Chapter 1 Overview of the aging process

Chapter 1 Overview of the aging process. CREATIVE SOLUTIONS COMPANION CARE SERVICES Nursing Equipment &.

[Audio] Define health, aging and quality of life Common chronic health conditions Changes in the 5 senses Psychosocial changes later in life Understanding "healthy aging".

[Audio] Definition of Health: the state of being free from illness or injury or a person's mental or physical condition.

[Audio] Definition of Aging is the process of growing old.

[Audio] Definition of quality of life is the standard of health, comfort and happiness experienced by an individual or group..

[Audio] Cystic Fibrosis Diabetes Eating Disorders Heart Disease Obesity Oral Health Osteoporosis Sudden Cardiac Arrest Tobacco Related Disorders – COPD.

[Audio] Aging Changes in the 5 senses HEARING VISION TASTE SMELL TOUCH.

[Audio] As you age, the way your senses (hearing, vision, taste, smell, touch) give you information about the world changes. Your senses become less sharp, and this can make it harder for you to notice details. Sensory changes can affect your lifestyle. You may have problems communicating, enjoying activities, and staying involved with people. Sensory changes can lead to isolation. Your senses receive information from your environment. This information can be in the form of sound, light, smells, tastes, and touch. Sensory information is converted into nerve signals that are carried to the brain. There, the signals are turned into meaningful sensations..

[Audio] A certain amount of stimulation is required before you become aware of a sensation. This minimum level of sensation is called the threshold. Aging raises this threshold. You need more stimulation to be aware of the sensation. Aging can affect all of the senses, but usually hearing and vision are most affected. Devices such as glasses and hearing aids, or lifestyle changes can improve your ability to hear and see..

[Audio] Your ears have two jobs. One is hearing and the other is maintaining balance. Hearing occurs after sound vibrations cross the eardrum to the inner ear. The vibrations are changed into nerve signals in the inner ear and are carried to the brain by the auditory nerve. Balance (equilibrium) is controlled in the inner ear. Fluid and small hair in the inner ear stimulate the auditory nerve. This helps the brain maintain balance. As you age, structures inside the ear start to change and their functions decline. Your ability to pick up sounds decreases. You may also have problems maintaining your balance as you sit, stand, and walk..

[Audio] Age-related hearing loss is called presbycusis. It affects both ears equally. Hearing, particularly the ability to hear high-frequency sounds, may decline. You may also have trouble telling the difference between certain sounds. Or, you may have problems hearing a conversation when there is background noise. If you are having trouble hearing, discuss your symptoms with your health care provider. One way to manage hearing loss is by getting fitted with hearing aids. Persistent, abnormal ear noise (tinnitus) is another common problem in older adults. Causes of tinnitus may include wax buildup, medicines that damage structures inside the ear or mild hearing loss. Impacted ear wax can also cause trouble hearing and is common with age..

[Audio] Vision occurs when light is processed by your eye and interpreted by your brain. Light passes through the transparent eye surface (cornea). It continues through the pupil, the opening to the inside of the eye. The pupil becomes larger or smaller to control the amount of light that enters the eye. The colored part of the eye is called the iris. It is a muscle that controls pupil size. After light passes through your pupil, it reaches the lens. The lens focuses light on your retina (the back of the eye). The retina converts light energy into a nerve signal that the optic nerve carries to the brain, where it is interpreted..

[Audio] All of the eye structures change with aging. The cornea becomes less sensitive, so you might not notice eye injuries. By the time you turn 60, your pupils may decrease to about one third of the size they were when you were 20. The pupils may react more slowly in response to darkness or bright light. The lens becomes yellowed, less flexible, and slightly cloudy leading to the development of cataracts. The fat pads supporting the eyes decrease and the eyes sink into their sockets. The eye muscles become less able to fully rotate the eye. As you age, the sharpness of your vision (visual acuity) gradually declines. The most common problem is difficulty focusing the eyes on close-up objects. This condition is called presbyopia. Reading glasses, bifocal glasses, or contact lenses can help correct presbyopia..

