Aging and Growing Older PDF

Aging and Growing Older © Lisa Michalek  Aging The patterns of life changes that occur as members of a species grow older Biological Age is the age or condition of a person’s organs and body systems Psychological Age is a person’s ability to cope and...

Aging and Growing Older © Lisa Michalek  Aging The patterns of life changes that occur as members of a species grow older Biological Age is the age or condition of a person’s organs and body systems Psychological Age is a person’s ability to cope and adapt to situations, their intelligence, and ability to care for themselves  Aging Social Age refers to people in particular life stages (habits and roles) and usually share the same tastes in music, TV, and politics Legal Age is based on chronological years to determine privileges such as voting, driving, drinking, Social Security Functional Age refers to the way people compare others of a similar age  Why Do We Age? Wear-and-Tear Theory – The human body wears out over a period of time – The more you abuse your body, the faster it will wear out Cellular Theory – At birth we have a limited number of usable cells, which are programmed to reproduce a number of times – Once these cells reach this number, they begin to die as well as the organs they make up  Why Do We Age? The Autoimmune Theory – As we age, our immune systems become less effective in fighting diseases The Genetic Mutation Theory – The number of cells that show unusual or different characteristics increases as we age – The more mutations, the greater the chance that our cells will not function correctly  Aging Bodies The Skin – Becomes thinner, looses elasticity, fat deposits diminish, age spots may appear Bones and Joints – Weakening and diminished density due to loss of minerals The Head – Features (nose, earlobes) enlarge  Aging Bodies The Urinary Tract – Kidneys filter waste much slower and the need to urinate more frequently – Urinary incontinence (the inability to control urination) is common The Heart and Lungs – The amount of blood the heart can push as well as the amount of air that can be inhaled and exhaled decreases with age Eyesight – The lenses of the eyes harden over time and the need for glasses develops – Cataracts (clouding of the lenses) and Glaucoma (increased eye pressure) becomes more likely  Aging Bodies Hearing – The ability to hear some letters and ranges in sounds diminishes with age Sexual Changes – Sexual functioning decreases with age Body Comfort – Loss of body fat, thinning of skin tissues cause more difficulty in regulating body temperature  Aging Minds Intelligence – Slower to learn new skills, but have more practical knowledge from life Memory – Short-term memory may fluctuate Depression – Usually because of other medical illnesses, losses, economic problems, or social isolation Senility – A problem associated with loss of memory, judgment and orientation  Aging Minds Alzheimer’s Disease – A condition involving changes in the nerves of the brain that results in memory loss, disorientation, personality changes, and possible loss of the ability to function independently  Death and Dying Dying – the process of decline in body functions, resulting in the death of an organism Death – The permanent ending of all vital functions Brain Death – The cessation of all functions of the entire brain stem  Coping with Death Denial – “Not me, there must be a mistake” Anger – “Why me?” Bargaining – “If I’m allowed to live, I promise…” Depression – “It’s really going to happen to me, and I can’t do anything about it” Acceptance – “I’m ready”  Deciding to Die Living Will – can indicate a desire to not receive artificial life support when a person is incapable of speaking on his or her own behalf Euthanasia “Mercy Killing” – a person or organization knowing acts to speed up the death of a terminally ill person Dyathanasia – a form of “Mercy Killing” where life- prolonging treatments or interventions are not offered or are withheld, allowing a terminally ill person to die naturally  End of Life Decisions Hospice – a program for terminally ill patients that relieves the dying person’s pain and offers emotional support for the dying person and loved ones Organ Donation – can provide a feeling of personal fulfillment from knowing that their organs may extend and improve someone else’s life after their own death. – This “Gift of Life” choice can be made through donor cards, on the back of drivers’ licenses, and many hospitals provide more information