Young, middle, and older adult development (patterns)

Question 1

Middle adulthood age range

Answer 1

40-64

Question 2

Physical changes in the middle adult include?

Answer 2

hormonal changes- decreased testosterone in men, estrogen in women, hair thins/grays, wrinkling and decreased moisture of skin, increased fat deposition, decreased capacity for physical work, decreased height, metabolism, and elasticity of blood vessels, decreased bone mass/density, decreased cardiac output.

Question 3

What are the leading causes of death for this age group:?

Answer 3

Cancer and heart disease

Question 4

Menopause- Definition? Median age? What does the hormone loss lead to?

Answer 4

Occurs at a median age of 51-52. Defined as having no period for a year. This causes the ovaries to stop producing estrogen and progesterone. Decreased estrogen leads to decrease in secondary sex characteristics (pubic hair, breast size). Reduced estrogen also places the woman at risk for other conditions.

Question 5

What chronic conditions are commonly diagnosed in middle aged adults?

Answer 5

heart disease, HTN, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, and obesity.

Question 6

Obesity

Answer 6

a body mass index of 30 or greater. Middle age adults are more at risk because of sedentary lifestyles due to increased work/home responsibilities. This is a precursor to conditions like HTN, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, arthritis, breathing problems, and some cancers.

Question 7

What happens to the intellectual ability of the middle aged adult?

Answer 7

There are no changes in intellect, but learning continues in areas of reasoning, vocabulary, and spatial perceptions, and so do life experiences.

Question 8

Perceptual changes experienced by middle aged adults

Answer 8

presbyopia (far-sightedness) presbycusis (impaired auditory acuity) glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts also can occur. Diminished taste

Question 9

Levinson’s stage for middle aged adults

Answer 9

midlife transition at ages 38-40, defined by a struggle with meaning, valua, and direction of one’s life. The adult re-evaluates his or her position and modifies it to reach a desired status.

Question 10

Erikson’s stage for middle aged adults

Answer 10

Generativity v stagnation= generativity is a sense of productivity and creativity, with a desire to help others. Stagnation is the result of not obtaining one’s goals and becoming self-absorbed and excluding others

Question 11

Describe Levinson’s “novice adult” stage for the young adult

Answer 11

applies to ages 22-28, stage where adults are building careers, developing relationships, seeking stability and security. Also, they re-evaluate their beliefs and values.

Question 12

Describe Levinson’s “age 30 transition” stage for the young adult

Answer 12

Stage where one first evaluates his or her lifestyle

Question 13

Describe Levinson’s “settling down” stage for young adult

Answer 13

Applies to ages 34-40. Stage where the adult is involved in many family and community activities. The adult has reached a sense of security/stability and now seeks family harmony and development.

Question 14

Maturation in young adults is usually defined as…

Answer 14

An individual’s achievement of financial and residential independence.

Question 15

Describe the young adult’s self-perception pattern.

Answer 15

The young adult seeks challenges, stability, and success. Formal education is completed within this age group and employment is a priority over family/ other things. Employment also provides self-esteem and social interaction.

Question 16

Identify Erikson’s stage of psychosocial development for young adults and describe it.

Answer 16

Intimacy v. isolation. The major goal during this stage is to increase self esteem and competency, while developing open, trustful relationships. The identity of the person merges with another but the person must be comfortable with self first. Isolation occurs if one lacks a personal identity, avoids intimacy, and becomes self-absorbed.

Question 17

Define Piaget’s stage of cognitive development among young adults.

Answer 17

Young adults are said to have formal operational thought which is true logical thought that allows for manipulation of abstract concepts. Thought is more perceptive and insightful, with allowance of constructing hypotheses and testing them. Also, the adult develops a sense of morality.

Question 18

Mult. Mult.- Which OTF is false? a) vision is optimal at 20 and then declines. b) the ability to hear low pitched tones decreases after the age of 20. c) taste and smell begin to change around the ages of 45-50. d) Temperature and pain sensation does not normally change w/ aging but is related to chronic conditions.

Answer 18

B and D are both false B- the ability to hear high pitched tones decreases after 20 D- temp and pain sensation remains stable until the ages of 45-50

Question 19

T or F: regarding sports, most accidents are predictable and preventable. They are not the result of random, uncontrollable events.

Answer 19

true

Question 20

AOTF regarding sunblock/ sun exposure are true, except? a) apply sunscreen 15-30 min before exposure and then every 15-30 min during. b) effective lotions block UV Q light, not UV B light c) Combinations of the ingredients para amino, benzoic acid, ester and benzophenone provide the most effective protection. d) avoid sun exposure 2 hours before and after noon.

