Healthy Ageing in Australia Flashcards
True or false: It’s a common misconception or stereotype that all older people are very sick, unwell, immobile and in need of residential care.
True
What are the three old ages as defined in literature?
Young old = 65-74 years old
Middle old = 75-84 years old
Old old = 85+ years old
What age are Indigenous Australians considered older Australians?
50 years old.
Generally, older is defined at what age?
65 years and over.
What is our role as nurses when it comes to healthy ageing?
Supporting, especially when it comes to interacting with the health care system. We need to:
- Ensure we listen carefully to their needs
- Ensure they are well informed and have access to any needed supports (physical, emotional, or social)
- Use principles of person-centred assessment and care at all times.
This will enhance their health and quality of life.
How can you empower older adults?
Through person centred care/approaches.
True or false: A person becomes frail and dependent once they reach old age (65+ years)?
False
What is an ageing population?
An ageing population refers to a demographic trend characterized by declining birth rates and increasing life expectancy; people are living for longer.
True or false: Australia has an ageing population?
True
What is an interesting fact about adding years onto your life?
If you want to add 7 years onto your life, you just have to think positively about ageing – healthy ageing.
What is ageism?
Ageism is discriminating/stereotyping old people because of their age.
What is one way we can fight against ageism?
To have purpose - something meaningful to work towards even after you stop working.
What are the blue zones known for?
The blue zones are regions in the world where people are claimed to live longer than average. Examples of blue zones include Japan, Italy, Costa Rica, and Greece. This is because people living here have purpose.
True or false: Ageism is everywhere.
True
Provide some examples of ageism in the real world.
- Ageism in the beauty industry – it is prevalent in the beauty industry with Botox, filler, etc.
- Ageism in the media – you rarely see older people in magazines.
- Ageism in GP clinics when you take an older person in – the doctor will talk to the younger person, rather than the older person.
- Older people can’t use technology; unable to change or adapt due to old age.
What is the definition of ‘healthy ageing’ as provided by WHO?
The process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age.
Who can experience healthy aging? [select one answer]
- Older adults
- Young adults
- Healthy adults
- Everyone
Everyone.
Being free of disease or disability is not a requirement for healthy ageing, as many older adults have one or more health conditions that, when well controlled, have little influence on their wellbeing.
What is one key to healthy ageing?
Functional ability and being able to live in environments that support and maintain one’s intrinsic capacity and functional ability is key to healthy ageing.
What is function ability?
Functional ability consists of the intrinsic capacity of the individual, relevant environmental characteristics, and the interaction between them.
What are 8 other keys to healthy ageing?
- Healthy & balanced diet
- Regular sleep
- No drugs or smoking
- Make social connections
- Control blood pressure and cholesterol
- Regular exercise
- Be optimistic
- Don’t be ageist.
What is intrinsic capacity?
Intrinsic capacity comprises all the mental and physical capacities that a person can draw on and includes their ability to walk, think, see, hear and remember. The level of intrinsic capacity is influenced by several factors such as the presence of diseases, injuries, and age-related changes.
How to do a care plan and verbalise it?
1) Introduce the patient with pertinent information (age, sex, domestic, social and vocational status).
2) Talk about the important parts of the case that are relevant (like background, interests, religion, culture and language).
3) Then talk about the health aspects (what diseases/illness do they have, what have they been referred for, health status).
4) Then who you would refer and the rationale for that (e.g., dietician to help with management of obesity). Don’t forget to use a strength-based person-centred approach.
What is an an age friendly neighbourhood?
A community that is designed and adapted to be inclusive and accessible for people of all ages, particularly older adults. Age-friendly cities strive to create environments that support healthy and active aging, promote social inclusion, and enhance the quality of life for older residents. Designed by WHO.
What are the 8 elements of an age friendly neighbourhood?
1) Outdoor spaces and buildings
2) Transportation
3) Housing
4) Social participation
5) Respect and social exclusion
6) Civic participation and employment
7) Communication and information
8) Community and health services.
What are the two categories for factors that influence health in older age?
There are numerous factors but they are categorised into two: Individual and Environment.
Provide examples of individual factors that influence health in older age?
Behaviours, age-related changes, genetics, and disease.
Which of these are examples of environmental factors that influence health in older age?
[select all that apply]
- Housing
- Assistive technologies
- Transport
- Social facilities
All of them.
What areas should people be supported in given the two categories of factors?
- Self-management; dependency
- Health literacy; understanding
- Medication safety and management; education
- Healthy eating; balanced diet
- Physical activity; exercise
- Falls prevention; older people are more susceptible to this
- Alcohol and tobacco use
- Participation
- Ageism
- Environmental factors
Why is assessment and screening different for younger and older people?
Because older people often present to hospital with non-specific symptoms, and those symptoms may indicate different concerns and mask other issues that occur with ageing. For example, the symptoms of a urinary tract infection in a younger person may be frequent urination, pain from bladder spasms, blood in the urine, and fever. In an older person, the first sign of a urinary tract infection may be confusion or a fall as the other symptoms can be masked by changes that occur with ageing.
What is homeostasis?
To maintain internal stability and balance in response to changes in the external environment or internal conditions. It is normal functioning to be in homeostasis.
How is homeostasis related to the ageing process?
Ageing is related to a loss of homeostasis/normal cellular function, accumulation of waste materials and change in cell structures, that are influenced by: Genetics, Environment, Lifestyle. There is usually a decline in many homeostatic and metabolic processes.
True or false: Ageing is a normal process.
True
True or false: Everyone ages differently.
