Ageing Flashcards
Define ageing
Ageing is the process of growing older - biological, phsyiological and social
Define life expectancy
statistical measure of how long a person can expect to live
What are the main theories of ageing?
Programmed
Damage/error
What are the challenges of ageing affecting society?
Working life/retirement balance
Extending HEALTHY OLD AGE not just life expectancy
inadequate or absent health service
medical system designed for single acute diseases
What is frailty?
Loss of biological reserve
multiple organ systems
Vulnerability and physiological decompensation and functional decline after a stressor event
What are the non-specific presentations of frailty?
Falls reduced motility recurrent infections confusion weight loss "not coping" iatrogenic harm
What is multimorbidity and what is it addociated with?
Two or more chronic conditions
Worse QoL
more functional impairment
burden of treatment
polypharmacy
What is polypharmacy and what is it associated with?
taking lots of drugs
falls
longer stay
delirium
mortality
What is iatrogenic harm?
adverse drug reactions
nosocomial infections
falls
psychological/ cognitive damage
What assessment is used for older people?
Comprehensive geriatric assessment
multidisciplinary assessment
problem list
plan
What are the key physical and congnitive changes in the brain associated with ageing?
more prominent sulci and ventricles
lose grey and white matter
slower processing of info
can’t divide attention as well
reduced executive functions
What are the key issues with cognitive assessment of older adults?
Hearing and visual impairment may limit testing
physical problems
most assume numeracy, literacy, basic cultural knowledge
depression can masquerade as dementia
not valid in acute illness
normal cognitive changes may affect results
What is frailty associated with?
increased risk of falls
worse disability
care home admission
death
