Unit 1: The Aging Population PPT PDF

Unit 1: The Aging Population NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO) At the end of the unit, you are expected to: 1 Explain the different ways in which older adu...

Unit 1: The Aging Population NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO) At the end of the unit, you are expected to: 1 Explain the different ways in which older adults have been viewed throughout history. 2 Describe the characteristics of today’s older population. 3 Identify the leading chronic conditions and the leading causes of death of the older population. 4 Discuss nursing care of the older adults. 5 Appreciate the implications of an aging population. 6 Describe the characteristics of the Baby Boomers. NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  1 NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Overview of Aging Aging, the normal process of time- related change, begins with birth and continues throughout life. As the older adult population increases, the number of people who live to a very old age is also dramatically increasing. NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Myths and Misconceptions “Families forget their older relatives.” “Most people become senile in old age.” “Social Security provides every older person with a decent retirement income.” “A majority of older people reside in nursing homes.” “Medicare covers all health care-related costs for older people.” NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  2 NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Views of Older Adults Through History In the time of Confucius, there was a direct correlation between a person’s age and the degree of respect to which he or she was entitled. The early Egyptians dreaded growing old and experimented with a variety of potions and schemes to maintain their youth. Opinions were divided among the early Greeks. Plato promoted older adults as society’s best leaders, whereas Aristotle denied older people any role in governmental matters. NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Views of Older Adults Through History In the Roman Empire, the sick and aged were customarily the first to be killed. In the Bible is God’s concern for the well-being of the family and desire for people to respect elders (Honor your father and your mother … Exodus 20:12). Medieval times gave rise to strong feelings regarding the superiority of youth; these feelings were expressed in uprisings of sons against fathers. NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Views of Older Adults Through History Although England developed Poor Laws in the early 17th century that provided care for the destitute and enabled older persons without family resources to have some modest safety net, many of the gains were lost during the Industrial Revolution. No labor laws protected persons of advanced age; those unable to meet the demands of industrial work settings were placed at the mercy of their offspring or forced to beg on the streets for sustenance. In the Philippines, Republic Act 7432 or the Seniors Citizen’s Act in 1992, later Republic Act 9994 (Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010), later Republic Act 11916 (2022). NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  3 NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Characteristic of the Older Adult Population Older adults are generally defined as individuals aged 65 years and older. At one time, all persons over 65 years of age were grouped together under the category of “old.” Now it is recognized that much diversity exists among different age groups in late life and older individuals can be further categorized as follows: ▪ Youngest-old: 65 to 74 years ▪ Middle-old: 75 to 84 years ▪ Oldest-old: 85+ NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Characteristic of the Older Adult Population Chronological age – the years a person has lived since birth Functional age – term used by gerontologists to describe physical, psychological, and social function; Perceived age – another term that is used to describe how people estimate a person’s age based on appearance. Age identity – how people feel or perceive their own age NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Characteristic of the Older Adult Population Life expectancy—the average number of years that a person can expect to live—varies by gender and race, with women living longer than men and White women having the longest life expectancy. Life expectancy has risen dramatically in the past 100 years. The older adult population is becoming more diverse, reflecting changing demographics. Maximum life span = believed to be 122 years for humans NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  4 NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Health Status of the Older Adults Most older adults have at least one chronic illness, and many have multiple health conditions. Chronic conditions, many of which are preventable or treatable, are the major cause of disability and pain among older adults. (multiple = comorbidity) Many chronic conditions commonly found among older people can be managed, limited, and even prevented. Nurses need to promote positive lifelong health behaviors, because the impact of unhealthy behaviors and choices can result in chronic disease. NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Health Status of the Older Adults NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  5 NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Nursing Care of the Older Adults Gerontology, the study of the aging process, is a multidisciplinary field that draws from the biologic, psychologic, and sociologic sciences. Geriatrics is the practice (medical or nursing) that focuses on the physiology, pathology, diagnosis, and management of the disorders and diseases of older