...include aspects of memory, executive functions, processing speed, reasoning, and multitasking. All of these mental functions are critical for carrying out everyday activities, living independently, and general health and wellbeing.The following two points are more important. First, different concepts of age-related decline occur all together. Second, slowed speed of information gathering accounts for a very large proportion of age-related decline in every cognitive domains. This slowing purpose of speed of the brain processing begins in young adulthood. Third, the ability of scheduling and undertaking multiple tasks everyday appears to be sensitive due to ageing, and to be particular impairments in dual-tasking seems to signal the onset of dementia. There is a massive explanatory gap in this growingly huge health problems the biological foundations of cognitive changes during old age across the spectrum, slowed information processing, and multitasking, are unknown till...
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...INTRODUCTION It is obvious that we are faced with an aging population. Within three 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...
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...The baby boomers have created an increased population of individuals 65 and older (Wilson et al, 2006). As these individuals are living longer, plans must be set in place to support them not only financially but also physically (Wilson et al., 2006). Some individuals look towards institutional facilities or independent living facilities to place their aging relatives, and/or spouse. Elderly individuals would like to stay in their normal environment for as long as possible, but this is often not an option as sometimes the caregivers do not feel they can fully meet the growing needs of these individuals (M. Smith, personal communication, March 27, 2018). Agencies like Diversified Training Consultant Group are making continued care in the home...
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...such thing as over the hill.” As we age we tend to get forgetful. Have you ever wondered why? Well, this paper will tell you. This paper will talk about memory; age-related memory loss, types of memory loss, the similarities of aging and dementia. Memory loss is not an inevitable part of the aging process. The brain is capable of producing new brain cells at any age, so significant memory loss is not an inevitable result of aging. Your lifestyle, health habits, and daily activities have a huge impact on the health of your brain. Whatever your age, there are many ways you can improve your cognitive skills, and prevent memory loss. Many mental abilities are largely unaffected by normal aging such as your ability to do the things you have always do not and continue to do often, your common sense (Smith). Normal forgetfulness vs. Dementia. The following types of memory lapses are normal among older adults and generally are not considered warning signs of dementia. Occasionally forgetting where you left things you use regularly, such as keys and phone and glasses, forgetting names or blocking a memory with a similar one, occasionally forgetting an appointment (Smith)....
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...Ashford University PSY 304 Lifespan Development Prof. Pamela Vincent May 18, 2015 How do our bodies and minds change from early to late adulthood? As we age does our mind simply begin to deteriorate in the same fashion as our body does in regards to it physical capabilities? Have you wondered what affect does peri and post-menopause have in relation to memory decline in women? Is dementia directly related to cognitive aging? All of these conditions have one thing in common, they all occur as the human body starts to age into late adulthood. Aging from early to late adulthood has an interconnected negative impact both mentally and physically on the human body but physical activity can help protect against cognitive decline. First we need to understand physical and cognitive development and the stages associated with early and late adulthood. Then we will examine the age related decline in mentalizing skills; how cognitive aging is related to dementia; and how aging is related to peri and post-menopause and it effects has on the body. Physical changes as the body ages from early to late adulthood are predictable and undeniable. Physical Development depends on maturation, or the biological unfolding of growth. Every individual has a schedule built into his or her genes that controls both the timing and degree of physical growth and decline. Bone growth and deterioration, the strengthening and...
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...Important Health Issue In Australia 2013, Dementia. Dementia is a broad term that encompasses a large group of illnesses that cause a progressive cognitive functional decline including memory loss, loss of intellect, rationality, language skills, perception, social skills and physical function. Dementia exists in many different forms including Vascular Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, Dementia with Lewy Bodies & the most common form of Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease. (“Key Facts and Statistics,” 2013.) Dementia affects Australians of many ages and although Dementia is not considered a normal aspect of the aging process, approximately 92% of Australians diagnosed with Dementia are over the age of 65 years. ("Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of ageing,” 2012) It is estimated that there are currently over 321,600 Australians living with dementia and approximately 1,700 new cases of dementia diagnosed every week. I believe these incredible statistics combined with Australia’s rapidly aging population make Dementia Australia’s most important health issue in 2013. (“Key Facts and Statistics,” 2013.) The table below highlights the projected population growth & rapidly aging population facing Australia up to 2031. Table 1; [pic]“(Note: Reprinted from (Challenge 1, Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council,” n.d.) Australia’s rapidly aging population will see the number of Australians living with dementia increase by one third, to approximately...
