Mental Health and Aging part II Flashcards
Personality Characteristic and Risk Factors for Morbidity and Mortality
Link between personality characteristics and disease
Primary negative emotions linked to disease: hostility, depression, anger
Primary positive emotion to slow disease: control, self-efficacy, optimism, emotional stability
Hostility
Risk factor for coronary heart disease
Comparable to cholesterol, smoking, and high blood pressure risk factors
Stronger for men than women
Anxiety
Results in increased heart rates, demands for oxygen, and ischemia resulting in coronary heart disease
May show significant arrhythmias under stress; may result in heart attack and death
May be that anxiety takes toll midlife but effects seen later in life
Depression
Strongest association between personality and health
Connection between bereavement and mortality
Strongest predictor of mortality than physical problems in both men and women
Factors Protective of Health
Sense of control
Mindfulness (being aware of one’s environment, reaction to it, and internal states)
Optimism
Emotional stability
Emotional Life of the Elderly: SLP
Be aware of cohort effects
Recognize belief system and reaction to illness
Treatment may be viewed as insulting
Compliance may be deceiving
Self-report of memory may not be accurate
Illness may be seen as moral or religious flaw
Emotional Life of the Elderly
Understand patient’s history and reaction to illness, trauma, crises
Evaluate history for depression, anxiety, alcohol, or drug abuse
Alert to suicidal ideation
Evaluate family resources
Aging, Loss and Disability
Loss of function = loss of autonomy
Loss of autonomy= institutionalization
Loss of control= nothing to improve?
Loss of finances
Loss of Life
Interviewing
Speak to the patient directly
Speak distinctly and so that the person can see your lips
Take your time
Avoid age-ist remarks; don’t agree if the patient makes them
Expected to be more conservative in your dress
Evaluating
Speak in front of patient, do not shout
Attend to their comfort, realize sensory of mobility issues
They may respond slower, not indicative of dementia
Factors that Increase the Devastation of a Communication Disorder
May be first functional limitation
Shock/despair
May be superimposed upon changes in vision, hearing, memory
May limit ability to compensate for the disorder
May need to be socialized to the idea of rehab
Treatment: Geriatric patient as a motivated learner
Responds well to: concrete, specific instructions relaxed instructions, non-evaluative self-paced tasks related to autonomy and independence support groups clear functional purpose of tasks measurable goals visual displays of progress
To Prevent Depression: NO TEARS
N= Nutritional interventions O= One to one interventions T= technology based interventions E= Environmental strategies A= Animal assisted therapy R= Reminiscence S= Spirituality
5 R’s of emotional well being
- Review: sense of personal history, life review, acceptance of mortality
- Reconciliation: forgiving self and others for their transgressions, letting go of unresolved hurt and anger, expression of desire to move forward
- Relevance: need to participate in meaningful social activities to foster well being
- Respect: emotional needs within a group situation, opportunities for communication and recognition of accomplishments, self-worth and social validation, appreciation of present contribution
- Release: variation in activity and activity level, need for physical exertion, intimacy, and expression of emotions
