NURS 102 SPRING 2016

THE AGING ADULT

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THEORIES OF AGING

GENETIC: GENES CONTROL GENETIC CLOCKS

IMMUNITY: FOCUSES ON THE FUNCTIONS OF THE
IMMUNE SYSTEM
CROSS-LINKAGE: CHEMICAL REACTION PRODUCES
DAMAGE TO THE DNA AND CELL DEATH
FREE RADICAL: MOLECULES WITH SEPARATED HIGHENERGY ELECTRONS HAVE ADVERSE EFFECTS ON
ADJACENT MOLECULES

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QUESTION
WHICH THEORY OF AGING FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON CELL
METABOLISM AND FUNCTION?
A. GENETIC THEORY
B. IMMUNITY THEORY
C. CROSS-LINKAGE THEORY
D. FREE RADICAL THEORY

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ANSWER
ANSWER: D. FREE RADICAL THEORY
RATIONALE: THE FOCUS OF THE FREE RADICAL THEORY IS
THE FREE RADICALS FORMED DURING CELLULAR
METABOLISM THAT HAVE ADVERSE EFFECTS ON ADJACENT
MOLECULES. THE GENETIC THEORY FOCUSES ON GENETIC
INHERITANCE. THE IMMUNITY THEORY OF AGING FOCUSES
ON THE FUNCTIONS OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. THE FOCUS
OF THE CROSS-LINKAGE THEORY IS A CHEMICAL
REACTION DAMAGING THE DNA AND CAUSING CELL
DEATH.

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DEVELOPMENT OF THE MIDDLE ADULT

PHYSIOLOGIC: GRADUAL INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL

PHYSIOLOGIC CHANGES OCCUR
COGNITIVE: LITTLE CHANGE FROM YOUNG ADULTHOOD
PSYCHOSOCIAL: TIME OF INCREASED PERSONAL
FREEDOM, ECONOMIC STABILITY, AND SOCIAL
RELATIONSHIPS

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DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS OF MIDDLE

ADULTHOOD

ACCEPT AND ADJUST TO PHYSICAL CHANGES.

MAINTAIN A SATISFACTORY OCCUPATION.
ASSIST CHILDREN TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE ADULTS.
ADJUST TO AGING PARENTS.
RELATE TO ONES SPOUSE OR PARTNER AS A PERSON.

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LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH IN MIDDLE

ADULTHOOD

MALIGNANT NEOPLASMS
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
UNINTENTIONAL INJURY INCLUDING POISONING, MOTOR
VEHICLE ACCIDENTS, AND FALLS
DIABETES MELLITUS
CHRONIC LOWER RESPIRATORY DISEASE
CEREBROVASCULAR CAUSES

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MAJOR HEALTH PROBLEMS

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
OBESITY
ALCOHOLISM
DEPRESSION

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ROLE OF THE NURSE IN PROMOTING

HEALTH

TEACH THE DANGERS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE, SMOKING,

AND ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION.
TEACH ADULTS TO EAT A DIET LOW IN FAT AND
CHOLESTEROL.
TEACH THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR EXERCISE.

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LIFE CHANGES OF THE MIDDLE YEARS

EMPLOYMENT
RELATIONSHIP WITH A SPOUSE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADULT CHILDREN
RELATIONSHIPS WITH AGING PARENTS
MIDLIFE TRANSITION

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DEVELOPMENT OF THE OLDER ADULT

PHYSIOLOGIC: ALL ORGAN SYSTEMS UNDERGO SOME

DEGREE OF DECLINE, BODY LESS EFFICIENT
COGNITIVE: DOES NOT CHANGE APPRECIABLY, MAY TAKE
LONGER TO RESPOND AND REACT
PSYCHOSOCIAL: SELF-CONCEPT IS RELATIVELY STABLE
THROUGHOUT ADULT LIFE.
ERIKSON: EGO INTEGRITY VERSUS DESPAIR AND
DISGUST; LIFE REVIEW

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COMMON MYTHS OF THE OLDER ADULTS

(AGEISM)

OLD AGE BEGINS AT 65 YEARS.

MOST OLDER ADULTS ARE IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.
OLDER ADULTS ARE SICK, AND MENTAL DETERIORATION OCCURS.
OLDER ADULTS ARE NOT INTERESTED IN SEX.
OLDER ADULTS DO NOT CARE HOW THEY LOOK AND ARE LONELY.
BLADDER PROBLEMS ARE A PROBLEM OF AGING.
OLDER ADULTS DO NOT DESERVE AGGRESSIVE TREATMENT FOR
ILLNESSES.

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CHANGES OF OLDER ADULTHOOD

1. PHYSICAL STRENGTH AND HEALTH

2. RETIREMENT AND REDUCED INCOME
3. HEALTH OF SPOUSE
4. RELATING TO ONES AGE GROUP
5. SOCIAL ROLES
6. LIVING ARRANGEMENTS
7. FAMILY AND ROLE REVERSAL

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BASIS FOR TEACHING PLAN FOR OLDER

ADULTS
CHRONIC ILLNESS LIMITS ACTIVITIES IN ALMOST HALF OF
OLDER ADULTS.
MEETING EXPENSES OF HEALTH CARE IS OFTEN DIFFICULT.
MEDICATION COSTS, HOSPITALIZATION COSTS, AND COSTS OF
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

FAMILY MEMBERS MUST LEARN TO COPE WITH NEEDS OF THE

ILL PERSON.
FAMILY MEMBERS MUST ADAPT TO PSYCHOLOGICAL
STRESSORS.

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CAUSES OF ACCIDENTAL INJURIES IN

OLDER ADULTS

1. CHANGES IN VISION AND HEARING

2. LOSS OF MASS AND STRENGTH OF MUSCLES
3. SLOWER REFLEXES AND REACTION TIME
4. DECREASED SENSORY ABILITY
5. COMBINED EFFECTS OF CHRONIC ILLNESS AND
MEDICATIONS
6. ECONOMIC FACTORS

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MENTAL IMPAIRMENT IN OLDER ADULTS

DEMENTIA
ALZHEIMER DISEASE
SUNDOWNING SYNDROME
CASCADE IATROGENESIS

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GOAL OF NURSING CARE

PROMOTE INDEPENDENT FUNCTION.
SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS.
PREVENT COMPLICATIONS OF ILLNESS.
SECURE A SAFE AND COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT.
PROMOTE RETURN TO HEALTH.

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ASSESSMENT TOOL: SPICES

S SLEEP DISORDERS
P PROBLEMS WITH EATING OR FEEDING
I INCONTINENCE
C CONFUSION
E EVIDENCE OF FALLS
S SKIN BREAKDOWN (FULMER & WALLACE, 2012)

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ELDER MALTREATMENT

AS MANY AS TWO MILLION PEOPLE OLDER THAN 65 YEARS

OF AGE SUFFER FROM ABUSE, NEGLECT, OR
EXPLOITATION, INFLICTED BY FAMILY MEMBERS IN 90% OF
CASES (STARK, 2012).
PHYSICAL ABUSE, SEXUAL ABUSE, EMOTIONAL OR
PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE, NEGLECT, ABANDONMENT, AND
FINANCIAL OR MATERIAL EXPLOITATION ARE ALL TYPES OF
ELDER MALTREATMENT (NATIONAL CENTER ON ELDER
ABUSE, 2011).

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