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...then bring the proposal to the nursing and medical directors for the ER. The ANM and NM would have to decide whether the proposed change would be beneficial for the patients and their outcomes and do further research which they would then propose to the directors. From there, they would decide whether the research was sufficient enough to implement a change. C Full APA citation for at least 5 sources | Evidence Strength (1-7) and Evidence Hierarchy | 1. H., Bell, J., Karttunen, N. M., Nykänen, I. A., M., & Hartikainen, S. A. (2013). Analgesic Use and Frailty among Community-Dwelling Older People. Drugs & Aging, 30(2), 129-136. doi:10.1007/s40266-012-0046-8 | 2 and Experimental | 2. Haasum, Y., Fastbom, J., Fratiglioni, L., Kåreholt, I., & Johnell, K. (2011). Pain Treatment in Elderly Persons With and Without Dementia. Drugs & Aging, 28(4), 283-293. doi:10.2165/11587040-000000000-00000 | 2 and Experimental | 3. Nipp MD, R., Sloane MPH, R., Rao MD, A., Schmader MD, K., & Cohen MD, H. (2012). Role of pain medications, consultants, and other services in...
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...“The Wisdom Paradox” (Goldberg, 2005) is a fascinating book about the biology of cognitive wisdom, including its unique costs and benefits. This book provides a thorough explanation of how people in later stages of life successfully undertake major cognitive tasks, as well as how this aptitude can be maximized. With vigorous and life-long mental activity in novel tasks learning new information, an aging person can gain wisdom and minimize clinical brain injury. Wisdom has intellectual, practical, moral, and spiritual facets. It can be defined as extensive pattern recognition of new information or situations as accurately being in some way similar to familiar information or situations, thus leading to successful problem-solving and reasoning abilities. There are many types of wisdom, including genetic, phylum wisdom, species or cultural wisdom, group wisdom, and individual wisdom. The wisdom of the phylum, which is contained in the amygdala, includes genetically-programmed, innate fears and survival mechanisms that have existed in all species for millions of years through evolution. This type of wisdom uses sensory and motor regions of the cortex, as well as subcortical regions of the brain. Cultural wisdom is expressed as language and other symbolic systems passed down through the generations for thousands of years. Language is made up of a self-organizing, complex neural network widely spread throughout various regions of the cortex that are not pre-wired. Group wisdom includes...
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...family caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Today’s college students will be asked to fill both of these roles in the future. This study examined the level of knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease among college students. Two-hundred college students at a mid-sized midwestern university completed an online survey that included the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (Carpenter et al., 2009). Although most participants knew that people with Alzheimer’s remember things from the distant past better than more recent events, many college students were unfamiliar with risk factors and average life expectancy. Implications and recommendations for educational programs and curriculum are discussed. Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are significant health concerns affecting our older adult population (Sullivan & Muscat, 2007). As our population continues to age and our demography shifts to higher proportions of elders, the number of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia continues to increase. Although the causes of dementia are numerous, Alzheimer’s disease, which is irreversible and ultimately fatal, is the most common cause of dementia. About 70% of dementias in the United States are caused by Alzheimer’s disease (Brookmeyer, Evans, Hebert, Langa, & Herringa, 2011). This percentage increases to nearly 80% among those 90 years old or greater who have dementia (Brookmeyer et al.,...
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...Erikson- last three stages: Intimacy vs iso: close reciprocal connection. Not self-absorb. Emerging adult to lifelong iso..Divorce or death disruption.. Generativity vs stag: care for next generation. Raising own children or mentoring. Integrity vs despair: Erikson was 70 and decided on integrity. Personal journey from a person’s entire life in connection with society is the ultimate goal. Generativity: productive stage (7th). Art, care giving, employment. Caregiving: Kinkeeper: takes responsibility for maintaining communication among family. Sandwich Generation: middle aged adults squeezed by the needs of younger and older members of the family. Intimacy: connect with others; social convoy-family, friends, strangers who move through life with a person. Protective layer of social relation. Affects relationships with siblings and spouses. Integration of death and the acceptance of death. Maslow- top to bottom: 5.Self Actualization: need to live into someone’s full potential. Aesthetic, creative, and spiritual understanding. 4. Esteem: achievement, competence, respect from others. 3. Love and belonging: need to be loved, belong and acceptance. 2. Safety: Feel safe/secure.1. Physiological: need food, drink, shelter. Mid Life Crisis: 35-50yrs. Mostly men. Reflect back and evaluate life. Radical self-examination and transformation. Levinson study. The age 40 crucible-Gail Sheehy 1976. Characteristics of Personality: (O.C.E.A.N): “The Big Five” Openness- imaginative, artistic...
