Class 12 - Late Adulthood: Physical Changes Flashcards
What vision changes occur in late adulthood? (4)
- Presbyopia (farsightedness)
- Blind spot on retina, decreasing vision (AMD)
- Pupillary reaction
- Cataracts/glaucoma
What hearing changes occur in late adulthood? (4)
- Presbycusis (hearing loss)
- Tinnitus
- High frequency sounds is iminished
- Word discrimination
What taste changes occur in late adulthood? (4)
- less saliva
- “wholly mouth”
- Flavors seem blander (r/t sense of smell)
- Can result in nutrition issues
What smell changes occur in late adulthood? (2)
- smell deteriorates
- can result in nutritional imbalances
What touch changes occur in late adulthood? (3)
- less responsive to heat and cold
- Reverse proximodistal
- May have safety implications
What does sleep look like in late adults? (4)
- older adults spend more time in stage 1 and 2 of the sleep cycle
- REM sleep is decreased
- sleep deprivation and fragmented sleep
- Insomnia
What are the consequences of decreased REM? (5)
- more time in bed
- reduced total sleep time
- prolonged sleep latency (time to fall asleep)
- more frequent awakenings and increased wakefulness after onset of sleep
- increased daytime naps
What factors cause insomnia? (3)
- most common reason is nocturia and gastroesophageal reflux disease
- sleep apnea
- restless leg syndrome
There are many age-related concerns regarding nutrition and late adulthood. What are some factors that impact nutritional needs? (5)
- lifelong eating habits
- socialization
- income
- transportation
- housing (geography, PCH)
culture ie. fasting
What 2 risk factors contribute to malnutrition?
- Psychosocial risk factors
- Mechanical risk factors
Why is oral health important for nutrition? (2)
- ARC
- xerostomia
What assessments and interventions can you do for oral health for the older adult? (4)
- often neglected
- good oral pracice
- OHAT (oral health assessment tool)
- Dentures = proper care of individuals with dentures