Theories of Aging: Free Radicals and Programmed Theory

• Geriatrics focus on the care of aging adults and the study of the aging process.
• Important to assess your own feelings, attitudes, and values regarding aging.

Historical Perspective on the Study of Aging

• In the 1960s attention focused on adults aged 20-65 years, who were the largest and most productive segment of the population at the time.
• Disability, illness and early death were accepted as natural and unvoidable
• Late 1960s research showed adults of all ages were not the same
• Improved medical knowledge and technology helped people live longer, heathier lives.
• Older adults constitute a significant portion of society and the study of aging is increasing

Geriatric vs Gerontology vs Gerontics

• Geriatric derives from the word "geras" meaning old age and "iatro," relating to medial treatment.
• Geriatric treats diseases affecting the elderly.
• Gerontology derives from "gero" meaning related to old age, and "ology" meaning study of.
• Gerontology studies the aspects of aging, including problems of older adults and society.
• Gerontics coined in 1979, encompasses holistic nursing care for older adults.

Attitude Toward Aging

• Reflect on your personal attitude towards aging
• Understand your personal values and knowledge about aging
• It's essential to examine and understand your mindset before caring for older adults

Gerontophobia: A Societal Refusal

• Gerontophobia is the fear of aging and a refusal to accept seniors into society's mainstream.
• Seen in cases such as teenagers purchasing anti-wrinkle creams and people pursuing younger spouses.

Confronting Ageism:

• Understand implicit negative beliefs about aging.
• Ageism involves disliking of aging and older adults based on negative beliefs.
• Ageism allows the young to separate themselves physically and emotionally.
• Age discrimination leads to actions, older adults are treated differently because of age.
• Age discrimination includes denying employment, loans, and healthcare, which is illegal.

Legislative Activity: Health Care Provisions

• Medicare programs provide health care funding for older adults and disabled persons.
• Healthcare costs have risen over the years, with the U.S. spending the most but not providing care for all citizens.

Impact of Aging on Families

• Extended lifespans are leading to more older family members, many needing assistance and are living with chronic conditions.
• Changing family dynamics can lead to crises, with common solutions including integrating the aging parent into a child's home or placing them in long-term care.

Elder Abuse: Recognizing and Preventing Harm

• Elder abuse constitutes something done to someone and self-neglect is a problem in the older adult population.
• The signs of self-neglect can be inability to manage daily living, finances, hygiene and medical appointments.
• There is intentional abuse, families with histories of confliction or violence.
• There is unintentional abuse, when the caregiver lacks the knwoeldge and stamina needed to care for an older loved one
• Older adults may deal with verbal agreement or compliance with the caregiver, poor hygiene, malnutrition, bruising and inadequate clothing
• The extreme negative effects can be physical, financial, pyschological, or emotional.

Healthcare Settings And Elder Abuse

• Inappropriate use of medication can be considered abuse.
• Other abuse includes ethnic slurs or withholding privileges.
• In institutional settings, staffing issues commonly contribute to the abuse of older adults, stress reduction programs can reduce likelihood of abuse.

Support and Respite: A Caregiver's Lifeline

• Caregivers want or need to share their experiences and frustrations started forming support groups to help each other cope with stress
• Support groups allow caregivers to share their feelings
• Respite care reduces stress and potential to abuse
• Respite care gives the primary caregiver the opportunity to attend church, go shopping, conduct personal business, obtain medical care, or simply participate in leisure activities.

Theories of Aging: The Quest for Understanding

• No single unified rationale has been identified for why we age and why people live lives of different lengths.

Theories vs. Facts:

• A fact is a world observation. e.g. It's bright outside.
• A well-substantiated explanation acquired through the scientific method is a theory. e.g. When the sun is out, it tends to make it bright outside.

Programed and Error Theories

• Programmed theory has a a biological clock.
• Runout-of-program theory has every person has limited amount of genetic material
• Rate-Of-Living theory has a finite number of breathes and heartbeats are used up over time.
• Gene theory is when harmful genes activate over time.
• Error theory proposes that synthesis results to cause errors in the cells of the body.

Somatic, Free Radical and Crosslink Theories

• Somatic Mutation Theory damage from chemicals or radiation causes abnormalities leading to disease or loss of function later in life.
• Free Radical Theory explains cell damage, molecules producted that damage cells or the immune system.
• Crosslink or Connective Tissue Theory says radicals cause bonds that decrease the tissue ability to replace itsself.
• Wear-and-tear theories internal or external stressors decrease function.
• The combination of somatic mutation, free radical and crosslink theories is known as Clinker theory

The Last Theories

• Neuroendocrine involves the chemical reactions set off by the hypothalamus of the brain.
• Reliability theory means to describe degradation and failure of body systems.
• Immunologic theory is that the immune system lessens over time and makes aging people more susceptible to disease.

Psychosocial Theories

• To explain why aging persons separate form the mainstream of society means This theory proposes that all people are systematically seperated because society can not benefit older adults
• Disengagement theory states that older people withdraw from society as they would like.
• Activity theory states that active participation in physical and mental activities helps to maintain functioning well into old age.

Psychological Developments

• In Erikson's theory, if the needs are met, babies trust.
• In Erikson's theory, toddlers doing things is known ass doing things for themselves or doubting abilities.
• In Erikson's theory, knowing one's self is the last step between learning and discovering for teens.

Additional Theories for Aging

Newmman's has identified tasks of aging from coping with physical activity, redirecting energy to new activities, accepting one's life and death.

• Jung proposed that as aging continues, someone will want to focus as well to search and set goals.
• Havighurst details a task of aging and in a flexible way of certain arrangements.

Expected changes of aging

• Normal changes during the aging process effect structure and function
• Changes may indicate disease or illness, so expect that the nurses differentiate
• Physical changes affect normal and day-to-day functions.

Aging of the Integumentary System

• Expected changes are on the skin
• The study of aging is increased, which may show symptoms to indicate issues with skin

Care Strategies for the Nursing Aspects

• Nurses should institute measures to reduce pressure over boney areas
• Monitor the room temperature and provide protection
• Provide a good amount of fluid to prevent dehydration.