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...The Devastation of Dementia: Pathophysiology and Case Study Introduction Relatively little is known about dementia, a disease which affects over 35 million people worldwide (Norton, et al., 2012). Early signs and symptoms may be confused with the “normal” aging process. Those with the disease often try to cover up their mental decline in the early stages, making early diagnosis even more difficult. Educating the medical community and the general population about the signs, symptoms and causes of dementia is an important step in seeking out a cure for this fatal disease. Dementia is a general term for a syndrome that is progressive in nature and is marked by deterioration in cognitive function that is greater than what would normally be expected. There are many types of dementia, the most common of which is Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s Disease accounts for over 60% of the cases of dementia. Vascular Dementia is the second most common form. Others include Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinsonian Dementia, and Frontotemporal Dementia. There is no cure for any type of dementia, although there are treatments that help lessen the symptoms. Dementia is a progressive disorder and always results in death, either from complications such as falls" or pneumonia or the dementia itself. The number of people with dementia worldwide is expected to reach over 115 million by the year 2050. The current cost of treating dementia is over 1.5 times that of all cancers combined (Hurd...
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...Impact Nursing Ageism is a kind of unfairness that affects discrimination on people based upon their age. Sexism and racism are related to ageism include being adverse customs concerning people of various ages Cherry, K. (n.d.). Aging unavoidably includes increased need for health-care assistance at any level also at any position for almost all grown Americans. A summary of the current status of older- healthcare rings with hard info. For example, based on the ILC’s 2006 statement on ageism in America, 90% of elderly Americans nevermore get regular screening examinations for prostate or colon cancer, bone density, or glaucoma—every disease state can advance with age. Sixty percent of elder grown-ups do not get regular preventive health assistance,...
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...A Critical Review and Analysis of the Literature (This assignment is submitted through the Canvas assignment dropbox.) This term paper (3,000 words, double-spaced, 12-point font) is a critical analysis of a topic area within the field of gerontology. The paper is to be based on a review of gerontological literature. Statements made in the paper should be supported by references to published peer-reviewed academic journal articles, book chapters, and books. Your paper must go beyond the material found in your course readings—you are expected to refer to at least 10 to 12 additional academic sources directly related to your topic. All references should follow the American Psychological Association style. Please visit APA (Links to an external site.) for the citation style to be followed for the reference list. Failure to reference properly will be penalized. The following is a list of suggested topics. The purpose of this list is to give you some direction and make you aware of related possibilities. If you wish to write on a topic not included in this list, you must check with the tutor-marker about your proposed topic by the end of week 5. Writing on another topic requires that you demonstrate to the tutor-marker and course supervisor that you have a clear understanding of what you propose to do and that you have verified that sufficient research is available on the topic to enable you to write a paper meeting the course requirements. Sample Topics 1. Describe the impact...
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...Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most frequent causes of dementia (weak-mindedness) at elderly and senile age. Dementia is characterized by the expressed decline of intellectual functions of the person with ability disorders of surrounding conditions and independent actions. The disease is called by the name of A. Alzheimer, who described this form of illness in 1906. In the absence of treatment the disease steadily progresses and leads to the destruction of all mental functions. The etiologies of Alzheimer’s disease are not finally found out. There is a lot of data, testifying to the hereditary nature of the disease. However, there are the cases not caused by the hereditary predisposition, especially at later onset of the disease. Alzheimer’s disease can begin after the age of 50, but more often arises after 70 and especially after 80. Alzheimer’s disease is the disease connected with the destruction of brain cells and leading to a heavy frustration of memory, intelligence, other cognitive functions, and also to serious problems in emotional and behavioral spheres. “Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. It now afflicts nearly 4 million Americans. These numbers are expected to increase dramatically as the U.S. population ages. By the year 2050 approximately 14.5 million people will suffer from Alzheimer’s disease” (Handy: 1998) Alzheimer’s disease is insidious and develops gradually. It affects not old and full of strength people. The first signs of disease...
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...Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most frequent causes of dementia (weak-mindedness) at elderly and senile age. Dementia is characterized by the expressed decline of intellectual functions of the person with ability disorders of surrounding conditions and independent actions. The disease is called by the name of A. Alzheimer, who described this form of illness in 1906. In the absence of treatment the disease steadily progresses and leads to the destruction of all mental functions. The etiologies of Alzheimer’s disease are not finally found out. There is a lot of data, testifying to the hereditary nature of the disease. However, there are the cases not caused by the hereditary predisposition, especially at later onset of the disease. Alzheimer’s disease can begin after the age of 50, but more often arises after 70 and especially after 80. Alzheimer’s disease is the disease connected with the destruction of brain cells and leading to a heavy frustration of memory, intelligence, other cognitive functions, and also to serious problems in emotional and behavioral spheres. “Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. It now afflicts nearly 4 million Americans. These numbers are expected to increase dramatically as the U.S. population ages. By the year 2050 approximately 14.5 million people will suffer from Alzheimer’s disease” (Handy: 1998) Alzheimer’s disease is insidious and develops gradually. It affects not old and full of strength people. The first signs of disease...
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