Exam 1 Flashcards
Geron (Greek)
Old man
Gerontology
the scientific study of the process of aging and the problems of aged persons (mental, physical, social)
geriatrics
the branch of medicine that deals with the diseases and treatments of older people
elite-old
100+ years
chronological age
the number of years lived
biological age
the age of the organs
psychological age
how old one feels
social age
ones roles and relationships
age is (subjective or objective)
SUBJECTIVE (varies with time, place, and perception)
nonagenarian
90+
centenarian
100+
most people 100+ are
female (77%)
33% have no signs of dementia
baby boomer
born between 1946-1964
“boom” after WWII
current elder population
fastest growing older adult age group
85+
more (men or women) live in poverty
women
two types of life tables
cohort (generation)
period (current)
cohort age
generational expectancy
period life table
at this time going forward how long you’re expected to live
most frequently used life table statistic
life expectancy/period (based on current age)
the average number of years of life remaining for x persons who have attained a given age
caring for aging population mission
preserve function (preventative)
enhance health
enhance quality of life
enhance dying experience (end of life care)
research in the aging population
innovation in care
provision of services
hot topics of research: dementia, reduce falls, use of restraints, pain management, delirium, end of life care
demand in nursing (geriatric)
demand in nursing is critical for gerontological nurses because there is a growing geriatric population
health is
absence of disease
the concept of wellness incorporates
all aspects of one’s being
physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, cultural, environmental
the wellness model suggests that
every person has an optimum level of functioning for each position on the wellness continuum to achieve a good and satisfactory existence
objectives set (elderly health)
dementia foodborne illness infectious disease injury prevention oral conditions osteoporosis respiratory disease sensory or communication disorders
primary disease prevention
preventing disease (teaching, stress management, social engagements, cognitive stimulation, immunizations)
secondary disease prevention
evidence-based screenings and guidelines (catching early)
senescence
condition/process of deterioration with age
latin - “to grow old”
cellular functioning
cells replicate but not exactly
become more complex, changes, more accumulation of damage every time they replicate - eventual cell death
error theories
aging is the result of accumulation of random errors in the synthesis of DNA and RNA (unpredictable)
wear and tear theory
- breaking down results from wearing out from continued use
- progressive decline in cellular function or increased cell death
- cells are aggravated by internal and external stressors
- destroyed by chemical and mechanical injuries (often done to ourselves)
- falls under error theory
why do we age?
- capacity is set at ~90 years
- exact mechanisms are poorly understood
- cellular changes = aging
- degeneration, cell death (cellular = organism)
role (successful aging)
- adapting/adjusting to changing roles
- ready to fulfill new role, sense of purpose (e.g., ready to retire)
- resistance may predict poor adjustment
purpose of activity
maintaining productive life (physical, mental)
disengagement
transferring control to younger generations (successful aging)
- society disengages from elderly and the elderly disengages from society
- ability to interact with society (cognitive, physical)
continuity
maintaining and continue previous behaviors and role or finding adequate replacements
modernization
older people lose power and status due to advances in technology (controversial)
age gratification
people of similar age/cohort have the most similar interests
Erikson
developmental theory (8 stages) - widely accepted in nursing
theory based interventions (evidence based practice)
Used to help develop interventions
- interventions to promote healthy aging from biological theories (ch. 3 boxes)
- used as a basis to develop policies
emerging majority
statistically, minorities are assuming the majority in number
health disparity
differences in the state of health and health outcomes between groups of persons
health inequity
excess burden of illness or the differences between the expected incidence and the prevalence and that which occurs in excess in a group
(prevalence in one group is higher than the overall expected prevalence)
cultural awareness
development of cultural proficiency with increased awareness of our own beliefs and attitudes and this commonly seen in the community of healthcare
cultural knowledge
what the nurse brings (what you know) to the caring situation and what you learn about older adults and their families, community, and expectations
(what you know and learn about the patient and situation)
culture
shared and learned beliefs with a group of people
acculturation
person from minority or marginalized culture that adopts a majority culture
ethnicity
social differentiations based on cultural criteria
barriers to quality care range from those related to:
- geographic location
- age
- gender
- ethnicity
- race
- sexual orientation
(what makes them an individual/specific characteristics and situations)
increased risks in African Americans
stroke/TIA heart disease HTN diabetes diabetes-related amputation
increased risks in Mexican Americans
DM
fewer prescriptions after MI
increased risk in Native Americans
DM (than whites)
reducing health disparities
cultural awareness
cultural knowledge
self-level of cultural awareness
self-understanding; your own experiences and values (how they’ve shaped your perceptions)
cultural awareness requires the ability to
work and build a relationship with members of other cultural groups
cultural awareness requires recognition of
factors beyond cultural that affect members of any given group and recognize that they can affect their health, safety level, and wellbeing
cultural knowledge includes both
what the nurse brings to the caring situation and what the nurse learns about the older adult (what you bring in and what your learn)
essential cultural knowledge in the elderly
their way of life (how they think, act, and what they believe)
biomedical beliefs
western medical paradigm (focus on disease and abnormalities)
magico-religious beliefs
god or supernatural forces cause disease (good health is a blessing or reward)
naturalistic or holistic beliefs
health is a sign of balance/harmony (illness comes with imbalance)
obstacles in care of the elderly
ethnocentrism
stereotyping
ageism
ethnocentrism
belief that one system is superior
stereotyping
simplified and standardized conceptualization of a group
ageism
discrimination due to age
cultural skills
use of spoken or unspoken communication (ask/go slow)
be aware that body language is taken differently in various cultures
fastest growing segment of the population
older women
older women
social - more likely to live alone, have friends than men
economic - lower than men (how job/educational opportunities have changed)
health - live longer than men but are sicker overall (more chronic illness, disability)
higher risk of being without insurance (death/divorce of spouse)
older men
most literature on aging focuses on women (more older women)
black men have the shortest statistical lifespan
we often make assumptions with social/economic status of older men
key to culturally and ethnically sensitive assessment
listening
LEARN model
Listen carefully
Explain your perceptions
Acknowledge and discuss the differences and similarities between your goals
Recommend plan of action that takes both perspectives into account
Negotiate a plan that is mutually acceptable
aging changes
anatomical and physiological changes that are attributed to aging
(all cells are affected by aging)
bronchiectasis
permanent abnormal widening of the airways due to inflammation
elastic recoil
the lungs ability to expand and contract
kyphosis
curvature of the spine bowing out of upper spine (P)
vital capacity
maximum amount of air that can be expelled following maximum inspiration
risks to adequate respiration due to aging
- the trachea stiffens due to calcification of its cartilage (reduces the ability to cough because it blunts the laryngeal and coughing reflexes)
- reduced number of nerve endings may lead to a weak gag reflex
- lungs become smaller in size and weight > connective tissues needed for effective respiration and ventilation in the lungs weaken > decreased elastic recoil > respiration then requires the use of accessory muscles (smaller = less air)
- alveoli are less elastic, develop fibrous tissue, contain fewer functional capillaries, and have less surface area (reduces gas exchange)
- loss of skeletal muscle strength in the thorax and diaphragm + loss of resilient force (tissues) that holds the thorax in slightly contracted = kyphosis/barrel chest
- reduction in vital capacity (less air exchange, more secretions remaining in the lungs)