...Some older people then experience a loss in cognitive functioning. Normal aging does not lead to dementia, but may be caused by accidents or illnesses, most commonly cerebrovascular incidents or Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia is marked by memory loss, inability to relate with others, and an inability to manage everyday activities. With Alzheimer’s disease a person experiences confusion, irritability, aggression, mood swings, trouble with language, and long-term memory loss. Even though these diseases do occur, not all older adults experience the same severe cognitive decline. Zarit and Zatir (1998) conclude that Alzheimer’s disease affects about one percent of 65-year-olds in the United States, but that rate increases to about 20 to 25% of 85-year-olds (as cited in Broderick & Blewitt, 2010, p. 486). Interestingly, numerous studies have found that lifelong learning and cognitive simulation may decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010, p. 487). Older adults remember recent experiences better than earlier ones. The features of memory change in older adults are recency and what is called “the bump.” The strength of memories fade with time, so older adult memories are more oriented to the recent past. This is why Fitzgerald (1999) concludes that, “The remembered self is largely a now-self, not a distant-self.” “The bump” in adult memory refers to a higher rate of recollection of events from the 18 to 22 years of age period of young adulthood. When older adults...
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...steroid?” this article deals with elderly adults and alcohol. I find this article interesting because of the high rate of alcohol related accident, illnesses, and cognitive decline in older adult. The stereotype surrounding elderly adult and how alcohol, and alcohol consumption is link to ageing. The exploration of this topic Unhealthy Living, Alcohol intake and Effect on Normative Aging will enable us understand better the effects of alcohol on health of older adult. This discourse will further, help us understand the myth, implication of drinking, and whether alcohol consumption causes ageing in older adults. Furthermore, the effects of alcohol in older adults as compares to younger adult will be investigated. Finding out how health impairment caused by alcohol can lead to anxiety, stress, and ultimately hospitalization will enable us look for ways to remedy elder adults from alcohol consumption. It is important to investigate, many other conflicting theories that claims, alcohol consumption impairs health, causes accident, and leads to Unhealthy Living, Alcohol intake and Effects on Norma-tic Aging. To begin with, the controversy surrounding alcohol and its link to ageing can be understood by defining health. In a nutshell, Health is the total lack of disease, complete mental, physical, spiritual and social well-being of an individual (Pender, 1996). The absence of these factors, that defines health can cause ageing in older adult. The way people answer this question, what...
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...steroid?” this article deals with elderly adults and alcohol. I find this article interesting because of the high rate of alcohol related accident, illnesses, and cognitive decline in older adult. The stereotype surrounding elderly adult and how alcohol, and alcohol consumption is link to ageing. The exploration of this topic Unhealthy Living, Alcohol intake and Effect on Normative Aging will enable us understand better the effects of alcohol on health of older adult. This discourse will further, help us understand the myth, implication of drinking, and whether alcohol consumption causes ageing in older adults. Furthermore, the effects of alcohol in older adults as compares to younger adult will be investigated. Finding out how health impairment caused by alcohol can lead to anxiety, stress, and ultimately hospitalization will enable us look for ways to remedy elder adults from alcohol consumption. It is important to investigate, many other conflicting theories that claims, alcohol consumption impairs health, causes accident, and leads to Unhealthy Living, Alcohol intake and Effects on Norma-tic Aging. To begin with, the controversy surrounding alcohol and its link to ageing can be understood by defining health. In a nutshell, Health is the total lack of disease, complete mental, physical, spiritual and social well-being of an individual (Pender, 1996). The absence of these factors, that defines health can cause ageing in older adult. The way people answer this question, what...
