Geriatrics & Gerontology: Myths of Aging - PDF

DEFINITION OF TERMS Geriatrics - medical care of older adults. Gerontology - multidisciplinary & specialized area within various disciplines such as nursing, psychology and social work. Geriatric nursing - care of the sick elderly. Gerontologic Nursing - includes not only the care of a sick elderly...

DEFINITION OF TERMS Geriatrics - medical care of older adults. Gerontology - multidisciplinary & specialized area within various disciplines such as nursing, psychology and social work. Geriatric nursing - care of the sick elderly. Gerontologic Nursing - includes not only the care of a sick elderly but also health maintenance, prevention of illness and the promotion of quality life. Ageism - stereotyping and discriminating against Based on the statics female outlive male older individual or groups on the basis of aging. adults. Coined by Robert Neil Butler to describe Life Expectancy (males) = 67.08 (2019) & 71.88 discrimination against older person. (2050) Life Expectancy (females) = 75.31 (2019) & 79.5 MYTHS Of AGING (2050) Myth: Being Old, being Sick ETHNICITY Fact: Only 5 % of older adults are frail enough to require long-term care facilities U.K. and U.S. Fact: Most elder adults have chronic diseases Elderly citizens live "lonely lives separated from but function quite well. their children and lifelong friends." Myth: Older Adults are set on their ways and can’t As their health deteriorates, the elderly in these learn new things cultures often move to retirement Fact: Older Adults learn new things and should be communities. challenged to stay mentally active. Greek and Greek-American culture Fact: Older adults who engage in challenging Old age is honoured and celebrated, and activities to keep their minds active are less likely respect for elders is central to the family. to get set in their ways and are even less likely to It’s common for the elders to be expected to develop Alzheimer’s disease. pass down their learnings to younger members Myth: Health Promotion is wasted on Older Adults of the family. Fact: It is never too late to begin good lifestyle Korea habits such as eating a healthy diet and Younger members of the family have a duty to engaging in exercise. care for the aging members of the family. Fact: Although it may not be possible to reverse The hwan-gap, or 60th birthday, is a joyous time all the damage, it is never too late to stop bad when children celebrate their parents’ passage habits such as smoking cigarettes or drinking into old age. too much alcohol and enjoy better health China outcomes. Chinese families traditionally view filial piety Myth: The elderly do not pull their own weight. and respect for one’s elders as the highest Fact: Older adults contribute greatly to society virtue, deriving from the Confucian tradition. by supporting the arts, doing volunteer work, “Placing your parents in retirement homes will and helping with grandchildren see you labelled as uncaring or a bad son” Fact: Paid employment is not the only measure Japan of value and productivity and older adults The elderly are generally treated with the continue to work into advanced old age. utmost respect. Myth: “It’s too late now to change my bad habits. The horse is out of the barn.” Many Japanese live to be well over 100 years old. Fact: The risk of heart disease begins to fall as Ancient Rome soon as the elderly quit smoking Elders were a precious resource. Fact: Exercise dramatically increases physical fitness, muscle size, and strength in older adults. The old were expected to act with moderation Myth: Older adults have no interest in sex and dignity, at all times. India Fact: Although sexual activity does decrease in Many Indians live in joint family units, with the some older adults, there are tremendous differences. Most often, the human need elders acting as the head of the household. affection, physical contact continues The elderly are often the most religious and throughout life charitable members of the family. Philippines Filipinos treat elders with the utmost respect. CATEGORIES OF AGING The reason why there are only 13 nursing homes in the 7,107 islands of the country is that 60 to 74 – Young old age we want them to age in their own homes. 75 to 84 – Old age 85 to 100 – Old-old age Over 100 – Centenarians LEARN Model Tool of cultural assessment in which the Gerontological nurse works with Elderly. L – Listen carefully to what the elder is saying. And to Nutritional – minimize food intake & to select the non verbal communication. food of low caloric value. E – Explain your perception of the situation & the Relaxation – allow to remove the entropy problem. created during a normal day’s activities. A – Acknowledge & discuss similarities and differences between your perception and goal’s and those with the D. Nutrient Deprivation Theory elders. Vascular changes in aging deprives cells of R – Recommend a plan that takes perspectives into nutrients and oxygen. account. N – Negotiate a plan that is mutually acceptable. E. Cross-Linking Theory Accumulation of crossed-linked proteins damages cells & tissues, slowing down bodily THEORIES OF AGING processes resulting in aging Certain proteins in human cells interact 1. BIOLOGICAL/PHYSIOLOGICAL AGING THEORY randomly and produce molecules that get linked in such a way as to make the body stiffer. A. Wear and Tear Theory deterioration theory F. Free Radical Theory body systems as used overtime “wear out” thus Accumulation of oxidative damage causes they can no longer function correctly. functional deterioration leads to accumulation of peroxidation products > suppression of Strategies to Adapt to Wear and Tear Theory: antioxidative defense system. Be aware of stressors & emotional & physical reaction: Understand more about stress itself. Ways to slow Down the damage: Determine how the body respond to stress & 1. Eating more antioxidant foods. find solution. 