Aging I Flashcards

1
Q

Name a few transitions that elderly people may go through.

A
  1. loss of independence
  2. loss of spouse and friends
  3. retirement
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2
Q

Name 3 categories of loss elderly people experience.

A
  1. physical
  2. cognitive
  3. socioemotional
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3
Q

What is the most damaging loss that an older person can experience?

A

people losses

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4
Q

What are two negative affects losing people can have on an older person?

A
  1. isolate the older person

2. diminish number of meaningful relationships and may make the older person scared to develop new relationships

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5
Q

In order for an older person to successfully age what are 3 things they must do? and give examples

A
  1. integrate loss into their lives (ie. after a stroke walk with a cane or walker)
  2. deal with them effectively (ie. counselling, support groups or talk with family)
  3. move on
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6
Q

What are some coping strategies that can be used?

A
helping others
making new friends
adopting a pet
maintaining sense of humor
avoiding isolation and self pity
maintain independence
setting goals
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7
Q

Name some factors affecting older adults ability to cope with loss.

A
age
past experience with loss
previous coping methods
existing support systems
state of health
spiritual beliefs
ability to maintain some control over related factors
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8
Q

What is gerontology?

A

scientific approach to all aspects of aging

most often a multi-disciplinary approach

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9
Q

What are 5 categories of gerontology?

A
health
sociological
economic
behavioural
environmental
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10
Q

What is geriatrics?

A

sub field of gerontology

studies the medical aspects of old age

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11
Q

What 5 aspects is geriatrics concerned with?

A
  1. preventative
  2. clinical
  3. remedial
  4. rehabilitative
  5. continuous surveillance
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12
Q

What is prejudice and stereotypes of the elderly classified as?

A

ageism

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13
Q

What is an attitude people might exhibit if they are using ageism?

A

derogatory attitude

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14
Q

What might characteristics might some people think of when they think of an elderly person?

A

sick
senile
useless
burden to our economy

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15
Q

Where does ageism stem from?

A

Our societies anxiety re: aging and our cultural emphasis on youth, beauty and vigor

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16
Q

What are the 2 categories that ageism presents?

A
  1. covert / subtle

2. active / negative

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17
Q

What might some actions be of someone who is presenting with subtle ageism?

A
  1. appears as positive concern for elderly
  2. portrays elderly as helpless victims who need help
  3. perpetuated by educated people, professionals, elderly advocates
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18
Q

What might some actions be of someone who is presenting with negative ageism?

A
  1. denied jobs
  2. given inadequate financial support
  3. limited social services available
  4. mandatory retirement
19
Q

What are some consequences of ageism?

A
  1. missing out on someones experiences and knowledge in life

2. creation of inaccurate & distorted views of aging

20
Q

What is the counter reaction to failure model that defines a person with unique qualities but are not set apart from normal humanity?

A

Normal person model

21
Q

What is the counter reaction to failure model that views aging as time of growth, increased function rather than failure?

A

Personal growth model

22
Q

What are some other consequences of ageism?

A
  1. may not be hired for jobs
  2. referred to as “cute”
  3. shunned socially - perceived as being senile or boring
  4. edged out of family life by children
23
Q

What is the maximum number of years an individual can live called?

A

lifespan

24
Q

What is the number of years that will probably be lived by the average person born in a particular year?

A

life expectancy

25
Q

What is the life expectancy of men vs. woman in canada?

A
  1. 4 years for men

80. 8 years for woman

26
Q

Why has there been an increase of “graying in canada”?

A
  1. increased birth rate in late 19th and mid 20th century
  2. high immigration rates in 20th century
  3. post WW2 baby boom
  4. decreased death rate in childhood & early adulthood
27
Q

What has contributed to an increased life expectancy?

A
  1. medical advances (ie. vaccines)
  2. treatment of diseases which were formerly fatal
  3. longer life expectancy but living with more chronic illnesses than ever before
28
Q

What percentage of elderly live in institutions?

A

8-10%

29
Q

What percentage of people aged 65-69 live in institutions?

A

2%

30
Q

What are two categories of aging theories?

A
  1. micorbiological

2. macrobiological

31
Q

What do microbiological theories look at?

A

look within the body’s cells to explain aging

32
Q

Name the two microbiological theories?

A
  1. cellular clock theory

2. free radical theory

33
Q

What does the cellular clock theory believe?

A

cells can divide a maximum of about 75-80 times and that as we age the cells become increasingly less capable of dividing - telomeres shorten

34
Q

Which theory does the cellular clock theory believe in? and describe it

A

nonstochastic theory

genetically programmed physiological mechanisms within the body control the process of aging

35
Q

What does the free radical theory believe?

A

age because inside our cells metabolism produce unstable oxygen molecules known as free radicals. These molecules damage DNA and other cellular structures.

36
Q

Which theory does the free radical theory fall back on? and describe it

A

stochastic theory

random cellular damage over time

37
Q

What do macrobiologcal theories look at?

A

examine life at a more global level than the cellular level

38
Q

What theory states that aging in the body’s hormonal system can lower resilience to stress and increase the likelihood of disease?

A

Hormonal stress theory

39
Q

What diseases are associated with prolonged increased hormone levels?

A

cardiovascular disease
cancer
diabetes
hypertension

40
Q

What is described as a normal process of aging no matter how we take care of ourselves?

A

primary aging

41
Q

What is described age declines that are pathological and result from extrinsic factors such as drinking and smoking?

A

secondary aging

42
Q

Describe the social breakdown model

A
  1. society views elderly as incompetent
  2. society develops labels for elderly
  3. society provides inadequate support
  4. elderly’s skills atrophy
  5. elderly labels self as incompetent
43
Q

Describe the social reconstruction model

A
  1. society views elderly as competent
  2. society develops positive labels
  3. society provides adequate support
  4. elderly’s skills improve
  5. elderly labels self as competent