Hey!Hey!

Gerontology Gerontology HappensHappens

A guide for better understanding the A guide for better understanding the challenges faced by older adultschallenges faced by older adults

Old age is not a Old age is not a diseasedisease

Fact or fiction?Fact or fiction?

Old people are all Old people are all alike.alike.

Fact: Fact: There is more There is more variability among elders than any variability among elders than any other segment of the population!other segment of the population!

Fact or fiction?Fact or fiction?

Aging makes Aging makes elderly people elderly people demanding and demanding and irritable.irritable.

Fact: Fact: Great changes in Great changes in personality do not normally result personality do not normally result from aging. from aging.

Fact or fiction?Fact or fiction?

Most elderly Most elderly people are people are confused or confused or disorienteddisoriented

Fact: Fact: Confusion or Confusion or disorientation affects only a disorientation affects only a small number of elderly people.small number of elderly people.

Fact or Fact or fiction ?fiction ?

Elderly people aren’t interested in sex.Elderly people aren’t interested in sex.

Fact: At ages 60+ about 50% are sexually active.

Fact or fiction ?Fact or fiction ?

Retired people “have it Retired people “have it made”.made”.

Fact: Fact: old age is a time of old age is a time of great loss for many elders.great loss for many elders.

•the loss of loved ones

•the loss of health

•the loss of physical appearance and strength

•the loss of value to society

Changes that may be Changes that may be associated with normal associated with normal aging...aging...

BoneBone HeartHeart Nervous systemNervous system Eyes and earsEyes and ears Nose and tongueNose and tongue MuscleMuscle SkinSkin GeneralGeneral

Changes in visionChanges in vision

Lens thickenLens thicken

Lens less Lens less elasticelastic

Blurred or dimBlurred or dim YellowingYellowing Impaired night Impaired night

visionvision CataractCataract

Changes in hearingChanges in hearing

Lifetime of noiseLifetime of noise

Social isolationSocial isolation

Family frustrationFamily frustration

Misjudged as Misjudged as senilesenile

Sensitivity to Sensitivity to medicationsmedications

DepressionDepression

GriefGrief FearFear Loss of Loss of

independenceindependence Limitation of Limitation of

physical sensesphysical senses Loss of roleLoss of role

Tips for visiting a Tips for visiting a person with special person with special needs...needs... Hearing impaired:Hearing impaired:

– Speak more Speak more clearly, not louder.clearly, not louder.

– Maintain good eye Maintain good eye contactcontact

– Sit so that person Sit so that person can see your lipscan see your lips

– Watch facial Watch facial expressions to expressions to make sure you’re make sure you’re understoodunderstood

Tips for visiting a person Tips for visiting a person with special needs...with special needs...

Unable to speak or understand well Unable to speak or understand well (often due to stroke)(often due to stroke)

• Give the person plenty of time to speak

• Ask questions that can be answered with “yes” or “no”

• Use gestures or point to objects

• Don’t talk about the person to others in front of them

Tips for visiting a Tips for visiting a person with special person with special needs...needs...

BlindBlind

– Use vivid descriptionsUse vivid descriptions

– Offer to read Offer to read newspapers, mail, etc.newspapers, mail, etc.

– Encourage the person Encourage the person to use other to use other senses...hearing, senses...hearing, touch, smell.touch, smell.

Share a caring touchShare a caring touch

Shake hands (don’t Shake hands (don’t squeeze hard).squeeze hard).

After asking and After asking and receiving permission, receiving permission, hug when you greet hug when you greet each other and at the each other and at the end of your visitend of your visit

Place your hand gently Place your hand gently on the person’s arm or on the person’s arm or shoulder while you are shoulder while you are speaking.speaking.

Facts about older Facts about older AmericansAmericans

Life expectancy Life expectancy

– 19001900 47.3 yrs47.3 yrs– 19501950 68.2 yrs68.2 yrs– 19971997 76.5 yrs76.5 yrs

There are currently estimated to be 50,000 to 75,000 Americans who are over 100 years old!

19981998 Life ExpectancyLife Expectancy

All BlackAll Black White White AllAll 76.7 yrs.76.7 yrs. 71.3 yrs.71.3 yrs. 77.3 yrs.77.3 yrs.

MenMen 73.8 yrs.73.8 yrs. 67.6 yrs.67.6 yrs. 74.5 yrs.74.5 yrs.

WomenWomen 79.5 yrs.79.5 yrs. 74.8 yrs.74.8 yrs. 80.0 yrs.80.0 yrs.

Facts about older Facts about older AmericansAmericans

80%80% of older adults who of older adults who need long-term care in need long-term care in

our country receive that our country receive that care care

not in nursing homesnot in nursing homes

but rather in their own but rather in their own homes or in community homes or in community settings from informal settings from informal caregivers (family or caregivers (family or

friends).friends).

May you live to May you live to experience a experience a healthy and active healthy and active old age!old age!