2. Cutting Calorie intake. B. Somatic Theory G. Accumulative Waste Theory From the time of conception, body cells in our The by-products and damaged mitochondria, genes continue to reproduce. As cells divide, resulting from molecule oxidation accumulate there is a chance that some genes will be copied in the non-dividing cells causing dysfunction, incorrectly (mutation) > causes problems in the toxicity, aging and cell death. body’s functioning related to aging. Mechanism of Waste accumulation that affects cell: C. The Law of Entropy Theory Changes in the structural organization of the Entropy is the measure of disorder or cells. randomness in a system such as the human Accumulation of waste materials within the cell body. worsen the damage due to toxicity. A system involving spontaneous process left to Non-dividing cells are more susceptible than the itself. dividing cells. The relationship of Entropy to the characteristics of a Mechanism for damage repair: spontaneous physical system: Autophagy – cellular & proteins within the cells Decay – a system will decay faster if insufficient undergo breakdown are recycled for making a work from the outside world is applied to the new protein and organelles. system. Deteriorates – a soft system deteriorates How to increase Autophagy: (worsen) faster than a hard one. 1. Intermittent fasting Particles – addition of more particles increase 2. Exercise entropy of the system. 3. Certain drugs and supplements Complexity – increasing the complexity of a system results in larger entropy. H. Rate of Living Theory Time – passage of time causes system entropy “Organisms with higher metabolic rate may to increase automatically unless adequate actually live longer than a person with lower reventropy is supplied. metabolic rate.” Random Activities – entropy increases, the degree of random activities within the system. Two distinct factors believed to govern length of life: System Entropy – if the system entropy 1. A genetically determined metabolic potential. increases the energy becomes less available for 2. Rate of metabolism. useful work. Ways to boost Metabolism: Reventropy (Reversing Entropy) 1. Drink a lot of water. Systems deteriorates with increasing body mass 2. Do physical activities (burns more calories). & energy. 3. Get enough sleep (7-9 hours). Ways to reduce body decay: I. Autoimmune Theory Physical – developing routine of aerobic and Decrease in immune function may enhance the muscle building exercises. auto immune response, causing the body to Mental – brain needs to be stimulated & produce antibodies that attacks itself. stressed on a regular basis.  As immune system age, it becomes harder for the body cells to distinguish themselves from foreign cells. The elderly are frequently present with respiratory and urinary infections and usually with poor prognosis. Coping strategies: Eat healthy diet Exercise regularly Sleep Practice stress management Acknowledge your trigger J. Error Theory The cellular can’t function normally causing cellular breakdowns, deterioration, and eventually death in the host. The structure of DNA is altered as people age. Translation and transcription malfunction. Aging/illness/cancer directly or indirectly. Genetic Therapy Technique: 1. Killing of specific cells – the aim is to insert DNA into the diseased cell causing the selected cell to die. 2. Gene Augmentation Therapy – stops the cell from producing functioning products. 3. Gene Inhibition Therapy – introduction of gene that inhibits expression of another gene as in infectious disease and cancer. 2. PHYSIOLOGICAL AGING THEORY A. Stress theory Effects of environmental stressors (generation of free radicals > disrupts DNA & CHON function > aging). B. Adaptation theory Adaptation involves careful tuning of functions at every level for bodily integration > absence of the required adaptive genomic information > aging. 3. PSYCHOSOCIAL AGING THEORY A. Disengagement theory After retirement, older adult tends to withdraw from groups or society, making them less active. B. Activity theory Retirement may not be harmful if older persons actively maintain other roles like familial or recreational roles. C. Continuity theory Old age is not viewed as a terminal part of life, rather it’s a latter part is the It is the continuation of the earlier part of life. 4. PSYCHOLOGICAL AGING THEORY A. Carl Jung's Theory of Individualism Focus is toward the inner experience. B. Erikson's Development Theory (ego integrity vs despair) Preoccupation with acceptance of eventual death.