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...decades individuals aged 65 years or older are expected to make up 23% of the Australian population (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2013). This is a stable increase from 13% in 2007, emphasising Australia as an aging country (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2013). This is evident not only within the demographic regions of metropolitan and rural cities and towns of Australia but also among other countries in the world. It is with this discrepancy that presents such a large challenge within the population and from a health perspective. This essay will explore the social, cultural and psychological health related issues linked with growth in the aging population and will focus on the baby boomer generation and the co-morbidities that are notably prevalent in the elderly. This essay will also consider the future role of the nurse and how their profession will be impacted in response to these trends. WHY DO WE FACE AN AGING CRISIS? As fertility rates decline and longevity increases we are coming to face a shift in population distribution with a greater proportion of older adults (Anderson and Hussey, 2013). It is important to note that this increase is due particularly to the Baby Boomer generation growing older and associated aging co-morbidities on the rise. The Baby Boomer generation consists of those born from the years 1945-1964 (Berman et al., 2012). As this generation grows older the world is faced with a huge increase in older adults, greater than any generation before...
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...Franco, Reina L. Mrs. Luningning O. Marcelino BSN – 4B, B1 Ageism - also called age discrimination is stereotyping of and discrimination against individuals or groups because of their age. It is a set of beliefs, attitudes, norms, and values used to justify age based prejudice, discrimination, and subordination.1 Gerontology - is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging. It is distinguished from geriatrics, which is the branch of medicine that studies the diseases of the elderly.2 Geriatric Nursing - Nursing care of the aged patient given in the home, the hospital, or special institutions such as nursing homes, psychiatric institutions, etc.3 Issues Facing the Elderly Being old can mean being sick, poor, hungry and depressed, even in developed nations like Australia. What are the issues? In Australia, the ‘elderly’ is generally a reference to people over the age of 65. Lots of over 65ers lead healthy and empowered lives, and many are involved in community volunteering. But for the elderly, health can be a big concern. Their bodies are more susceptible to illness, they may be physically frail, and many are on medications which are costly and ongoing. An elderly person who is able to fund their own retirement is called a retiree. This means they had a job that paid them enough superannuation. Someone who is unable to fund their own retirement, and is paid welfare money by the government is called a pensioner. Pensioners...
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...A Peace of Mind Resort A resort made for and created by older adults. When you think about growing older, many people compare their opinions to living alone, loneliness and health problems. Today, older adults are disproportionately likely to die by suicide. Although older adult’s percentage comprises of 12% of the US population, people 65 and older accounted for 16% of suicide deaths in 2004 (DG, 2003). In addition, most people find themselves in a position where it finances are low and living day to day can become very stressful. It seems like the thought of enjoying oneself is literally impossible to achieve. The recession makes it even more difficult for older workers to find jobs. In December 2008, the unemployment rate for adults ages 65 and older reached 5.1 percent, the highest level for seniors since March 1977. In past recessions, many older workers retired when they lost their jobs. But few laid-off seniors can afford that route when stock market losses deplete retirement accounts. Helping older Americans find and keep jobs would bolster their current incomes and improve their future retirement security, increase consumer spending, and stimulate the economy (Johnson, 2009). Recently the Anderson Corp. has just presented a new service for older adults that will ensure that they can get the peace of mind and enjoyment that everyone so longs for. It’s a resort available in all parts of the United States and territories that provide all health services and accessibilities...
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...The rapid growth in the number of older Americans has many implications for public health, including the need to better understand the risks posed to older adults by environmental exposures. Biologic capacity declines with normal aging; this may be exacerbated in individuals with pre-existing health conditions. This decline can result in compromised pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic responses to environmental exposures encountered in daily activities. In recognition of this issue, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is developing a research agenda on the environment and older adults. The U.S. EPA proposes to apply an environmental public health paradigm to better understand the relationships between external pollution sources → human exposures → internal dose → early biologic effect → adverse health effects for older adults. The initial challenge will be using information about aging-related changes in exposure, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic factors to identify susceptible subgroups within the diverse population of older adults. These changes may interact with specific diseases of aging or medications used to treat these conditions. Constructs such as “frailty” may help to capture some of the diversity in the older adult population. Data are needed regarding a) behavior/activity patterns and exposure to the pollutants in the microenvironments of older adults; b) changes in absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion with aging; c) alterations in reserve...
