Ageism Flashcards
What is Erikson’s theory of vital aging?
Ego integrity vs. despair: 65 +
ego integrity is acceptance of life in its fullness: the victories and defeats. reaching this stage is gaining wisdom
What is disengagement theory(S)
society and older people engage in mutually beneficial process of reciprocal withdrawal to maintain social equilibrium
What is continuity theory?
states that older adults will usually maintain the same activities, behaviors, personalities, and relationships as they did in their earlier years of life.[1] According to this theory, older adults try to maintain this continuity of lifestyle by adapting strategies that are connected to their past experiences
What is Gerotranscendence theory? (P)
shift from rational and materialistic metaperspectives to a more cosmic and transcendent vision. includes
- decrease self centeredness
- less concern with body and material things
- decreased fear of death
- increased altruism
- increased time in meditation and solitude
- decreased interest in superfluous social interactions
- urge to abandon roles
How do we define pain?
How the individual perceives it
What are the gerontological competencies?
- PHYSIOLOGICAL HEALTH
- OPTIMIZING FUNCTIONAL HEALTH
- RESPONSIVE CARE
- RELATIONSHIP CARE
- HEALTH SYSTEM
- SAFETY AND SECURITY
How do we understand aging?
- Age identity of self
- Perceived age of others
- Chronological age in yearsj
- Functional age- physiology, determinants of health; environment, culture, gender
Threshold of disability
If you remain above the disability threshold you can avoid the compression of health later in life.
- Early life: growth and development
- Adult life: maintaining highest possible level of function
- Older age: maintaining independence and preventing disability
Once below the threshold: rehab and ensuring quality of life
Perceived barriers to achieving health in older adults
- Elders may be pessimistic above their health and ability to improve
- Survival needs may trump the luxury of taking care of yourself
- Environments work more to treat disease than prevent it
- Symptoms are seen as normal aging instead of treatable
- Carers may not believe the elders are capable of learning and implementing behaviors to improve health
What is the wellness approach?
Addressing body, mind, spirit interconnectedness of each older adult as a unique and respected individual
What is aging?
A process that begins at birth, In this context it applies equally to young and old
What is age identity?
“Feel age” or “subjective age”
Someone’s perception of their own age
Perceived age
Estimating age based on appearance
Chronological age?
The Length of time passed since birth
Objective
What is the standard age requirement for retirement
65 years
What are important indicators of age? Functional age
- Psychological health
- Physiological health
- Socioeconomic factors
- And ability to function and participate in desirable activities
What questions can you ask for functional age?
- How well do you feel?
- What goals do you have for improving your level of wellness?
- Is there anything you would like to do but cannot do?
- What goals do you have for improving quality of life?
Three components of successful aging
- An active engagement with life
- High cognitive and physical function
- Low probability of disease and disability
Some ageism stereotypes
- Social isolation
- Psychological rigidity
- Asexual behavior
- Lack of creativity
- Physical and mental decline
- Economic and familial burden
What is aging attribution?
The tendency to attribute problems to the aging process rather than to pathologic and potentially treatable conditions
What is the sandwich generation?
The generation in middle adulthood who are taking care of their children and parents
informal caregiver
provision of assistance to a family member or friend in a nonprofessional and unpaid role to support the person in a community setting.
skipped generation households
when a child under the age of 18 is living with a grandparent with no parents present.
Theories of aging
- biologic age
- sociologic age
- psychological age
what is biologic age?
encompassing measures of functional capacities of vital organ systems
- natural, inevitable and irreversible
- different between everyone
- highlights the need for health promotion to prevent disease and to min the negative effects of aging.
what is sociologic age?
involving the roles and age- graded behaviours of people in response to the society in which they live
what is psychological age?
the ways in which people adapt to environmental demands
what is life span?
the max survival potential for a member of a species, is about 116 in humans
what is life expectancy?
the predictable length of time you will live from a specific time, ie. birth
what is senesncence
post reproductive period
wear and tear theory (B)
attempt to explain the difference between perm plasm cells (reproductive cells) and somatic cells (dying cells).
the theory that the body can be likened to a machine that will function well for a period of time, but will eventually wear down after a period of time.
Cross-linkage theory (B)
molecular structures that are normally separated may be bound together through chemical reactions. natural defense mechanisms repair damage, but as we age this weakens.. leading to tissue and organ failure, protein systems because inelastic and ineffective.
Free Radical theory (B)
highly reactive, oxidized, molecule that binds to anything because it has an extra electron. These damage cells. with age the ability to use antioxidant defenses decreases.
neuroendocrine and immunity theories (B)
understanding that they neuroendocrine system integrates body functions and facilitates adaption to changes in both internal and external environments.
states that aging alters the endocrine system and changes organ function.
immunity theory is that with age your immune system decreases in function
Genetic theories (B)
cells are meant to divide up to 50 times and then stop which means they begin to deteriorate.
Apoptosis Theory (B)
when apoptosis is regulated it is a good thing and balances healthy cells from the bad. Can lose this ability
Caloric restriction theories (B)
reducing calorie intake by 30-40% can increase life span. malnutrition can be beneficial by enhancing ability to protect cells and manage stress. cant be applied to humans with research.
Human needs theory (P)
Maslows heirarchy of needs
levels of needs, the lower ones take priority because without them you cannot reach the higher levels.
principles of gerontological nursing
• Respect for all human beings • Recognition of diversity • Understanding the impact of ageing through life course • Recognition of complexity of age related changes and illness
manifestations of Ageism
- behaviours that distance, ignore, exclude or under represent older adults
- behaviours that are more positive or protective toward older adults than younger adults
- Behaviours that are negative or overtly harmful
Direct ageism
Not offering appropriate testing, assessments and treatments due to age
Indirect ageism
When the criterion used for assessment or treatment disadvantages the elderly
Impact of ageism on the vulnerable population
- belief in inevitable decline produces a sense of helplessness
- increased morbidity and mortality
- over accommodation = poor health outcomes
- elder speak affects self esteem and confidence
- negative stereotypes- messes with the actual function of memory, cardiovascular, will to live and function
Consequences of ageism
- stereotype threat
- decreased motivation
- lack of physical and cognitive activity believed to be a principle cause of the functional decline in elderly
- infantilization
Personal Challenges to reduce ageism
- Attitude adjustment- most important factor in healthy psychological aging
- Identify the myths and mis-information
- go beyond the stereotypes of aging
- learn more about ageism and discrimination
- listen to seniors who have experienced ageism
population health approaches to reduce ageism
- monitor media and respond to ageist material
- speak up about ageism
- watch our language
- talk openly about ageing issues
- build intergenerational bridges to promote better understanding
- provide support for organizations that address ageism
- push for changes from your elected representative
determinants of health and ageing
determinants of active aging (gender and culture)
- economic determinants
- social determinants
- physical environments
- personal determinants
- behavioural determinants
- health and social services
—> active ageing
why is the population ageing?
- birth rates decreasing
- longevity increasing
- medical research
- pharmaceuticals
- baby boomers
what are the Psych-social theories of ageing?
- disengagment theory
- Eriksons theory of vital ageing
- activity theory
- continuity theory
- gerotranscedence theory
what are the Biological theories of ageing?
- the hayflick limit theory of ageing
- the mitochondrial decline theory
- the mitochondrial decline theory
- DNA/genetic theory
- telomerase theory
- wear and tear
- cortisol-hypothalamus loss of regulation
- free radical theory
- the membrane theory of ageing
- the cross linking theory