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Societal Bias
• Systemic stereotyping and discrimination because of age
• Elderly are viewed as sick, frail, powerless, sexless, and burdensome
• Today’s older adults are living longer– Good nutrition, regular exercise, stress reduction,
yearly physical exams, no smoking, and new technology
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Facts About Aging
• Aging is progressive and universal
• Interest, personal and financial resources, family structure, genetics, and attitude play a part in how one ages
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Facts About Aging
• Lifestyle a factor– Smoking, misuse of chemicals such as alcohol or drugs,
type of diet, and lack of exercise all part of aging
– Greater variability among older people than younger groups
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Physiological Changes
• Not all individuals age the same
• The body produces smaller amounts of various hormones and other chemicals
• Every body system undergoes changes, both physiological and psychological
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Physiological Changes
• Vision– Pupil size diminishes, lens may become cloudy
– Cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration are common
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Physiological Changes
• Hearing– Hearing loss not uncommon
– May be thought to be mentally weak or senile
– Presbycusis is normal hearing loss in elderly
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Physiological Changes
• Taste and smell diminish– Reduced ability to taste
could lead to decrease in appetite
– Detecting odors becomes difficult and could be dangerous because of the inability to smell smoke or gas
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Integumentary System
• Aging skin more fragile
• Sunlight exposure is major cause of wrinkled skin, “liver spots,” leathery looking skin, and cancer
• Hypothermia and hyperthermia are serious problems
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Nervous System
• The brain may shrink in size
• Some memory loss or delay in memory can be expected
• Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) can cause sudden loss of memory and confusion
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Musculoskeletal System
• Muscle strength decreases and results in decreased mobility
• Less flexibility and joints can stiffen
• Arthritis and osteoporosis are not unusual in older people
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Respiratory System
• Breathing capacity diminishes
• Lungs lose their elasticity and older people are prone to pneumonia
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Cardiovascular System
• Heart disease and blood vessel disorder are major causes of death– Blood vessels lose elasticity
– Myocardium may lose the ability to pump blood around the body
– Possibility of congestive heart failure or myocardial infarction
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Gastrointestinal System
• Stomach secretions and peristalsis slow
• Pernicious anemia can occur
• Poor eating habits, poor nutrition, over- or under-eating can lead to dental problems
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Gastrointestinal System
• Poor dental hygiene leads to gum disease and loss of health; this makes chewing food difficult
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Urinary System
• Kidneys can decrease in size and urine production and output may be less
• Levels of medication may rise to dangerous levels due to poor filtration
• Bladder wall becomes more inelastic– Ability to empty the bladder completely is impaired– Residual urine remains in the bladder and can lead to cystitis
• Urinary incontinence can result from many factors
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Reproductive System
• Women experience menopause at aboutage 55
• Men continue to produce sperm well after 50 years of age– Testosterone levels diminish and may lead to benign
hypertrophy of the prostate
– Aging men and women can maintain sexual desires
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Complications
• Older people at risk for complications as a result of body systems undergoing change– Accidents happen because of impaired vision, sense of
smell, and hearing
– Malnutrition and anemia can develop because of poor nutrition
– Elderly have decreased sensitivity and lack the ability to feel pain
– Heat and cold applications can injure the aging
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Complications
• Older people at risk for complications as a result of body systems undergoing change– Impaired nervous system function may lead to loss of
balance, disorientation, and confusion
– Due to osteoporosis, bones break more easily
– Respiratory infections not unusual
– Urinary infections are more common
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Complications
• Older people at risk for complications as a result of body systems undergoing change– Circulatory problems are common
– Enlargement of the prostate makes urination difficult
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Psychological Changes
• Great variation in psychological functioning of older adults– People who maintain their health are better able to
maintain their intelligence
• Dementia affects memory and cognitive functioning
• Depression in older adults is not uncommon
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The Medical Assistantand the Geriatric Patient
• Older adults may suffer from many factors coupled with physiological changes and are a special challenge to the medical assistant– Empathize with the patient’s situation
– Do not talk to older people as if they were children
– Speak slowly, clearly, and have eye contact
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The Medical Assistantand the Geriatric Patient
• Older adults with impairment of memory– Geriatric care poses a challenge when attempting to
communicate
• Older adults with visual impairment
• Older adults with hearing impairment– Do not approach individual until you make your
presence known
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The Medical Assistantand the Geriatric Patient
• Abuse of older adults– Could be physical or emotional abuse
– Abuse must be reported by “mandated reporters”
– Department of Elder Affairs has abuse hotline
– List of signs and symptoms of elder abuse