Older adult Flashcards
What are the leading causes of death in older adults?
Heart disease
Cancer
Unintentional injuries
Chronic lower pulmonary diseases
Stroke
Alzheimer’s
Cardiovascular changes in older adults
Myocardial hypertrophy (Decreased CO)
Increased Fibrosis (Reduced SV)
Calcium and fat deposits (HTN and increased work load)
Slower heart recovery
Orthostatic HTN
Respiratory changes in older adults
May be subtle and gradual:
Diminished Resp. effort
Reduced max insp. and exp. effort
Lung mass decrease/ residual vol. increase
Skin changes in older adults
Thinning of dermis
Decreased elasticity and collagen
decreased sub. Q (protection and temp. regulation)
pigmentation changes and balding
Changes in GU system in older adults
Decreased filtration rate
Slower acid base balance response
Increased BUN and Creatinine
GI changes in older adults
Decreased: sense of thirst, smell, taste, and GI motility
Difficulty chewing and swallowing
Delayed gastric emptying, and secretion
Factors that affect sleep in older adults
Resp. problems
Restless leg syndrome
Nocturia
Pain
Dementia
Consequences of poor sleep
Cognitive decline
Increased risk for falls
Fatigue
Reduced physical and mental health
Reduced quality of life
Poor ICU outcomes
Psychosocial aspects of aging
Prejudice or Discrimination
Fear of aging
Negative images of society
aging alters what in drugs?
Absorption
Metabolism
Distribution
Excretion
Nursing implications for medication in older adults
- start low and go slow with meds
- asses knowledge of medications
- keep med regimen as simple as possible
Mental health factors in older adults
depression
suicide
substance misuse
delirium
Dementia progression
subtle onset, slow progression
Non- Alzheimer’s dementia description
degenerative, vascular, neoplastic, demyelinating, infectious, inflammatory, toxic, metabolic, and psychiatric.
Alzheimer’s stats
complex
7th leading cause of death for those over 65
effects half over 85
NOT normal part of aging