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...affecting the health of older adults who believe in these stereotypes. Ageism is bias against, solely, someone’s age. Furthermore, the article discusses ways to improve the health of older adults through recommendations for specific solutions. Ageism affects the cognition or memory of older adults (middle-aged and older). Based on the research this article cited, older adults remembered negative stereotypes significantly less than positive stereotypes. Also, middle-aged adults, who are aware of these negative stereotypes against their age, did...
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...Sociological Theories Sociological theories focus on the changing roles and relationships that accompany ageing. These theories discuss how these changing roles, relationships, and status impact the older individual's ability to adapt. In this blog, we will discuss the following sociological theories: disengagement, activity, and continuity. Disengagement Theory The Disengagement Theory, one of the earliest and most controversial theories of aging, views aging as a process of gradual withdrawal between society and the older adult. This mutual withdrawal or disengagement is a natural, acceptable, and universal process that accompanies growing old. It is applicable to elders in all cultures, although there might be variations. According to this theory, disengagement benefits both the older population and the social system. Gradual withdrawal from society and relationships preserves social equilibrium and promotes self-reflection for elders who are freed from societal roles. It furnishes an orderly means for the transfer of knowledge, capital, and power from the older generation to the young. It makes it possible for society to continue functioning after valuable older members die. Weakness: There is no base of evidence or research to support this theory. Additionally, many older people desire to remain occupied and involved with society. Imposed withdrawal from society may be harmful to elders and society alike. This theory has been largely discounted by gerontologists. Activity...
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...experience. The two basic cognitive functions that are affected most by a person aging is attention and memory (Glisky, 2007). The thing that a person needs to know is that memory and attention are not unitary functions; there are multiple parts to both functions some of which may not be affected by a person aging while others are affected. According to the Glisky (2007), perception in a person as the person ages declines due to declining sensory capacities which can impact the cognitive functions later in a person. Perception is a person’s senses such as touch, sight, taste, and smells which is why some people believe that it is actually a precognition function. According to Anderson (2010), perception is the sensory experience of the world around individuals which involve recognition of environmental stimuli as well as actions in response to the stimuli. What this means is that as a person goes through life they recognize things such as sounds, smells, people, etc. and they react accordingly to these things based on their perceptions of them. When this function starts to decline with a person’s age the person starts to lose the ability to recognize things. Attention is a basic cognitive process but a complex one that has multiple sub-processes for...
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...this occurrence can result in a crisis that lasts between 4 -6 weeks. Similarly, the transition model seeks to understand how a person responds to changes in their life or environment and postulate most of these changes involve transition periods that lasts between 6 and 12 months. The transition periods present window periods for growth or pose serious hazards to the concerned individual. Most people reacting to changes in their lives or immediate environment (positive or negative) to require and adjustment period that can last up to a year as I have observed and thereby concur with the transition model. 56. What changes in physical functions are associated with the middle adult years? Do you think men or women are affected most by these changes? People at this stage of life often experience a decline in strength, reaction time, fine motor skills as well as a decreased sensation. They develop skin wrinkles, have sagging skins in their arms, face and legs as well as develop age spots. Men gain fat deposits in the back and upper abdomen while women gain fat around their waists and upper arms. They are likely to develop presbyopia (farsightedness), color blindness, glaucoma and presbycusis (hearing difficulties). Women also undergo menopause and lose the ability to bear children. Women are affected more by...
