Health Promotion for Older Adults

Learning Objectives

• Describe health promotion activities for older adults
• Discuss theories of aging
• Describe normal aging changes and their relation to health promotion
• Discuss strategies for preventing health problems in older adults
• Describe leading causes of mortality in older adults
• Explain how health promotion impacts issues like disability, morbidity, and mortality
• Analyze social and political issues affecting older adults' well-being
• Identify resources for healthy living for older adults

Biology and Genetics: Older Persons Health Promotion

• Misconceptions regarding disease prevention and health promotion hinder older adults' engagement.
• Multiple factors (environmental, economic, physiological, genetic, psychological, social, cultural) influence aging.
• Chronic illness and multiple health problems reduce the ability to adopt healthy behaviors.

Theories of Aging

• Previously, death certificates often simply stated "old age" as the cause.
• There's no single formula to predict how a person will age.
• Research focuses on physiological, social, and psychological aspects of aging and death.
• Factors under study include genetics, diet, antioxidants.

Gordon's Functional Health Patterns

• Health Perception-Health Management Pattern: Importance of motivation, active participation, and understanding older adults' needs
• Nutritional-Metabolic Pattern: Energy needs differ by age, importance of social interaction, nutritional problems, and food assistance
• Elimination Pattern: Changes to bowel and bladder function, medications affecting elimination, physical activity and environment impacting elimination.
• Activity-Exercise Pattern: Benefits of exercise for older adults, finding culturally appropriate exercises, ensuring a gradual increase in activity.
• Sleep-Rest Pattern: Normal sleep changes with aging, need for pain management, environmental factors, and the role of naps.
• Cognitive-Perceptual Pattern: Brain changes affect memory, problem-solving, and decision-making; cognitive problems aren't normal consequences of aging; dementia screenings for routine exams.
• Self-Perception-Self-Concept Pattern: Erikson's theory of ego integrity vs. despair in older adults, factors affecting retirement satisfaction, e.g. good health, income, environment and support.
• Roles-Relationships Pattern: Change in roles such as grandparenting and retirement, challenges and influences related to roles
• Sexuality-Reproductive Pattern: Continued sexual activity for many older adults, changing focus in sexual expression, disabling conditions and hormonal changes.
• Coping-Stress Tolerance Pattern: Depression risk factors for older adults, risk factors for suicide
• Values-Beliefs Pattern: Importance of spirituality, spiritual assessment tools and encouraging discussions

Health Perception-Health Management Pattern

• Nurses play roles in fostering motivation and understanding their health goals for success.
• Important to encourage active participation in care and not underestimate abilities
• Promoting health and preventing frailty through activities
• Recognizing that Indigenous peoples have poorer health outcomes compared to other ethnic groups
• Preventative services include immunizations, screenings, and smoking cessation counseling.
• Health-maintenance behaviors are vital including regular checkups, exercise, good nutrition, and safe sexual practices
• Health screenings tailored for older adults include kidney insufficiency, alcohol issues, and polypharmacy

Mobility Devices for Older Persons

• Mobility devices enhance daily living and socializing.
• Facilitate travel, visiting family and friends.
• Supports ADL activities.

Environmental Processes: Physical Agents

• Falls are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for older adults.
• Falls increase the need for care and decrease independence.
• Preventative strategies like seniors' driving courses and awareness of aging-related changes are necessary to reduce fall risks.

Elder Mistreatment

• Elder abuse encompasses various forms of harm, including physical, neglect, emotional, psychological, verbal abuse, and exploitation.
• Victims are often single women over 75 who depend on caregivers for food or shelter.
• Abusers are often adult children with poor impulse control.

Biological Agents

• Decreased immune function and vaccination history can be of concern for older adults.
• Influenza and COVID-19 are major causes of morbidity and mortality in older people.
• Pneumococcal infections are common causes of death.
• Recommendation: yearly vaccination and booster vaccinations

Chemical Agents

• Drug absorption, metabolism, and excretion change with age, affecting medication responses
• Medications can have adverse effects
• Medication-medication interactions are common
• Promoting medication history review and starting with lowest effective dose is prudent
• Considering ability to self-administer and medication costs is essential

Alcohol and Tobacco Use

• Alcohol use is often underestimated or underdiagnosed in older adults.
• Older adults are more susceptible to alcohol's effects.
• Cumulative effects of alcohol use over a lifetime significantly affect health.
• Tobacco smoking correlates with chronic health conditions in older adults
• Smoking cessation promotes better health outcomes even in later life.

Social Determinants

• Health care delivery system coverage varies in terms of supporting health promotion.
• Long-term care options including insurance, advance directives, and home healthcare are necessary.
• Community services for older adults such as visiting nurses, home health aides, transportation, and nutritious meals are crucial for independent living.
• Health literacy matters in understanding health information and making needed choices
• Considerations and options for continuing care include retirement communities.

Health Care Delivery System Types of Facilities

• Retirement community living is appropriate if the individual remains oriented to place, person, and time.
• Independent living is suitable if the patient is not consistently experiencing memory loss
• Assisted living or nursing facilities are vital for increased care and support

Health-Promotion Interventions

• Motivation for healthy lifestyle changes is a crucial predictor of success.
• A fatalistic approach to aging and illness can discourage necessary lifestyle changes.

This quiz explores health promotion activities specifically designed for older adults, addressing theories of aging and the impact of normal aging changes on health. It discusses strategies to prevent health problems and identifies resources to support healthy living for seniors. Delve into the social and political issues that affect the well-being of older adults.