GERONTOLOGY=study of the aging process

GERON = old man

GERAS= old age
GERIATRICS= study of health and disease later in life
AGING=universal, biological process following maturity
POPULATION AGING=ongoing global fertility decline
1. TYPES OF AGING
INTRINSIC AGING=natural aging process, begins mid 20s
EXTRINSIC AGING = environmental factors
2. CLASSIFICATION OF AGE
1. YOUNG ADULTHOOD (20-35) physical reach peak
2. YOUNG MIDDLE AGE(35-45)5-10kg body fats
3. LATE MIDDLE AGE(45-65)menopause
4. EARLY OLD AGE(65-75)free time resulting to retirement
5. MIDDLE OLD AGE(75-85) develops physical disability
6.FINAL STAGE OLD AGE (over 85) totally dependent
3. THEORIES OF AGING
1. BIOLOGIC THEORIES=explains physical process
a. WEAR and TEAR THEORY = damage to vital body parts
b. GENETIC THEORY= encoded programming in DNA
TELOMERASE THEORY=telomeres(sequence of nucleic acids shortens over time)
c. ENVIRONMENTAL THEORY = environment such as trauma, industrial, infection
d. IMMUNITY= immune system less able to deal with organisms
HAYLICK LIMIT THEORY=biologic clock, cell degenerates
FREE RADICAL THEORY =accumulation of free radicals
2. SOCIOLOGIC THEORIES=
a. DISENGAGEMENT THEORY=person and other members of society
b. ACTIVITY THEORY=constant exposure on different activity
AGE STRATIFICATION THEORY= is viewed as individual element of society
PERSON EVIRONMENT FIT THEORY= competencies of group of people older
3. PSYCHOLOGIC THEORIES= behavior and attitude changes that accompany age
IV. PSYCHOLOGICAL CONCERNS
ISOLATION=client is alone
GRIEF=perception of loss
DEPRESSION= increase dependency may exp can lead to hopelessness
SUICIDE=
5. SPECIAL SENSES
DECREASED VISUAL ACUITY
DECREASED PERIPHERAL VISION AND INCREASED SENSITIVITY TO GLARE
PRESBYOPIA= loss of the eyes ability to change focus and cataract formation
6. REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
DEC. TESTOSTERONE PRODUCTION AND SIZE OF TESTES
DEC. SECRETION OF HORMONES WITH THE CESSATION OF MENSES
VAGINAL CHANGES INCLUDING DEC. MUSCLE TONE AND LUBRICATION
7. ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
DEC. SECRETION OF HORMONES RELATED TO EACH HORMONE FUNCTION
DEC. METABOLIC RATE
DEC. GLUCOSE TOLERANCE WITH RESISTANCE TO INSULIN IN PERIPHERAL TISSUE
8. RENAL SYSTEM
DEC. KIDNEY SIZE AND FUNCTION
DEC. GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE
DEC. CAPACITY OF BLADDER
9. GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM
DEC. NEED FOR CALORIES
DEC. APPETITE, THIRST, AND ORAL INTAKE
DEC. LEAN BODY WEIGHT
10. HEMATOLOGICAL SYSTEM
HGB HCT AVERAGE LEVELS OTWARD THE LOW END OF NORMAL
PRONE TO INC. BLOOD CLOTTING
11. IMMUNE SYSTEM
TENDENCY OF LYMPHOCYTE COUNTS TO BE LOW
DEC. RESISTENCE TO INFECTION AND DISEASE
12. RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
DEC. STRETCH AND COMPLIANCE OF THE CHEST WALL
DEC. SIZE AND NUMBER OF ALVEOLI
INC. RR GENERALLY 16-25 BPM
13. CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
DEC. RESTING HEART RATE
WEAK PERIPHERAL PULSE

DEC CARDIAC OUTPUT AND DEC. EFFICIENCY OF BLOOD RETURN TO HEART

14. MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM
DEC. MUSCLE MASS AND STRENGTH AND ATROPHY OF MUSCH
INC. BRITTLENESS OF BONES
KYPHOSIS OF THE DORSAL SPINE
15. INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
LOSS OF PIGMENT IN HAIR AND SKIN
WRINKLING OF SKIN
DEC. PERSPIRATION
16. SENSATION
NUMBNESS ESPECIALLY IN FEET
DIMINISHED OR ABSENT REFLEX PRESENT IN ELDER PTS
17. CRANIAL NERVE
SENSE OF SMELL IS DIMINISHED
TASTE IS ALTERED BEC. OF SENSE OF SMELL IS DIMINISHED
VISUAL AND HEARING DEFICITS