Communication and Aging Overview

Gerontology: A broad study of the aging process, using a multidisciplinary approach
- Biological Aging: The process of the body slowly wearing out, with an emphasis on internal and external/environmental factors. Preventative care can improve longevity.
- Psychological Aging: Focuses on cognitive decline and deficits in aging, like memory loss.
- Social Aging: Examines social roles and expectations related to aging.
Geriatrics: Focuses on health issues specific to older adults
- Biological Factors: Aging theories propose that protein production errors accumulate over time, potentially causing organ dysfunction.
- Psychological Factors: Psychologists focus on decline and deficits, including memory loss.
- Sociological/Political Economy of Aging: Examines social and economic factors affecting aging, including how social and economic structures negatively impact older adults.
- Biomedicalization of Aging: Views aging as an exclusively medical issue, needing medical interventions, when in reality it's more multifaceted.
- Lifespan Approach: Erikson’s (1968) concept of lifespan development emphasizes the ongoing developmental process throughout life, and the possibility of continued challenges across the lifespan.

Socioemotional Selectivity Theory: Older adults prioritize their immediate relationships and social interactions.
Continuity Theory: Aging is characterized by a continuation of pre-existing patterns of behavior, experiences, and traits.
Activity Theory: The idea that those who maintain high levels of activity are usually more successful in aging.

Normal Aging: The type of aging that is common and consistent across individuals.
Pathological Aging: Changes associated with age-related illnesses or diseases, like Alzheimer's.

Language Comprehension: Older adults may experience challenges understanding complex sentence structures or embedded clauses, particularly those involving short-term memory.
Short-Term Memory: The ability to hold a small amount of information for a short time decrease with age.
Long-Term Memory: The ability to retain information over long periods is less affected in older adults though the retention of newly acquired or learned material is impacted.
Executive Function: The ability to plan, initiate, complete, and oversee goal-directed behaviors, including the function of multitasking, may be affected.

Stress: A substantial factor impacting cognitive functioning in Older Adults
Fatigue: impacting cognitive performance
Not feeling well: can negatively affect cognitive functioning.
Depression: can affect cognitive function

Communication Predicament Model: This model describes the negative stereotypes around aging, which influence how people communicate and interact with older adults.
Communication Enhancement Model: The opposite of the predicament model, with the emphasis on tailoring communication to meet the needs and circumstances of the individual. This model advocates for respecting personal agency and needs to enhance communication of older adults.
Person-Centered Communication: A style of communication that focuses on the individual attributes of the person being talked to.
Patronizing Talk: A style of communication that involves using overly simplistic or condescending language towards older adults, can be detrimental to the well-being of the recipient.
Conversational Style Modifications: Changes in discourse and speech styles of younger and older generations that impact how communications between generations occur. Simplified tone and vocabulary by younger generations, leading to miscommunication and misunderstandings.
Linguistic Brokers: People with unique language skills that aid those lacking it in intergenerational interactions..
Intergenerational Communication Schemas: Cognitive representations of stereotypes on older people that may affect communication.

Effective communication strategies use credible information and consider cultural and linguistic differences to best aid in understanding of health issues and situations.

Mild TBI: Brief consciousness changes.
Moderate TBI: Loss of consciousness for over 30 minutes but less than a day.
Severe TBI: Loss of consciousness for over one day.
Risk Factors: Fall-related accidents, sports injuries, motor vehicle accidents.
Possible Symptoms: Loss of memory, confusion, headaches, seizures.

MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment): A noticeable decline in cognitive function (e.g., memory), but without a severe impact on daily tasks.
Dementia: Progressive cognitive decline with significant impact on daily activities. Associated with diseases like Alzheimer's and other forms.
Conversion to Dementia The chance that MCI will progress.

This method is patient-directed and emphasizes the patient's life goals, needs, and interests, and establishes relationships for support.

Is a significant decline in cognitive function that does not affect daily living operations. More prevalent in older adults and is often associated with conversion to dementia. Memory loss is a common factor associated with MCI and dementia.