chronic illness associated with the aging process

Question 1

physical health and aging process

Answer 1

• muscles and bone weakness, less flexible and can be painful
• muscles of the diaphragm weaker resulting in shallow breathing
• muscles in the alimentary canal weakened and digestion is less efficient
• muscles in the digestive tract becomes less efficient increasing the risk of constipation
• impairment of legs, hips, back and spine
• sense of balance impaired
• taste and smell can deteriorate
• eye loses elasticity making it difficult to focus and leading to visual disturbance
• hearing becomes impaired
• nutrients from food are not as well absorbed as they were
• more prone to fractures / breaks due to bones becoming lighter and more brittle

Question 2

social health and aging process

Answer 2

• when older people retire they may lose contact with colleagues they worked with causing social isolation
• if a partner or close friend dies the chances of the individual becoming depressed is high and may not feel like socialising
• due to a decline in mobility they may not be able to take part in certain activities or hobbies they once enjoyed
• Alzheimer’s disease affects interaction with family and friends
• reduced income or health problems may prevent older people meeting others
• on the other hand they may find their social life improves due to more free time

Question 3

psychological health and aging process

Answer 3

• risk of dementia increases, leading to severe memory loss affecting individuals self-esteem and sense of worth
• older people are more likely to suffer from depression due to low self-esteem and loneliness due to bereavement or feeling like a burden
• life events such as death or partner or child can increase stress levels
• on the other hand some people feel a senses of fulfilment due to life’s achievements

Question 4

physical effects of osteoarthritis

Answer 4

• can cause moderate to severe pain levels therefore reducing mobility eg knee pain may stop you from driving and causing loss of autonamy
• knee or hip pain may make it harder to exercise due to inflammation and swelling. this can lead to obesity and weight gain, which increases risk of diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease
• will experience more falls due to reduced co-ordination and pain and can cause injury or fracture

Question 5

social effects of osteoarthritis

Answer 5

• may not be able to move as well and may require a mobility aid due to stiffness or pain in joints. this can make it harder to enjoy day-to-day activities and affect their ability to continue with hobbies with friends resulting in a breakdown of relationships and makes them harder to maintain.
• pain levels may increase as the day progresses and may avoid going out much which restricts their interactions and can result in losing a sense of community
• individual may experience isolation as they become housebound due to fear of falling and lack of mobility when out in public

Question 6

psychological effects of osteoarthritis

Answer 6

• mobility issues can cause an individual to become housebound leading to limited social contacts may cause them to feel depressed and lonely
• experience a range of emotions eg anxiety / worry about progressions of the disease
• experience low self-esteem due to feeling like a burden to other family members, and a loss of independence increases risk of depression