adults. Gerontologic/geriatric nursing is the field of nursing that specializes in the care of older adults, provided in acute care, skilled and assisted living, the community, and home settings. NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Nursing Care of the Older Adults Nurses who are certified in geriatric nursing have specialized knowledge of the acute and chronic challenges specific to older adults. The use of advanced practice nurses who have been educated in geriatric nursing concepts has proved to be very effective when dealing with the complex care needs of an older patient. When best practices are used and current scientific knowledge applied to clinical problems, there is significantly less deterioration in the overall health of aging patients (ANA, 2010). NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Nursing Care of the Older Adults Functional assessment is a common framework for assessing older adults. Assessing the functional consequences of aging and proposing practical interventions helps to maintain and improve the health of older adults (Miller, 2019). The goal is to help older adults sustain maximum functional level and dignity despite physical, social, and psychological losses. Early intervention can prevent complications of many health problems and help maximize the quality of life. NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  6 NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Implications of an Aging Population The growing number of persons older than 65 years impacts health and social service agencies and health care providers—including gerontological nurses—that serve this group. As the older adult population grows, these agencies and providers must anticipate future needs of services and payment for these services. Baby boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964—who will be the next wave of senior citizens. NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Baby Boomers Most have children, but this generation’s low birth rate means that they will have fewer biologic children available to assist them in old age. They are better educated than preceding generations with slightly more than half having attended or graduated from college. Their household incomes tend to be higher than other groups, partly due to two incomes (three out of four baby boomer women are in the labor force), and most own their own homes. NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Baby Boomers They favor a more casual dress code than do previous generations of older adults. They are enamored with “high-tech” products, are likely to own a computer, and spend several hours online daily Their leisure time is scarcer than other adults, and they are more likely to report feeling stressed at the end of the day As inventors of the fitness movement, they exercise more frequently than do other adults. NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Baby Boomers Assumptions They are informed consumers of health care and desire a highly active role in their care. They are most likely not going to be satisfied with the conditions of today’s nursing homes Their blended families may need special assistance because of the potential caregiving demands of several sets of stepparents and step-grandparents. NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Baby Boomers Communication Tip Many baby boomers want to be informed health care consumers and are comfortable communicating via e-mail and text messages. They may prefer electronic appointment reminders and reports from diagnostic tests rather than telephone calls, and they appreciate links to fact sheets about their conditions and treatments. However, some members of this generation are not tech savvy and prefer traditional communication means, so it is important to ask about preferred style of communication during the assessment. NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  7 NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Aging Population in the Workplace Older workers have been found to be more reliable, loyal, and satisfied. They often are found to be more beneficial to employers due to the flexibility in the hours they are willing to work. Older workers, as compared to workers of all other ages, have been found to have the highest rate of fatal injuries. NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Aging Population in the Workplace Nurse’s Role evaluate the ability of older workers to perform specific jobs ensure capabilities are matched to job requirements promote ergo-friendly work environment Counsel older employees on the importance of self-care provide education related to health and safety. NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Practice Realities You are in the break room of a hospital unit where several of the nurses are eating the birthday cake of Nurse Clark who is celebrating her 66th birthday. “I’m so glad to have coworkers like you and work that gives me a sense of purpose,” Nurse Clark commented as she thanked everyone and left the room. Nurse Blake in a low voice commented to the person sitting next to her, “I just don’t get it. I’m half her age and this job drains me, so you know it’s got to be taking its toll on her. Plus, we often get stuck doing the heavy work that she can’t do.” “I know she doesn’t have the physical capabilities that some others may,” says Nurse Edwards, “but she sure is a storehouse of information and the patients love her.” “Yes, but that isn’t helping my back when I have to pick up the slack for her,” responds Nurse Blake. What are the challenges of having different generations in the workplace? Should allowances be made for older workers, and if so, what can be done to support these? NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN  Thank You! NCM 114: Care of Older Adults Caesar G. Balatero, RN, MN