True
True or false: Changes in physical, cognitive and mental function are NOT ‘normal’ ageing.
False
What are some abnormal signs of ageing that may indicate that something is wrong?
- Limping or pain when a certain part of the body is touched is abnormal.
- Shooting chest pain and numbness in the arms and legs is abnormal.
- Forgetting the names of close family members or recent events is abnormal and can be a sign of Alzheimer’s or dementia.
True or false: Changes to the heart are NOT common when it comes to normal ageing.
False.
Why are changes to the heart common when it comes to normal ageing?
The arteries and blood vessels harden with age causing the heart to pump harder, increases the risk of high blood pressure and causes other heart problems. Encourage no smoking as it will restore healthy heart function.
The following are part of what?
- Ageing affects digestive system – can cause chronic constipation. Bladder becomes less elastic and causes more frequent urination.
- Appearance changes – greying hair, receding gums, dry wrinkly skin.
- Eyesight and hearing starts to get worse – take safety precautions when exposed to bright lights and loud noises.
- Vaginal dryness and erectile dysfunction are more common in older people, making sex uncomfortable.
- Brain – memory and critical thinking skills. Normal to forget things.
Normal ageing.
What is a risk factor?
Anything that increases the chance or likelihood of something bad happening. In the context of health, a risk factor is something that raises the possibility of developing a disease or experiencing a health problem.
These following are…?
- Obesity/weight loss
- Malnutrition
- History of smoking
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Hypertension
- Hyperlipidaemia
- Mental health issues
- Chronic illness
- Diabetes (impaired glucose tolerance)
Risk factors in ageing.
True or false: Normal ageing can cause changes that require interventions to prevent further deterioration and to assist the person maintain their wellness.
True
What is person centred care?
Health and care professions work collaboratively with people using their services and their communities. Care is coordinated, tailored to the needs of the individual. Underpinned by dignity, compassion, and respect, and enables them to live a fulfilling life.
What is a strengths-based person centred approach?
Basically, where the individual is acknowledged as the expert in their life; focusing first on their abilities and then any support they would need.
It means recognising that an individual is different from everyone else.
Older people can be vulnerable when receiving treatment and care.
Therefore, health assessments ought to focus on physical, emotional, cognitive and social vulnerabilities. How might we do this?
- Encourage the person to talk about their daily life, such as routines, hobbies and habits, likes and dislikes.
- Identify care priorities and needs by asking the person or their family, and documenting this information.
- Assess the person’s physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs, showing attention to detail.
- Determine the impact of the care environment on the person’s symptoms, condition and behaviour.
Define frailty
Decline in functioning across multiple physiological systems, accompanied by an increased vulnerability to stressors. Physical and psychological factors affect its development, prevalence increased with age and is dynamic (changing).
Why is it important to identify frailty/pre frailty?
So we can reverse and improve before it gets too late. Prevent: falls, immobility, infection, delirium, incontinence, increased susceptibility to medication. Frail people are frequently admitted to hospital.
What are the three facets to a strength based approach?
- Holistic
- Person-centred
- Outcomes-focused
What sort of factors are the following in regards to frailty?
- Advanced age
- Female sex
- Ethnic minority
- Low education
- Low socioeconomic position
- Living alone
- Loneliness
Demographic and social factors.
What sort of factors are the following in regards to frailty?
- Multimorbidity and chronic diseases
- Obesity
- Malnutrition
- Impaired cognition
- Depressive symptoms
- Polupharmacy
Clinical factors.
What sort of factors are the following in regards to frailty?
- Physical inactivity
- Low protein intake
- Smoking
- Increased alcohol intake
Lifestyle factors.
What sort of factors are the following in regards to frailty?
- Inflammation
- Endocrine factors
- Micronutrient deficits (low carotenoids, vitamin B6, vitamin D, or vitamin E)
Biological factors.
What does morbidity mean?
Being sick or unwell. It’s a way to describe how many people in a population are affected by illnesses, diseases, or health problems during a certain period of time.
What does comorbidity mean?
The presence of two or more medical conditions or diseases in an individual at the same time. These conditions can be either related or unrelated to each other.
What are the two missing words?
___________: Happens suddenly and doesn’t last very long.
___________: Ongoing or persistent, lasting for a long time or even a lifetime.
Acute: Happens suddenly and doesn’t last very long.
Chronic: Ongoing or persistent, lasting for a long time or even a lifetime.
What does it mean to be frail in simple words?
To be frail means to be physically weak or delicate, making someone vulnerable to injury, illness, or other health problems.
True or false: Simple tasks or movements can be challenging because the body is not as strong or resilient as it used to be.
True
What is this fraility assessment tool called?
Frail Scale Risk Assessment
What is this fraility assessment tool called?
Clinical Frailty Scale
What is this fraility assessment tool called?
Fried’s Frailty Criteria
What is this fraility assessment tool called?
The Edmonton Frail Scale
How can you prevent frailty?
Lifestyle habits:
- Eat a balanced diet with protein fibre and fluids
- Where available participate in a fall’s prevention program
- Keep the mind active by reading and socialising
- Be as physically active as able
What does the suffix ‘ology’ refer to?
The study of something.
What does the suffix ‘iatrics’ refer to?
Means ‘healing’.
What is gerontology?
The study of ageing and older adults.
What is geriatrics?
The medical care of older adults.
What are some general tips when communicating with older people?
- Speak to the patient as a fellow adult.
- Make older patients comfortable.
- Avoid hurrying older patients.
- Speak plainly.
- Address the patient face-to-face.
- Write down or print out takeaway points.
- Recognize that people from different backgrounds may have different expectations.
