Ageing well or not well Flashcards
- Homeostatic reserve (the ability of an organism to stabilise its normal internal environment) is the same in the elderly as in early and middle adult life: True or False
- Disease always presents in the same way in the elderly as it does in younger adults: True or False
- Normal ranges e.g. peak flow rate, are affected by age: True or False
- Drug handling alters with age: True or False
- Treatable disease in the elderly is frequently ascribed to “normal ageing”: True or False
- Define “Ageism”
- Lifestyle changes in old age are not worthwhile as they produce no significant health benefits: True or False
- False.
- False.
- True.
- True.
- True.
- A process of systematic stereotyping and discrimination against people just because they are old.
- False.
- In 2000, the proportion of the world’s population over 60years was 11%. By 2050, it is expected to be:
- A 8% B 15% C 22% D 40%
- In the period 2000 to 2050, the number of people aged 80 and older will increase:
- A 2-fold B 3-fold C 4-fold D 5-fold
- By 2050, what percentage of older people will live in low-income and middle-income countries?
- A 80% B 65% C 50% D 35%
- C 22%
- C 4-fold.
- A 80%.
- In the world’s poorest countries, the “biggest killers” are:
A) Cholera and dysentery
B) Heart disease, stroke and chronic lung disease
C) Malaria
D) Sleeping sickness
- Older people in low-income and middle-income countries carry a greater disease burden than those in the rich world: True or false?
- By 2050, the number of older people who are no longer able to look after themselves is forecast to increase:
A Not at all B 2-fold C 3-fold D 4-fold
B Heart disease, stroke and chronic lung disease.
True.
D 4-fold
What is happening to population pyramids?
Getting wider at the older ages and thinner at younger age. Due to ageing population and reduced fertility rates/desire for childbirth.
Health reasons for increasing life expectancy?
- Increased numbers of geriatricians and health professionals involved in care of the elderly will be required.
- Increased facilities for elderly health care will be required.
- The care of many long term conditions e.g. diabetes, CVD, neurological conditions, renal disease is moving from secondary care to primary/community care. The end stage of these diseases requires as much palliative care as cancer. The prevalence of such diseases will increase as the population ages.
- Specific health promotion campaigns aimed at the elderly.
Social implications of increased life expectancy?
- As the population ages, they will be increasingly dependent on families and/or carers who are also ageing.
- The demand for home carers and nursing home places is likely to increase.
- Within local communities, there will be increasing emphasis on providing social activities for the elderly.
- The role of the elderly as grandparents and carers of grandchildren is likely to change.
- Housing demands are likely to change as more elderly people live alone.
How are poor health and ageing related?
The combined effect of the higher prevalence of Long Term Conditions (Tutorial 1, Year 2) and a population which is proprotionately older and spending more years in poor health is placing considerable pressure on Health Care and Social Care systems in the UK.
Give me some facts about carers:
- 6.5 million people in the UK are carers and this number continues to rise.
- There will be 9 million carers in the UK by 2037
- Every year over 2.1 million adults become carers and almost as many people find that their caring responsibilities come to an end.
- This ‘turnover’ means that caring will touch the lives of most of the population, as we all need or provide care or support family members caring for loved ones at some point in our lives.
What is the impact of caring?
- Half of working age carers live in a household where no-one is in paid work
- Almost 1 in 3 (30%) carers had seen a drop of £20,000 or more a year in their household income as a result of caring.
- A third of carers had cut back on essentials like food and heating (32%)
- 45% of carers said their financial circumstances were affecting their health.
What is the definition of multimorbidity?
“the co-existence of two or more long-term conditions in an individual”
What is the complexity associated with treating eldery patients?
Older patients may have more than one chronic health condition.
This adds complexity to management
For example the preferred treatment for one condition may worsen another.
What are options for care if someone is not able to stay at home?
- Living in own home with support from family
- Living in own home with support from social services
- Sheltered Housing
- Residential Home
- Nursing Home Care
What are Anticipatory care plans?
“Advance and anticipatory care planning, as a philosophy, promotes discussion in which individuals, their care providers and often those close to them, make decisions with respect to their future health or personal and practical aspects of care”
When should ACP be done?
Who should do ACP?
How should it be done?
How can it be shared?
–At any time in life that seems appropriate
–Continuously
–By anyone with an appropriate relationship!
–Thinking Ahead & Making Plans
–Carefully! Write it down
–KIS (Key Information Summary)
–Other communication
What is included in ACP?
- Legal
- Personal
- Medical
Legal:
- Welfare power of attorney
- Financial power of attorney
- Guardianship
Personal:
- Statement of wishes regarding treatment/advance directive
- Next of kin
- Consent to pass on information to relevant others
- Preferences and priorities regarding treatment
- Who else to consult/inform
- Preferred place of death
- Religious and cultural beliefs re death
- Current level of support e.g. family/carers
Medical
- Potential problems
- Home care package
- Wishes re DNA CPR
- Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines
- Communication which has occurred with other professionals
- Details of “just-in-case” medicines
- Electronic care summary
- Assessment of capacity/competence
- Current aids and appliances (helps assess current functional level)
