Learning about the Elderly. Elderly Statistics In 2008, there were an estimated 39 million people...

Learning about the Elderly

Elderly Statistics• In 2008, there were an estimated 39 million

people age 65 and over in the United States, accounting for just over 13 percent of the total population.

• People who survive to age 65 can expect to live an average of 18.5 more years, about 4 years longer than people age 65 in 1960.

• The life expectancy of people who survive to age 85 today is 6.8 years for women and 5.7 years for men.

Causes of death

• In 2006, the leading cause of death among people age 65 and over was – heart disease– Cancer– Stroke – Lower respiratory disease– Alzheimer's Disease– Diabetes– Flu and Pneumonia

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLprjxFhs8s

The Aging Process• Aging is a process that occurs in a unique

manner with each individual• It is a multidimensional process in which the

individual’s function and health status are related to multiple factors

• It is influenced by a variety of genetic, environmental, and cultural factors, which in turn, can result in physical, psychological, and social changes.

Physical Changes

• Degenerative changes can occur where the ability to see, hear, feel, and react may be involved.

• Spatial orientation, mobility, and motor coordination may decline.

• Work rate, which reflects the output of several body systems, is diminished.

Hair Changes

• Hair– By 35, 40% of men have noticeable hair loss, while

by 60 65% do. – Also elderly hair tends to be thinner and fine

giving more of an appearance of hair loss.– The growth of hair decreases as you age.

Skin Changes• Skin changes that accompany aging include:– Roughened or dry skin – itchy skin– Benign growths– Loose facial skin, especially around the eyes, cheeks,

and jaw line – Transparent or thinned skin – Bruising easily from decreased elasticity

• Wrinkles• Facial lines (laugh, worry)• Age Spots – brown patches• Bed Sores

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fth_qAKHEBQ

Vision Changes

• Vision is affected by aging in various ways. • Over one half of severe visual impairments in

the population occur in individuals who are 65 or older and legal blindness is prevalent in this age group.

• Glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration in the retina account for many of these visual problems.

More about Vision Changes

• Some patients may squint, rely on touch, or start becoming withdrawn or reluctant to communicate.

• The pupil of the eye admits 50% less light for a person of 50 that for someone who is 20.

• Longer reaction time is required for change of focus

• As the lens yellows with age, it filters out blue, green, and violet colors.

Hearing Changes• Hearing loss in the elderly is primarily caused by

atrophy of the structures of the inner ear and the cells in the spinal ganglion.

• Hearing loss for higher frequencies occurs first.• Some signs that the person is struggling with

hearing include: leaning closer to the speaker, cupping their ear, positioning the head so that the good ear is near the speaker, asking for things to be repeated, have blank looks, or have short attention spans.

Teeth Changes

• Tissues in your mouth, like other body tissues, change as you grow older.

• Soft tissues (gums and cheeks) lose their ability to stretch, and muscles become soft and weak.

• The amount of saliva produced by glands in your mouth is frequently reduced.

• As a result, chewing becomes more difficult, and your mouth becomes more easily irritated and heals more slowly than when you were younger.

Some common Teeth/Mouth issues

• Decay• Periodontal (Gum) Disease• Brittleness – can break and chip easily• Dentures• Dry mouth• Darkened Teeth• Teeth falling out

What can they eat?

• Smaller portions• Soft foods if have dentures• Pureed foods if have no teeth at all• Use spices and seasonings• Make foods appealing to the eye

Bones, Muscles, Joints• Bone mass or density is lost as people age, they lose

calcium and other minerals.• Between each vertebrae is a gel-like cushion, as the

disks gradually lose fluid and become thinner, the trunk becomes shorter.

• The joints become stiffer and less flexible. Fluid in the joints may decrease, and the cartilage may begin to rub together and erode.

• The finger joints lose cartilage and the bones thicken slightly. Finger joint changes are more common in women and may be hereditary.

Bones, Muscles, Joints• Hip and knee joints may begin to lose joint

cartilage• Lean body mass decreases, caused in part by

loss of muscle tissue • Fats are deposited in muscle tissue. The

muscle fibers shrink. Muscle tissue is replaced more slowly, and lost muscle tissue may be replaced with a tough fibrous tissue. This is most noticeable in the hands, which may appear thin and bony.

