Chapter 14 Intro to Human Development

What defines aging successfully?

having a sense of meaning and a generative mission

Why is person–environment fit important in regard to old age?

old people can only thrive if their environment offers adequate support

Nursing homes are for people with ___ ADL imprairments

basic

What does the term normal aging describe?

body deterioration that gradually advances over years

Chronic disease is often normal aging “at the ___”

extreme

What are the two types of ADL problems and what is the difference between the two types?

Instrumental: tasks for living independently (cooking, cleaning)

Basic: self care (feeding, bathing)

What do half of all U.S. adults over age 85 have?

instrumental ADL difficultues

The human lifespan has a defined__.

limit

T or F: There is a species-specific human maximum lifespan.

true

How can we get closer to the biological limit of life?

focus on caring for younger generation, build strong community

What are the benefits of calorie restriction?

anti-aging, glucose metabolizing, cardiac function enhancement,

How can the aging human body be compared to an old car?

replacing parts as they go just puts off the inevitable: death

What is the socioeconomic health gap and why is it important?

gap in health between poorest and richest 5%

How did the COVID-19 pandemic illustrate the ethnic aspect of aging and illness?

Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and African Americans: twice as likely to contract COVID, hospitalization rates 4x higher than White Americans

What is the Hispanic paradox and how might it contribute to a person’s longevity?

Hispanics live longer bc they’re embedded in loving, nurturing families

How does education level correlate with health?

going to college = longer life (less telomere shortening in college grads than HS grads)

What are the health and aging differences between men and women?

women outlive men, extra X chromosome is protective, fewer EARLY HEART ATTACKS

In the United States, what group of illnesses is the “top-ranking killer” of both men and women?

cardiovascular illnesses

What is the health span?

the number of years a person can expect to live without ADL problems

What happens to sensorimotor abilities as we grow old?

they decline

What is presbyopia?

age-relate difficulty seeing objects close-up

How does the typical 80- to 85-year-old see the world?

fuzzy

What causes the signs of normal visual aging?

clouding and thickening of lens (can’t bend)

T or F: Cataracts are incurable.

false, they’re curable

How can we lessen the impact of normal vision losses as we age?

well-lit homes, no direct light (glare), large letters, less reflective surfaces

How can hearing impairments present barriers to living fully in later life?

takes away link to others, can cause depression

How common are hearing problems in later life?

most people over 60 have hearing issues, more men than women

T or F: Women are more likely than men to develop hearing losses in midlife.

false

What is presbycusis?

age-related hearing loss due to atrophy of hearing receptors in inner ear

inabiliy to hear higher pitch

Why are people with hearing impairments prone to complain about “all that noise”?

surrounding background noise, low pitches, are louder to old people

What is elderspeak?

when we speak to old people like they’re mentally impaired

What two types of devices allow people with hearing loss to function more comfortably in the world?

hearing-loop: deliver loudspeaker announcements to hearing aids

hearing aid

How might declining motor performance tend to put older people out of sync with the physical world?

makes driving, crossing street, etc harder

What is slowed reaction time?

decline in the ability to respond quickly to sensory input

Who is most likely to have osteoporosis?

slender women

For elderly individuals, what is the main risk factor for falling?

fraility (hip fractures)

Provide two examples of interventions to help people with age-related changes in vision, hearing, and motor abilities.

modify the home

mobility aids (lower body)

Why is driving a special concern for older adults?

vision and lower body issues/impairments

T or F: Older adults have lower accident rates than drivers age 16 to 19.

false, they have higher

What steps should society take to reduce the hazards of driving in old age?

require yearly road tests and cognitive screenings for people over 75

What is major neurocognitive disorder (and dementia)?

umbrella term for diseases that cause progressive cognitive loss

How does a minor neurocognitive disorder differ from a major neurocognitive disorder?

minor: thinking problems don’t prevent independent living

What are the general symptoms of any later-life neurocognitive disorder?

-impacted abstract thinking (thinking through options)

-language issues (naming objects)

-impaired judgment

How can major neurocognitive disorder eventually lead to death?

people are bedridden, cannot eat, swallow, move, speak

infectious diseases usually take-over and kill

When is the usual onset of a major neurocognitive disorder?

advanced old age, 85+

What are two main causes of neurocognitive disorders?

Vascular neurocognitive disorder: impairment of capillaries that supply brain

Alzheimer’s: attacks neurons

What replaces the neurons in Alzheimer’s disease?

neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques

What causes a person’s cognitive problems in vascular neurocognitive disorder (vascular dementia)?

multiple small strokes

What is true of those who carry two APOE-4 markers?

50/50 chance of developing dementia by 68

What do studies suggest about the benefits of exercise in preventing Alzheimer’s disease?

helps prevent the vascular component of the illness

What research is being done on Alzheimer’s?

no cure, focus on prevention and delaying progression prevent amyloid proteins (makes senile plaques)

How do health-care providers and caregivers interact with their patients and loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease, respectively?

health-care providers: know all medications to avoid interactions

family: external aids, make life predictable and safe

What techniques can help improve quality of life for nursing home residents with neurocognitive disorders?

locks or buzzers on door for saftey, removing dangerous/toxic substances

Who has cared for older people across most of human history?

family caregivers

How has elder care changed in various parts of the world?

Scandanavia: model of elder care, gov funded home health services

Japan: nursing homes

China: most ppl work full time so elders are sent to day cares/centers

What does it mean to “age in place,” and where in the world can you do this?

Scandanavia, elders don’t have to leave home or community to get adequate care

What is the name of the U.S. government’s program of health insurance for elderly people?

Medicare

Why is elder care such a concern in the United States?

Medicare only covers services that are “cure oriented” not daily activities

Identify four main alternatives to institutionalization and describe each one.

continuing care retirement comunity:

assisted living facility: for people with ADL limitations, don’t require full time care

day-care programs: for older people who live with families

home-health services: age in place

What is the main problem with these alternatives?

limits freedom, costly

What is the main risk factor for entering a nursing home?

being very old

____make up the vast majority of residents in long-term-care facilities.

women (bc they live longer)

Who finances nursing homes in the United States?

Medicaid

How accurate are nursing-home stereotypes?

fairly: but a national movement is in place to make nursing homes one person centered and attentive to residents needs

still have far to go

Who is the front-line caregiver in a nursing home?

certified nurse assistant or aide

What can make it difficult for certified nurse assistants to provide adequate care?

job conditions