[Audio] You may be less able to tolerate glare. For example, glare from a shiny floor in a sunlit room can make it difficult to get around indoors. You may have trouble adapting to darkness or bright light. Problems with glare, brightness, and darkness may cause problems driving at night. As you age, it gets harder to tell blues from greens than it is to tell reds from yellows. Using warm contrasting colors (yellow, orange, and red) in your home can improve your ability to see. Keeping a red light on in darkened rooms, such as the hallway or bathroom, makes it easier to see than using a regular night light. With aging, the gel-like substance (vitreous) inside your eye starts to shrink. This can create small particles called floaters in your field of vision. In most cases, floaters do not reduce your vision. But if you develop floaters suddenly or have a rapid increase in the number of floaters, you should have your eyes checked by a professional, as this may indicate a retinal detachment..

[Audio] Reduced peripheral vision (side vision) is common in older people. This can limit your activity and ability to interact with others. It may be hard to communicate with people sitting next to you because you cannot see them well. Driving can become dangerous. Weakened eye muscles may prevent you from moving your eyes in all directions. It may be hard to look upward. The area in which objects can be seen (visual field) gets smaller. Aging eyes also may not produce enough tears. This leads to dry eyes which may be uncomfortable. When dry eyes are not treated, infection, inflammation, and scarring of the cornea can occur. You can relieve dry eyes by using eye drops or artificial tears..

[Audio] The upper eyelids may sag because of weakened muscular support. This may lead to visual loss if the sagging is severe. Common eye disorders that cause vision changes that are NOT normal include: Cataracts -- clouding of the lens of the eye Glaucoma -- rise in fluid pressure in the eye Macular degeneration -- disease in the macula (responsible for central vision) that causes vision loss Retinopathy -- disease in the retina often caused by diabetes or high blood pressure.

[Audio] The senses of taste and smell work together. Most tastes are linked with odors. The sense of smell begins at the nerve endings high in the lining of the nose. You have about 10,000 taste buds. Your taste buds sense sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami flavors. Umami is a taste linked with foods that contain glutamate, such as the seasoning monosodium glutamate (MSG)..

[Audio] Your sense of smell can also diminish, especially after age 70. This may be related to a loss of nerve endings and less mucus production in the nose. Mucus helps odors stay in the nose long enough to be detected by the nerve endings. It also helps clear odors from the nerve endings. Certain things can speed up the loss of taste and smell. These include diseases, smoking, and exposure to harmful particles in the air. Decreased taste and smell can lessen your interest and enjoyment in eating. You may not be able to sense certain dangers if you cannot smell odors such as natural gas or smoke from a fire..

[Audio] If your senses of taste and smell have diminished, the following may help: Switch to a different medicine, if the medicine you take is affecting your ability to smell and taste. Use different spices or change the way you prepare food. Buy safety products, such as a gas detector that sounds an alarm you can hear..

[Audio] The sense of touch makes you aware of pain, temperature, pressure, vibration, and body position. Skin, muscles, tendons, joints, and internal organs have nerve endings (receptors) that detect these sensations. Some receptors give the brain information about the position and condition of internal organs. Though you may not be aware of this information, it helps to identify changes (for example, the pain of appendicitis). Your brain interprets the type and amount of touch sensation. It also interprets the sensation as pleasant (such as being comfortably warm), unpleasant (such as being very hot), or neutral (such as being aware that you are touching something)..

[Audio] With aging, sensations may be reduced or changed. These changes can occur because of decreased blood flow to the nerve endings or to the spinal cord or brain. The spinal cord transmits nerve signals and the brain interprets these signals. Health problems, such as a lack of certain nutrients, can also cause sensation changes. Brain surgery, problems in the brain, confusion, and nerve damage from injury or long-term (chronic) diseases such as diabetes can also result in sensation changes..

[Audio] Symptoms of changed sensation vary based on the cause. With decreased temperature sensitivity, it can be hard to tell the difference between cool and cold and hot and warm. This can increase the risk of injury from frostbite, hypothermia (dangerously low body temperature), and burns. Reduced ability to detect vibration, touch, and pressure increases the risk of injuries, including pressure ulcers (skin sores that develop when pressure cuts off blood supply to the area). After age 50, many people have reduced sensitivity to pain. Or, you may feel and recognize pain, but it does not bother you. For example, when you are injured, you may not know how severe the injury is because the pain does not trouble you..

