Gero considerations Flashcards
16% older adults
Live below poverty line
AA/Hispanic 18%
Sarcopenia and other gero changes
decreased muscle mass and strength
replaced by fat (up to age 60) which redistributes
(same weight)
Disc degeneration: height change, kyphosis
Decreased total body water
What does sarcopenia increase risk for?
Falls
Diminshed immune system function with age?
Immunosenescence
- Decreased thymic hormone production (decreased T cells)
- Poor wound healing
- Waning immunization response
- Decreased macrophages, natural killer cells, neutrophils
What GI drug is notorius for causing confusion in elderly?
Tagamet (cimetidine)
What is the percussion tone in the elderly?
Hyperressonance
How does the vital capacity of the lungs change in old age?
Vital capacity decreases because residual volume increases
This means the total lung capacity remains the same
Do the lungs become stiffer or more compliant in old age?
Stiffer
What changes make mucous clearance more difficult in the elderly?
More mucous, less cilia, diminshed cough reflex
Atypical signs found in elderly with PNA?
Weakness
Anorexia
Decreased ADL
Tachypnea
Confusion/MS change
Neuromuscular changes in elderly
Decreased DTR’s
Decreased muscle strength
Diminished sense of touch and increased pain tolerance
Delerium and sleep disorders
4 major causes of geriatric changes in behavior
- UTI
- Drugs
- PNA
- TIA
What ATB class cause behavior changes in elderly?
FLoxacins
