Aging and Age-Related Disorders

Question 1

The average life expectancy in Canada CURRENTLY?

Answer 1

82 years

Question 2

The average life expectancy in 2000?

Answer 2

77 years

Question 3

The average life expectancy in 1980?

Answer 3

74 years

Question 4

What is hearing loss?

Answer 4

• Changes damage to inner ear structure
• Changes in the middle ear and nerve pathways from the ear to the brain
• Long-term exposure to noise

Question 5

What is Muscular Degeneration?

Answer 5

Central portion of you retina (macula) becomes worn

Question 6

What are Cataracts?

Answer 6

Clouding of lens in the eye

Question 7

What issues might these cause? ( Hearing loss) and solutions

Answer 7

Can’t here the questions your asking
- Write it down for them
-Always speak normally until you know there is hearing loss ( lower tones are easier to here, males usually)

Question 8

What issues might these cause? ( Vision loss) and solutions

Answer 8

Don’t know where they are
- Just communicate with them and tell them what’s happening (ex. little bump here)
- Especially cause they are going backwards in an ambulance essentially

Most people know the way around their own home
- Tell them where you put your bags
- Don’t place the bags right at their feet

Question 9

What is Osteoporosis?

Answer 9

-Bone disease
- Decreased mineral density (Calcium)
- Changes to bone structure and strength
- Oestrogen- bone protective

Question 10

Who is Osteoporosis more common in and why?

Answer 10

More in women because menopause increases osteoporosis risk/progression

Question 11

What is Hyperkyphosis?

Answer 11

• ‘Dowager’s Hump’ (hunch back)
• Can be caused by prolonged ‘forward leaning’ posture
  - using a cane, walker etc
• Can be a sign of advanced osteoporosis
  - vertebral collapse (disc shaped)

Question 12

Who is Hyperkyphosis more common in?

Answer 12

Women
Very rare in Men

Question 13

Issues THEY will have with Hyperkyphosis?

Answer 13

Back pain
Neck pain

Question 14

Issues PARAMEDICS will have with pt. with Hyperkyphosis?

Answer 14

Extra pt. issues
Struggle with supine position
C-collar, puts them in even more pain (BLS says anyone over age of 65 who fell from standing must have C-collar) document how you physically could not with this pt.

Question 15

Techniques to use with people who have Hyperkyphosis

Answer 15

Using pillows
Spine (find alternative way to keep them comfortable) MUST DOCUMENT

Question 16

What is Osteoarthritis?

Answer 16

Degenerative breakdown of joints
“Overuse injury”
Common in knees, hips, spine and hands

Pt. will become soft, stiff and lose mobility

Question 17

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Answer 17

Not as common
Autoimmune, inflammatory disease (body destroys it’s own tissues)
Common in hands, wrist, knees, fingers and toes

Pt. will be very swollen, and disease site will be distorted

Question 18

What issues might Rheumatoid Arthritis cause?

Answer 18

Stroke assessment
- signs/symptoms are often in line with a stroke

Question 19

Changes to Body Tissues- SKIN

Answer 19

Skin becomes thin and translucent
Less elasticity
More fragile (bruises VERY easily)
Loss of subcutaneous tissues (no padding, no anchoring for veins)
Longer wound healing (stops regenerating, end of life)
BIG DARK BRUISES
TENTING

Hard to tell if it was Accidental vs. Non- accidental

Question 20

Issues PARAMEDICS will have with skin changes?

Answer 20

No anchoring for veins
adapt IV techniques (third term)

Question 21

Techniques to use with people who have skin changes?

Answer 21

Careful moving them
ECG stickers (gently) remove as soon as possible for them
Seatbelts
BP cuff can bruise easily

Question 22

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Answer 22

Non- insulin dependent
Aging with obesity can lead to insulin resistance
Aging in the absence of obesity can lead to impaired B-cell function

High blood glucose- 10,12,15
Normal- 4-8

Question 23

Issues with Type 2 Diabetes?

Answer 23

May be undiagnosed (insidious onset)
High BGL irritates lining of blood vessels
Damages peripheral nerves (neuropathies)
Coronary artery disease

Can’t feel if they hurt themselves
- CSM
- Black toes
- Can’t feel anything

Question 24

What is Atherosclerosis?

Answer 24

Irritation/damage to vessel walls
Fatty deposits inside vessels
Calcification (hardening) of vessels
Narrowing of vessels

Question 25

Risks associated with Atherosclerosis?

Answer 25

Type 2 Diabetes
Heart Attacks
Strokes
Clots
Ruptures forming

Question 26

Changes to Body Tissues- BRAIN SHRINKING

Answer 26

Shrinks in size
- 5% per decade after age of 40
-Frontal lobe particularly
- Loss of cells (gray matter)
- Demyelination (happens to a degree)
- Loss of cell volume (alcohol use)

Note:
- Myelin sheets–> around neuron lose myelin( jumps and has to travel)

Question 27

Changes to Body Tissues- BRAIN DECLINE

Answer 27

Cognitive decline and diminished brain function
- memory issue
- struggle to learn new things

retaining info
takes roughly 3-4 times to explain and get through to them to understand

Note:
- Old–> ventricles are huge and more susceptible to brain bleeds
- small brain in a bigger

Question 28

What issues might these cause ( BRAIN)

Answer 28

Shrinkage
-Keep repeating things to make sure clear in mind
- Trouble explaining (old age memory loss)

Question 29

2 Types ofBrain Injuries

Answer 29

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Blood vessels get weaker
WHY?
Moves a little, blood vessels rupture