[Audio] You may develop problems walking because of reduced ability to perceive where your body is in relation to the floor. This increases your risk of falling, a common problem for older people. Older people can become more sensitive to light touches because their skin is thinner..

[Audio] The following measures can help your patient stay safe: Lower the water heater temperature to no higher than 120°F to avoid burns. Check the thermometer to decide how to dress, rather than waiting until you feel overheated or chilled. Inspect your skin, especially your feet, for injuries. If you find an injury, treat it. Do not assume the injury is not serious because the area is not painful..

[Audio] Common psychological issues affecting older patients may include, but are not limited to, anxiety, depression, delirium, dementia, personality disorders, and substance abuse. Common social and emotional issues may involve loss of autonomy, grief, fear, loneliness, financial constraints, and lack of social networks..

[Audio] Aging is a physical and psychological journey, and many seniors fear they won't age gracefully. They can become stressed, disengaged, and unable to handle change, which can lead to some of the issues mentioned below. To address these problems, you should learn more about the psychosocial aspects of aging and how it affects elderly people..

[Audio] 6 Common Psychosocial Challenges that Affect Older Adults. 1. ISOLATION 2. FAMILY ISSUES 3. POOR SELF-ESTEEM 4. POOR HYGIENE 5. SUBSTANCE ABUSE FINANCIAL INSTABILITY.

[Audio] Isolation - Memory problems, reduced mobility, and various age-related issues could prevent your senior patient from accepting invitations to social gatherings. The psychosocial aspects of aging might prevent him or her from maintaining a social life, increasing the risk of isolation. Motivate your patient to get out into the community to establish new friendships while still maintaining old relationships. Staying connected to friends, family members, and associates could prevent isolation and keep your patient socially active..

[Audio] Family Issues Family problems and an inability to handle the anxiety associated with them could prevent your patient from taking on purposeful tasks in the senior years. Past conflicts that continue to go unresolved could keep your patient from participating in purposeful activities, especially if family members he or she no longer associates with are in attendance when the events take place..

[Audio] Poor Self-Esteem - Chronic conditions like dementia and Parkinson's can lead to fear and grief and negatively affect self-esteem. Encouraging your patient to take on new tasks and work on past goals could boost his or her confidence and quality of life. Your support could also reassure your patient when it comes to changing treatments or accepting help from family members or professional caregivers..

[Audio] Poor Hygiene Poor mental health and cognitive impairment could prevent your patient from maintaining good hygiene. When it comes to your patient's appearance, help him or her get dressed, and make sure he or she always has clean clothes that fit properly. When seniors look their best, they can boost their mental and emotional health. Trusted in-home care professionals can assist seniors with daily tasks like cooking, bathing, and exercise, and they can also encourage them to focus on healthier lifestyle habits..

[Audio] Substance Abuse Watching their health decrease, moving out of their homes, and other changes brought about by aging could cause seniors to turn to dangerous substances that affect their mental and physical health. However, helping your patient develop positive strategies for facing challenges could reduce his or her risk of drug and alcohol abuse. For example, turning to mentors or taking up fun hobbies can make your patient less likely to use alcohol or drugs as ways to handle significant challenges..

[Audio] Financial Anxiety Older adults can experience a variety of psychosocial problems when aging, including anxiety caused by financial strain. Worries about finances could damage your patient's mental and emotional wellbeing. To stave off anxiety and enhance your patient's quality of life, look for financial resources he or she might qualify for, such as free meal services, discounted prescriptions, reduced utility expenses, and transportation programs..

[Audio] Understanding Healthy Aging Nearly 56 million Americans are 65 and older, with projections estimating that the population of older adults will grow to 94.7 million in 2060. On average, a 65-year old can expect to live another 17 years. For most older adults, good health ensures independence, security, and productivity as they age. Unfortunately, millions struggle every day with challenges such as chronic diseases, falls, physical inactivity, oral health concerns, and behavioral health issues—all of which can severely impact quality of life..

[Audio] Healthy aging is about creating the environments and opportunities that enable people to be and do what they value throughout their lives. Everybody can experience healthy aging. Being free of disease or infirmity is not a requirement for healthy aging, as many older adults have one or more health conditions that, when well controlled, have little influence on their wellbeing..