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...Aging on Cognitive Development Aging is a natural process of life however, studies show that there are some age-related decline in cognitive development. As a person grows older some brain cell dies, shrink, or weaken and cause some decline in brain functions. Some cognitive processes include attention, working memory, long-term memory, perception, and executive control. The material will explain the effect of aging on cognitive development by providing scholarly research proof. Cognitive Development Cognition is the process by which human beings learn about the world and the objects in it and also understand the relationship between themselves, the objects, and themselves. It is the ability of a person to learn and understand from his or her experiences, to acquire and retain knowledge to use in new situations, and solve problems. Cognitive development refers to the process of growth to the intellectual or mental abilities such as thinking, reasoning, and understanding. Cognitive development includes acquiring and condensing of knowledge. Social-emotional, language, perceptual, motor and environment experiences aid in cognitive development in infant. Piaget’s development theory gives an understanding of cognitive development from birth to adulthood. He postulated that when a child enters the world he or she lacks the cognitive competencies that an adult has. However, it is developed in stages as he or she grows from infancy to adulthood. Piaget views is that humans go through...
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...when we speak to older adults, regardless of the particular setting. This style of speech is characterized as being much slower, having an exaggerated intonation, elevated pitch and volume, greater repetitions, and incorporates a simpler vocabulary and grammar than normal adult speech. Research has shown that the speech pattern used typically with the elderly is based on stereotyping and myth as opposed to the reality of the aging process. A number of researchers have conducted studies where a brief educational program was designed to increase the awareness of Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) regarding their use of elderspeak and strategies that could potentially enhance communication. No research studies can be identified that include Registered Nurses (RNs) and their understanding and use of elderspeak. Educating nurses about elderspeak may serve to enhance the development of a positive relationship between the Registered Nurse and the older client, which could result in an improved therapeutic relationship and improved health status. Social interactions, in all healthcare settings, can potentially make the difference between an individual who is able to be self-sufficient and the one who becomes a dependent member of the community. Social relationships have been described by Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which “places the human need for affiliation second only to survival and safety” (Williams, Kemper, Hummert, 2004). Some older adults rely solely on health...
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...Late adult hood (old age) is generally considered to being at 65 years old. Erik Erikson suggests this time in life is important to find meaning and satisfaction rather than becoming bitter and disillusioned. Late adult hood (old age) is generally considered to being at 65 years old. Erik Erikson suggests at this time in life it is important to find meaning and satisfaction rather than becoming bitter and disillusioned. However this is a time when people start declining physically and mentally. We have seen that, over the course of their lives, most individuals are able to develop secure attachments; reason cognitively, socially and morally. They also create families and find appropriate careers. As people enter into their 60s and beyond, the aging process leads to faster changes in their physical, cognitive, and social capabilities and needs. People tend to reach the peak of their physical strength and endurance during their twenties and then gradually decline, in later adulthood, a variety of physiological changes start to occur, including some degree of atrophy of the brain and a decrease in the rate of neural process. The respiratory and circulatory system are less efficient, bone mass diminishes, especially in women, leading to osteoporosis. The muscles become weaker unless exercise programs are followed. The skin dries and become less flexible. Hair loss will start to occur in both men and women, there is also a decrease in the sensory modalities, including...
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...rates over the past few years? According to McKeown, Cuffe, and Schulz, 2006, suicide rates have started to decline in in the past few years in comparison to previous years. 2. What part of the U.S. has the highest suicide rate? The part of the U.S. with the highest suicide rate is the western part. 3. List three risk factors for suicide. Three suicide risk factors are prior suicide attempts, diagnosis of major depression, and having access to firearms with in the home. 4. Many researchers worry that suicide rates for adolescents and older adults continue to increase. What does the research data show about these age groups? That middle aged adults are less of a risk, while adolescents and older adults seem to be more susceptible to suicide. The suicide rates for adolescents and older adults have also started to decline within past few years. 5. In the U.S., what demographic has the highest rate of suicide? In the U.S. the highest rate of suicide is in the western part of the United States to where the white older men would be committing suicide. Also the demographic area in the U.S. has an increased portion of 85 and older for age. 6. List four possible reasons for the observed decrease in suicide rates. Four possible reasons are an increase in healthy life style and expectancy, a decline in substance abuse, better support family and medical, and improved economy. 7. Recent media reports have...
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