath sounds decrease. · Lower air moving out as the person breathes out. · An increase in the amount of air held in the lungs as the person breathes. Take our course “ Aging: Common Problems and Care I” to learn more about these changes, some common problems of the respiratory system, and patient care. Heart
Some of the normal heart changes are: · Loss of heart muscle tone. · Increased size of the heart muscle. · A larger left side of the heart. · Less elasticity of the heart and blood vessels. · Lower output from the heart. · Greater deposits in the blood vessels. · Lower pulse. Take our course “ Aging: Common Problems and Care II” to learn more about these changes, some common disorders of the heart, and patient care. Blood Some of the normal blood changes are: ·
The blood gets thicker. ·
A small drop in the red blood cells and white
blood cells. ·
The T cells get less effective. Take our course “ Aging: Common Problems and Care II” to learn more about these changes, some common problems of the blood, and patient care. Digestion
(GI)
Some of the normal GI changes are: ·
The gums pull back from the teeth so the teeth
may get loose. ·
Increase in the number of cavities. ·
Less feelings of thirst. ·
Poor gag reflex. ·
Less muscle tone at the end of the esophagus to
the stomach. ·
Less saliva. ·
Less stomach digestion. ·
Slower movement of the GI tract. ·
Smaller liver size. ·
Lower stomach mucus production. Take our course “ Aging: Common Problems and Care II ” to learn more about these changes, some common problems of the GI system, and patient care. Urine Some of the normal urinary changes are: · The kidneys get smaller. · The kidneys lose some of their function. · Lower blood flow to the kidneys. · The concentration of the urine decreases. · The bladder gets smaller. · Less holding power of the bladder. · Loss of bladder muscle tone. · Loss of bladder elasticity. · Slower and/or lower feeling of the need to void. · More urine at night. · Prostate in men gets larger. Take our course “ Aging: Common Problems and Care II” to learn more about these changes, some common problems of the urine system, and patient care. Nervous
System
Some of the normal nervous system changes are below. · The brain gets smaller. · The brain weighs less. · Blood flow to the brain gets lower. · Reflexes get slower. · A decrease in the number of nerves in the brain and the entire body. Take our course “ Aging: Common Problems and Care II ” to learn more about these changes, some common problems of the nervous system, and patient care Eyes
Some of the normal eye changes are: · Less able to focus. · The eyelids sag. · Eyelashes get thin, short and less. · A gray area around the edges of the cornea. · People get far sighted. They cannot see things that are close to them. · Lower eye muscle tone. · Less tears. · Decrease in eye muscle elasticity so things may be blurry to the person. Take our course “ Aging: Common Problems and Care III ” to learn more about these changes, some common problems of the eyes, and patient care. Hearing
Some of the normal ear changes are: · Thinner ear membrane. · Less able to hear higher tones as well as they did in the past. · Less ear wax in the outer ear. · The parts of the inner ear shrink. Take our course “ Aging: Common Problems and Care III” to learn more about these changes, some common problems of the ears, and patient care. Taste
and Smell
Some of the normal taste and smell changes are: · Less taste buds. · Less nose scent cells. Take our course “ Aging: Common Problems and Care III ” to learn more about these changes, some common problems of taste and smell, and patient care. Endocrine
(Glands) System Some of these normal changes are: · Less growth hormone (less muscle mass). · Lower thyroid function. · Less insulin. · Less parathyroid function. Take our course “ Aging: Common Problems and Care III ” to learn more about these changes, some common problems of the glands, and patient care. Reproductive
System Some of these normal changes for women (vagina) are: · Lower estrogen and lower moisture. · Low elasticity. · Less pubic hair. · Increase in alkaline fluid in the area. . Some of these normal changes for men are: · Lower testosterone. · Lower circulation to the penis. Take our course “ Aging: Common Problems and Care III ” to learn more about these changes, some common problems of this system, and patient care. Thinking and Emotional Changes As stated before, not all old people have a mental problem or confusion. These things are NOT a normal change. Most are fine in terms of their thinking, learning and communication, but some have a disease or problem that affects these things. Some of these problems are things like Alzheimer’s and some drugs. It is also known that the personality of the person does not change, as the person gets old. Lastly, most old people are happy with life for the most part. The person copes well if they have done so during their earlier life. Take our course “ Aging: Common Problems and Care III ” to learn more about these changes, some common problems thinking problems, and patient care. Social Changes and Needs There are many social changes and needs for old people. Many of these are related to the fact that loved ones, both friends and spouses, may have died. Others miss working after they retire. Others may have a physical problem that does not let them to be with others as they used to do. For example, some old people lose their sight so they are not able to drive their car; some may have muscle weakness so they can not take long walks as they used to. Take our course “ Aging: Common Problems and Care III ” to learn more about these changes, some common social problems, and patient care. Legal Needs
The
elderly also have their own legal needs. Some of these special needs are: · Maintaining rights and dignity · Advanced directives · Health care proxy · Power of attorney Take our course “ Aging: Common Problems and Care III ” to learn more about these legal needs and patient care. Summary The
body and its functions change as life moves along. This class has covered some
of the NORMAL changes associated with the aging process. To
learn about how these, and abnormal changes of the aging, impact on patient
care, take our classes “Aging:
Common Problems and Care I: Skin, Nails, Muscles, Bones and Respiration”,
“Aging: Common Problems and Care II: Heart, Blood, Digestion (GI), Urine Tract,
and Nervous System”, and “Aging:
Common Problems and Care III: Eyes, Ears, Taste, Smell, Reproductive and
Endocrine Systems, Thinking and Emotions, Social and Legal Aspects”. References National Institute on Aging, U.S. National Library of Medicine US Administration on Aging. (2010). A Profile of Older Americans:
2010.
http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Aging_Statistics/Profile/2010/2.aspx Word,
Gloria Hoffmann. (2008). Basic Geriatric Nursing.
Mosby, Inc. Copyright © 2011 Alene Burke TAKE THE TEST |
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