[Audio] Diversity: There is no typical older person. Some 80-year-olds have levels of physical and mental capacity that compare favorably with 30-year-olds. Others of the same age may require extensive care and support for basic activities like dressing and eating. Policy should be framed to improve the functional ability of all older people, whether they are robust, care dependent or in between. Inequity: A large proportion (approximately 75%) of the diversity in capacity and circumstance observed in older age is the result of the cumulative impact of advantage and disadvantage across people's lives. Importantly, the relationships we have with our environments are shaped by factors such as the family we were born into, our sex, ethnicity, level of education and financial resources..

[Audio] The Five Pillars of Healthy Aging GOOD NUTRITION PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT MENTAL STIMULATION MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS.

[Audio] Good diet plays an important role in promoting a person's overall well-being during his or her senior years. Nutrition ensures our bodies receive all necessary nutrients so we remain strong both physically and mentally, making it easier to cope up with age related illnesses. A recent study analyzed data from over 17,000 participants who were tracked for 18 years on their food intake and behaviors with regard to promoting overall physical wellness. The findings showed how important it is not only what we eat but when we do so as well. Nutrient timing affects different parts of our body differently at various stages in life depending upon lifestyle habits such as stress levels or sleep patterns. These as well, can affect one's mental state leading them to be less concerned about proper dieting choices than they should be if they want a healthier system down the road come retirement time. Good nutrition in seniors is vital for their good physical and mental health. It can help them better enjoy the golden years of life, free from diseases that come with poor diets such as obesity and diabetes..

[Audio] Physical activity is just as important for healthy aging. It can help seniors be more productive and active throughout the day, maintain a strong body composition, avoid serious chronic diseases like diabetes or cardiovascular disease as they age, and gain muscle strength which will reduce their risk of falls later in life when mobility declines at older ages. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides several guidelines when it comes to physical activity. They include up to 60 minutes of exercise every day, exercising in intervals lasting at least 10 minutes each with two minutes of rest in between, doing 20-minutes of exercise several days a week and exercising at moderate intensity. For healthy seniors, it is important to focus on exercises that target the body's main muscle groups such as the arms and legs. It is also vital they engage in activities that can be maintained over longer periods of time so they don't lose interest in healthy lifestyle changes..

[Audio] For healthy aging, social engagement is an important part of life. Seniors who are socially engaged tend to be more healthy and physically fit than those who are lonely or isolated during their senior years. Studies have shown how seniors who maintain healthy relationships with friends and family are less likely to succumb to diseases that cause physical disabilities or mental illnesses. The WHO recommends healthy seniors engage in social activities at least twice each week. This could be something simple like attending events or festivals, spending time with family members at home, meeting up with friends for healthy dinners or drinks, doing volunteer work or joining support groups for healthy aging ..

[Audio] Mental stimulation in seniors can help promote active and healthy aging. It might be tough to think of things that would stimulate an older person's mind, but there are many ways it can be done! For example, reading a good book or watching television shows with complex plots. Research has shown these activities have been found to reduce the progression of Alzheimer's disease by up to 65% because they require mental activity necessary for memory retention and cognitive function needed for learning new information (Davis et al., 2009). The more regularly this is practiced, the better one's brain will perform at all levels – from recalling what you just watched on TV last night, remembering where your keys were left yesterday morning before leaving home, or recalling the names of people you just met. This kind of mental stimulation is healthy for the brain, and healthy brains are important in healthy aging..

[Audio] A study has found that seniors who participate in meaningful activities and relationships are healthier than those who do not. Many people believe that health is an indicator of happiness, but the truth may be more complicated. For example, a recent study shows how important social interactions can affect older adults' well-being for better or worse by looking at two groups: one group with good ties to family members and friends (Couples without children) while another consists of single individuals living alone (Single Without Children). The results showed as expected – couples were generally happier because they had someone to share their lives with; however surprisingly this was less true when these men lived long enough to become frail suggesting loneliness becomes detrimental towards elderly's mental state even if they have someone by their side. Healthy seniors should maintain healthy relationships and healthy interactions because the positive effect of having these healthy connections will help improve their overall health and well-being for healthy aging ..