Gerontology Flashcards
What is the study of all aspects of the aging process and its consequences?
gerontology
What is the discrimination of people because of increasing age?
ageism
What are the two types of biological theories of aging?
Stochastic
Nonstochastic
Which biological theory of aging views aging as the result of random cellular damage that occurs over time?
Stochastic theory
Which biological theory of aging views aging as the result of genetically programmed physiological mechanisms within the the body that control the process of aging?
nonstochastic theory
What is the psychosocial theory of aging that states that aging individuals withdraw from customary roles and engage in more introspective, self-focused activities?
Disengagement theory
What is the psychosocial theory of aging that considers the continuation of activities performed during middle age as necessary for successful aging?
Activity Theory
What is the psychosocial theory of aging that suggests that personality remains stable and behavior becomes more predictable as people age?
Continuity/Developmental theory
What is the psychosocial theory of aging that proposes that the older adult experiences a shift in perspective with age?
Gerotranscendence
What is the best way for a patient to evaluate the quality of a nursing center in a community?
visit the facility and inspect it personally
What basic criteria should a nursing home meet? (4)
- should not feel like a hospital
- has adequate, certified staff
- has social & recreational activities
- is clean
What does gerontology nursing require?
creative approaches for maximizing the potential of older adults
What are the five key points of a gerontological nursing assessment?
- The interrelation between physical and psychosocial aspects of aging.
- The effects of diseases and disability on functional status.
- The decreased efficiency of homeostatic mechanisms.
- The lack of standards for health and illness norms.
- Altered presentation and response to a specific disease.
Which communication techniques can be used when speaking to a person with visual impairments? (4)
- Sit/Stand at eye level
- Face the older adult while speaking; do not cover mouth.
- Provide diffuse, bright, nonglare lighting.
- Encourage older adult to use his/her familiar assistive devises.
What defines quality of life?
perception of well-being
What are normal aging related changes in the integumentary system?
- Skin loses resilience and moisture
- epithelial layer thins
- elastic collagen fibers shrink and become rigid
- wrinkles
- spots and legions
What are normal aging related changes in the head and neck?
- more pronounced facial features
- asymmetrical facial features
- vocal changes
- visual acuity decrease (ie presbyopia)
- subtle auditory changes (ie presbycusis)
- reduced salivary secretion
- reduced taste
Whatare normal aging related changes in the thorax and lungs?
- decreased respiratory muscle strength
- anteroposterior diameter of thorax increases
- vertebral changes (ie kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis)
- calcification of costal cartilage
What are normal aging related changes in the heart and vascular system?
- decreased contractile strength of myocardium (decreased CO)
- weaker peripheral pulses
What are normal aging related changes in the breasts?
- milk ducts are replaced by fat making breasts less firm
- decreased muscle mass/tone/elasticity result is smaller breasts.
What are normal aging related changes in the GI system and abdomen?
- increased fatty tissue in the trunk
- decreased peristalsis
- altered secretions
- delayed gastric emptying
What are normal aging related changes in the reproductive system?
- female menopause
- less frequent sexual activity related to illness, death of partner or decreased socialization
What are normal aging related changes in the urinary system?
- hypertrophy of prostate
- urinary incontinence related to other health issues (abnormal but common)
What are normal aging related changes in the musculoskeletal system?
- muscle fibers become smaller
- decreased muscle strength
- decreased bone density and bone mass
What are normal aging related changes in the neurological system?
- decrease in number/size of neurons
- change in neurotransmitters
- slower voluntary reflexes
- alterations in sleep quality and quantity
What are the three common cognitive changes in older adults? (table 14-2)
Delirium (potentially reversible)
Dementia (not reversible)
Depression
What is the term for an acute confusional state?
Delirium
What is the term for a generalized impairment of intellectual functioning that interferes with social and occupational functioning?
Dementia
Dementia is an umbrella term for which conditions? (4)
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Lewy body disease
- frontal temporal dementia
- vascular dementia
What are 4 common psychosocial changes that older adults experience?
- retirement
- social isolation
- sexuality
- housing & environment
- death
Which therapeutic tool provides sensory stimulation, induces relaxation, provides physical and emotional comfort, orients the person to reality, shows warmth, and communicates interest?
touch
Which communication technique is used to make an adult more aware of time, place and person?
reality orientation
Which communication technique is an alternative approach that accepts the description of time and place as stated by the confused older adult?
validation therapy
Which communication technique uses the recollection of the past to bring meaning and understanding to the present and resolve current conflicts?
reminiscence
What is the term for the concurrent use of many medications that increases the risk for adverse drug effects, inappropriate use of medications, and falls in older adults?
polypharmacy
What risks do acute care settings pose to older adults?
- delirium
- dehydration
- malnutrition
- HAIs
- falls
What is the term for fear of falling?
fallophobia
What is presbyopia?
farsightedness that worsens with aging
How is absorption effected by old age?
- increased gastric pH
- decreased gastric blood flow
- decreased gastric motility
note: no major absorption difficulties
How is distribution effected by old age?
- smaller amounts of total body water
- increased ratio of adipose tissue to lean body mass (increased storage of lipid-soluble drugs)
- decreased CO
How is metabolism effected by old age?
- decreased liver size
- decreased liver blood flow
- decreased serum liver enzyme activity
note: result in increased plasma concentration of a drug
How is excretion effected by old age?
- decreased renal blood flow
- reduced GFR
note: result in decreased CrCl, thus slower excretion time for medications. Leads to toxic serum drug levels.
What are the 3 common reasons for adverse effects when patient’s self-administer drugs?
- Forget to take drug
- Poor communication with health care professionals
- Varying ways patients take meds (including adding OTC and supplements)