Effects of the B,M,J changes• Bones become more brittle and may break more

easily. • Overall height decreases, mainly because of

shortening of the trunk and spine.• Inflammation, pain, stiffness, and deformity may

result from breakdown of the joint structures. • Movement slows and may become limited. The

walking pattern (gait) becomes slower and shorter. Walking may become unsteady, and there is less arm swinging. Older people become tired more easily, and have less energy.

• What can happen?– Broken hips, falls, bruises– Arthritis, osteoporosis

• What items will need to be used?– Walker– Cane– Wheelchair– Scooter

How can they exercise?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAsu3EmT0HE

Psychological Changes

• Changes may occur in perception and memory; thinking, learning, and problem-solving; mood and attitude; self-concept, and personality.

• There may be loss of former roles and status; loss of spouse, family and friends; a decline in economic security; and loss of familiar surroundings.

• These changes result in poor self-esteem and lack of self-satisfaction.

Intellectual Ability

• Intellectual ability does not decline with aging, it only changes.

• The intelligence that we absorb during our lives such as vocabulary, reasoning and ability to evaluate past experiences increases with age.

Short-Term Memory Loss

• Elderly people sometimes suffer memory loss. • They may easily remember things in the past,

but may have difficulty with short-term memory.

Socio-Cultural Changes

• Social change and cultural factors affect one’s view of him or herself as a competent individual.

• A sense of isolation and frustration may occur upon retirement when he or she is faced with a decline in socioeconomic status and the stereotypic notion of being senile, unproductive, rigid, and tranquil.

Life Experiences

• An elderly person has been exposed to a vast variety of life experiences and has accumulated a great deal of knowledge in his or her life time.

• An adult’s experiences become his or her self-identity.

Friendships

• Do elderly people have friendships?• How does their friendships change?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGt0udeqyxg

Volunteering for the Elderly

• Nursing Homes - activities, maintenance, gardening, designing bulletin boards, folding laundry.

• Alzheimer’s Association – fundraisers, clerical work, community education

• Hospices – phone calls, mowing, give family a break

Other Ways to Help

• Meals on Wheels – deliver meals to homes• http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=HqOSbjx5_Ng • Friends of the Elderly – matched to an elderly

friend• Adult Day Care - activities or with meal

preparation.• Elderly Neighbor – visit, mow, clean, shop

So, why do we disrespect the Elderly?

Elderly Abuse• The US has:–44 million persons age 60+.–36 million people with disabilities.

• 364,512 cases of people living at home were reported with 43% confirmed.

• In the last 10 years abuse of elder persons has increases 150+%.

• Domestic Elder Abuse is a family problem, almost 90% of the abusers were family members.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36Pm8UaFFRE

Risk Factors

• Domestic Violence grown old.–A partnership in which one member of

the couple has traditionally exerted power and control over the other through emotional abuse, physical violence and threats, isolation and other tactics.

More Risk Factors

• Personal problems of the abusers.–Adult children who are still dependent upon

parent for financial assistance, housing or other means of support.–Mental Illness.– Substance Abuse

Domestic Elder Abuse

• Domestic Abuse Grown Old.– Maltreatment of an older person by someone

who has a special relationship with the elder. (e.g. spouse, sibling, child, friend, caregiver).

– Spouses make up a large % of elder abusers. Partnerships in which one member of a couple has traditionally tried to exert power and control over the other.

Institutional Elder Abuse

• Abuse that occurs in residential facilities for older persons. (e.g. nursing homes, foster homes, group homes, board and care facilities.

• Abusers are persons who have legal or contractual obligation to provide elder victims with care and protection. (e.g. staff, professionals, paid caregivers

Types of Abuse

• The elderly can experience abuse in much the same way as children that are abused– Neglect– Physical– Sexual– Emotional

Financial or Material Exploitation

• The illegal or improper use of an elder’s funds, property, or assets.– Cashing an elder’s checks without authorization or

permission.– Forging an elder’s signature,– Misusing or stealing an elder’s money or possessions,– Coercing or deceiving an elder into signing any

document, (contracts or wills).– Improper use of guardianship or power of attorney.

Signs of Financial Explortation

• Sudden changes in bank account or banking practice.

• Inclusion of additional names on a bank signature card.

• Unauthorized banking, remaking of wills, advanced directives, or other legal matters of any kind.

• You can call Adult Protective Service if you suspect an older adult is being abused or neglelected