Ageing Flashcards
what are the main concepts in ageing?
Frailty
multi-morbidity
polypharmacy
non-specific
presentations and the geriatric giants
comprehensive geriatric assessment
multidisciplinary working
what is ageing?
the process of growing older:
- social
- psychological/cognitive
- biological
what is life expectancy?
statistical measure of how long a person can except to live
what are the biological theories of ageing?
programmed ageing - the idea that ageing is genetically programmed to occur with time and this process of deterioration will eventually lead to death.
Damage or error theories - the idea that external or environmental forces gradually damage cells and organs leading to ageing and death.
what are the theories in programmed ageing?
genetic life-span
genetic pre-disposition
telomere theory
specific system theories (neuroendocrine theory)
what are the damage or error theories?
wear and tear
rate of living
waste product accumulation
cross linking
free radical
autoimmune
error
order to disorder
why do people age at different age?
chronical age vs biological age
can we prevent ageing?
No but we can promote healthy eating:
- healthy diet
- exercise
- no smoking
- no alcohol
what is the Uk’s population?
this is an ageing population
the over 85 group is increasing most rapidly.
not just in UK it is all over the world.
why are people living longer?
better support
better lifestyles
better medical intervention
what challenges does society face as a result of ageing?
working life/retirement balance - huge disparity in that group.
caring for older people- lots of the elderly live alone.
extending healthy old age and not just life expectancy- health age is not random but determined
inadequate or absent services - housing is a big issue.
outdated and ageist beliefs/assumptions -frail and dependant are common stereotypes.
medical system designed for single acute diseases
access and connectivity- due to loss of mobility. this leads to loneliness and isolation.
what is the sandwich generation?
people in the 30’s and 40’s who have to look after children and parents –> they are under a large amount of pressure.
what is delayed transfer of care?
when someone is stuck in hospital because they cannot be transported home.
what is frailty?
a physiological syndrome characterized by a decreased reserve and resistance to stressors, resulting from cumulative decline across multiple physiological system and causing vulnerability to adverse outcomes.
how does frailty develop?
genetic and environmental factors which leads to damage to the molecular and cellular system .
as you get older physical activity and nutritional factors play a large role.
if you become frail and you undergo a stressor event you will develop the geriatric giants and this will lead to increased care needs + admission to hospital.
