Perspective on Aging Flashcards
What are ageing and life expectancy?
Ageing is process of growing older
Lifer expectancy – statistical measure of how long you can expect to live
What are the programmed theories of ageing?
Programmed ageing – Ageing genetically programmed to occur with time and deterioration eventually leads to death
Examples: Genetic life-span theory, genetic predisposition theory, telomere theory, specific system theories (E.g. Neuroendocrine)
What are the error theories of ageing?
Damage or error ageing – External factors gradually damage cells and organs leading to ageing and death
Examples: Wear and tear theory, rate of living theory, waste product accumulation theory, cross-linking theory, free radical theory, Autoimmune theory, error theories, order to disorder theory
What are chronological and biological ages?
People age at different rates – Chronological age vs Biological age
What are some of the challenges of an ageing population?
Working life/Retirement balance
Caring for older people
Extending health expectancy not just life expectancy
Inadequate or absent serves (Limited accessibility for disabled)
Outdated and Ageist beliefs
Medical system designed for single acute disease
Describe some problems face regarding retirement
14% pensioners liver below poverty line (7% severe poverty)
26% have no savings
Many live-in fuel poverty
Over 1 million >65s still in employment
Describe some problems faced regarding care in the community for older people
36% Older people live alone (70% women)
1.2 Million are ‘Ageing without children’
600,000 – 840,000 older LGBT people
8% older people are BME – increasing rapidly
1 million >65s are a carers
58% involved in volunteering and civic engagement
Describe some problems regarding services for older people
Vast majority of areas decreased older people social care funding last few years
600,000 live sheltered housing
145,000 need but don’t have adapted homes
20% older people homes fail decent home standard
42,000 unofficially homeless
£636 Million cost to NHS from poor housing (Hypothermia etc)
Describe loneliness in older people
10% lonely regularly
41% feel out of touch with modern life
37% consider television as main form of company
9% feel trapped in own home
6% of older people leave house less than once a week
17% have less than weekly contact with family friends and neighbours