Answer 20

B is false, the most effective sunscreens block both UV Q and UV B light.

Question 21

Major barriers to patient exercise include?

Answer 21

1) lack of time 2) access to exercise facilities 3) safe environments in which to exercise

Question 22

Identify risk factors for young women developing iron deficiency anemia

Answer 22

Pregnancy, Regular loss of blood during menses, blood loss of 2-4 mL/ day = 1-2mg loss of iron, frequent use of NSAIDS and lack of dietary intake of iron.

Question 23

When assessing a p. for CV disease, what do providers test for the presence of?

Answer 23

hyperlipidemia, HTN, diabetes, chest pain, heart disease.

Question 24

How often should young adults be screened for coronary heart disease if they have no risk factors? What ages should screening begin for men and women?

Answer 24

Screening should be at least every 5 years and should begin at age 35 for men and age 45 for women.

Question 25

For optimal aerobic conditioning, young adults should perform aerobic exercises how frequently?

Answer 25

5 times a week, with moderately intense exercise lasting for 30 minutes or more.

Question 26

For what ages is the Gardisil HPV vaccine recommended for women? What does this vaccine prevent?

Answer 26

Recommended for women ages 9-26 years old. The vaccine prevents 4 types of HPV and cervical cancer.

Question 27

T or F? There is insufficient evidence to determine if performing Breast self-examinations every month decreases breast cancer mortality.

Answer 27

True, but it may increase the need for further intervention and biopsy

Question 28

How often should young women ages 18-35 receive a gynecological exam or pap smear? Pap smears should be performed within 3 years of the onset of what? or what age?

Answer 28

Young women should receive pap smears every 1-3 years. Pap smears should begin within 3 years of the onset of sexual activity or age 21.

Question 29

How often should young adults ages 18-24 be monitored for HTN? How often for ages 25-35?

Answer 29

ages 18-24= every 2 years ages 25-35= every 2-4 years

Question 30

T or F? The young adult’s nutritional needs are proportionate to their amount of physical growth?

Answer 30

False- needs are proportionate to an individuals lifestyle, they are no longer growing.

Question 31

What is the age range for young adults and what are 2 health concerns related to this group?

Answer 31

ages 20-40. Concerns for this group are 1) developing behaviors that promote a healthy lifestyle and 2) decreasing the number of accidents, injuries and acts of violence.

Question 32

Nursing goals related to young adults include?

Answer 32

Prolonging this period of optimal physical functioning, helping p’s to develop mental, spiritual and social potential. Encouraging healthy habits, and anticipating and screening for chronic disease.

Question 33

What are the leading causes of death for young adults?

Answer 33

1 leading cause= injuries, including MVAs. Second leading cause= homicide (for blacks in this age group, it is the leading cause)

Question 34

What are important transitions for middle aged adults regarding their roles and relationships?

Answer 34

The middle aged adult’s main priorities are family and work. This group is often called the sandwich generation b/c people are caring for both children and parents. This group also experiences divorce, and death which causes them to think about how much time they have left.

Question 35

What are major issues/physical changes related to late adulthood?

Answer 35

Major changes include the prevalence of chronic diseases, including osteoporosis, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. Physical functioning within this group varies and is also a major issue.

Question 36

Regarding the cognitive- perceptual pattern of old adults, what normally does not change? what normally does change?

Answer 36

Intellectual and verbal comprehension, along with cognitive functioning, does not normally change. Normal changes are related to vision and hearing.

Question 37

What is Levinson’s perspective on old adults? (hint: what happens b/c of changes)

Answer 37

The older adult realizes his/her youth is gone and personality will change in response to physiological changes, and in response to coping with various losses throughout life.

Question 38

What stage of psychosocial dvlpmt are older adults in according to Erikson? Describe this stage. How do nurses help older adults to successfully pass this stage?

Answer 38

Ego Integrity v. Despair. Ego integrity is the ideal outcome of this stage in which the adult has honestly accepted the life that has passed. Integrity prevails if the adult has achieved their goals and had successful experiences. Despair results when the adult percieves that life was spent in vain and they have a fear of dying. Nurses help patients by having them reminisce and life review.

Question 39

Describe important aspects of the roles and relationships pattern of older adults.

Answer 39

Roles and relationships among older adults change rapidly due to deaths (of a spouse, friends, family). Being a grandparent is a new role that can bring hapiness and distract from losses experienced. Volunteering, activity, and socialization is important for this group, but, it depends on the individual’s personality.