Adult Care
Adult Care
Adult Care
➢ Biological age- predicted by the person’s physical condition and how well vital organ
systems are functioning.
➢ Subsets of Elderly:
• Young old- ages 65- 74
• Middle old- ages 75- 84
• Oldest old- ages 85- 99
• Elite old or centenarians- ages 100 & up
TERMS:
• Ageism -negative attitudes toward aging and older adults.
• Gerontology -is the study of aging
• Geriatrics- medical care of the aged.
• Social Gerontology -focuses on social aspects of aging.
• Geropsychology -seeks to address the concerns of older adults.
• Geropharmacology -study of pharmacology in relation to older
adults
ROLES OF GERONTOLOGICAL NURSE
• Caregiver -gives direct, hands- on care to older adults in a variety of
settings.
• Teacher -focuses on teaching modifiable risk factors and health
promotion.
• Manager -balances the concerns of the patient, family and
interdisciplinary team.
• Advocate -acts on behalf of older adults to promote their best
interests and strengthen their autonomy and decision-making.
• Researcher -uses evidenced-based nursing practices to improve the
quality of patient care in all settings
Older Adults and their Family
Identification of Family Members
• One can identify family members by looking for those individuals who
fulfill family functions. In aging families, family functions are
somewhat modified to address the special needs of the elderly and
focus on the following:
oWear and Tear Theory - cells wear out over time because of
continued use.
Ex: Being stress all the time = accelerate aging process
• Nonstochastic Theories - aging as certain predetermined, timed
phenomena
Life expectancies are seen as preprogrammed within a species-specific
range
• Smoking Cessation
• Education regarding sun exposure
• Advise clients to ingest a varied, nutritious diet using the food
pyramid as a guide, and suggest supplementation with antioxidants
such as vitamin C and E
• Daily routines need to incorporate opportunities that capitalize on
existing abilities, strengthen muscles, and prevent further atrophy of
muscles (perform ADLs, daily exercises even chair-based exercises,
walking,
II. SOCIOLOGIC THEORIES -focus on roles and relationships within
which individuals engage in later life. These theories focused on more
global, societal, and structural factors that influenced the Jives of aging
persons
oDisengagement Theory -conceptualized as a mutual agreement
between older adults and society on a reciprocal withdrawal.
oActivity/Development Task Theory - Activity is viewed by this theory
as necessary to maintain a person's life satisfaction and a positive
self-concept.
oContinuity Theory -being active, trying to maintain a sense of being
middle-aged, or willingly withdrawing from society does not
necessarily bring happiness.
oAge Stratification Theory - concept of interdependence between the
aging person and society at large
Example:
-Onset of retirement
One may reduce feelings of self-worth
One may treat it as major defining source for self-esteem
B. Body transcendence versus body preoccupation
older person's view of the physical changes that occur as a result of the
aging process
While the person's preoccupation with believing that little time has
been left and that they are ultimately going to die is described as ego
preoccupation
oSelective Optimization Theory with Compensation
- individuals develop certain strategies to manage the losses of
function that occur over time with three interacting elements