B6OverviewoftheAgingProcess.ppt

8/13/2019 B6OverviewoftheAgingProcess.ppt

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Overview of the AgingProcess

Related

Health Changes and Challenges


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When Does Aging Begin?

Aging begins the day we are born

No single measure of how old a person is

Aging is highly individualized

Aging proceeds at different rates in

different people, and within different

systems of the body


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Why Do People Age?

Many theories to include:

Hereditary Factors

Loss of cellular mass and ability of cells to divideand replicate

Accumulation of waste materials that clog cellsand cause them to die

Changes in structure of connective tissueNo single theory adequately describes the aging

process


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Normal Changes of Aging

Physical changes related to Normal aging ARENOT disease

Changes occur in most body systems to include:Sensory System

Brain and Central Nervous System

Muscles and Bones

Digestion

Heart/Circulatory System

Respiratory System


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Sensory System

Hearing

1. Loss is usually in ability to hear high frequencysounds

2. Hearing loss can lead to social isolation and shouldbe addressed

3. Hearing aids cannot address all types of hearing loss

How to help mitigate effects of hearing loss:

1. Lower the pitch of your voice

2. Speak directly to the person so that they can see yourface

3. Eliminate background noise


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Vision Not all older people have impaired vision

Loss of ability to see items that are close up begins in the40s

Size of pupil grows smaller with age: focusing becomes

less accurate Lens of eye yellows making it more difficult to see red

and green colors

Sensitivity to glare increases

Night vision not as acuteHow to help mitigate the effects of vision loss:

1. Increase lighting

2. Use blinds or shades to reduce glare

3. Maintain equal levels of lighting


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Taste and Smell

Some loss in taste and smell as one ages, butloss is usually minor and not until after age 70

Many older people often complain of food beingtasteless

Possible causes:

1. Loneliness at meals

2. Unwilling/unable to cook3. Dental problems

4. Financial barriers


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Pain and Sense of Touch

With age, skin is not as sensitive as in youth

Contributing factors include:

1. Loss of elasticity

2. Loss of pigment

3. Reduced fat layer

Safety Implications:

1. Lessened ability to recognize dangerous levels ofheat

2. Lessened ability of body to maintain temperature

3. Tendency to develop bruises, skin tears more easily


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Brain and Central Nervous System Without illness, a person can expect high mental

competence well past age 80

Physical reactions are slowed due to increased lag timeof neurons transmitting information :Slowing manifestsitself in the learning process

Unfamiliar or high stress activities cause an older person toperform more slowly

Throughout adulthood, there is a gradual reduction in theweight and volume of the brain. This decline is about 2%

per decade. Contrary to previously held beliefs, the declinedoes not accelerate after the age of 50, but continues atabout the same pace from early adulthood on. Theaccumulative effects of this are generally not noticed untilolder age.


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GOOD NEWS!

Intellectual functioning defined as Stored memory

increases with age

Problem solving skills increase with age

Older people are able to learn very well

How to help:

Allow time

Minimize distractions Use it or lose it


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Changes in Muscles and

Bones Loss of elasticity of connective tissue can cause

pain and impair mobility

No way to prevent these changes Maintain bone health through diet, exercise and

getting adequate rest

Always consider medication side effects when

assessing mobility concernsHow to help:

Encourage use of assistive devices if indicated

Modify environment to reduce fall risk

Encourage activity- take walks etc.


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Digestion

Constipation more common in older adults due toslowed circulation, reduced sense of thirst,lessened activity level

Emotions play a significant role in appetite anddigestion

How to help:

Encourage activity Encourage socialization and emotional well-being

Encourage intake of fluids


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Heart/Circulatory System

Changes Age changes make the heart less able to pump

efficiently

Less blood pumped results in lowered bloodoxygen levels

The limits of the heart to exert itself are reducedwith age

Blood vessels lose elasticity with age making hearthave to pump harder to circulate blood

Medications processed and eliminated differentlythan in young adults


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Respiratory System Changes How well the lungs supply the body with oxygen

seems to relate directly to age

The amount of oxygen delivered to the

bloodstream and the rate of blood flow declineswith age

Even with the lung capacity remaining normal, thelung tissues seem to lose facility for making the

oxygen-to-blood transfer to the bloodstream Since older people can not breathe as fast, there is

less oxygen entering the blood per minute. Lessoxygen in the system cuts down the amount of

work that can be done.


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Conclusions We all change physically, as we grow older Some systems slow down, while others lose their

"fine tuning."

People who live an active lifestyle lose less

muscle mass and flexibility as they age

As a general rule, slight, gradual changes arecommon, and most of these are not problems tothe person who experiences them

Steps can be taken to help prevent illness andinjury, and which help maximize the older

person's independence, if problems do occur

There is no need for most people to fear gettingolder


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You Are Making A Difference!

Be Proud of Yourselves"The most precious gift we can offer

others is our presence. Touchingdeeply is an important practice. Wetouch with our hands, our eyes, ourears and also with ourmindfulness."-- Thich Nhat Hanh

"Man becomes great exactly in thedegree to which he works for thewelfare of his fellow man."-- Mahatma Gandhi

B6OverviewoftheAgingProcess.ppt

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