Perspectives on the Human Life Cycle - Elderly Health

Presbyopia

Changes in vision due to aging. Lens start to cloud and pupils shrink. Less distinct objects at distance, driving at night becomes more challenging.

Presbycusis

Age-related hearing loss. Experience becomes more common as age gets higher.

Physical Changes in Late Adulthood/Aging

• Heart muscles thicken

• Aorta and Arteries become less flexible

• Lung capacity decreases

• Brain cells lose some fucntion

• Kidneys become less efficient at removing blood waste.

5 Phenotypes of Frailty

• Low grip strength/weakness

• Low energy/exhaustion (Predictive of cardiovascular diseases)

• Low Physical Activity/Slowness

• Falls

• Shrinking

Long-term memory in the elderly

More about early adulthood and adolescence then of middle adulthood

Older adulthoods strategies for memory recall.

Uses familiarity and context for recall; more likely to report issues

Dementia

• Affects social or occupational functioning

• Is not an inevitable development (Alzheimer’s)

Delirium

• Temporary State of Confusion

• First clue to an infections, problems needing multiple medications, or impeding dementia

Spectrum of Cognitive Decline

• Age-related cognitive decline

• Psychosocial Development/Decljne

  • Erikson’s Ego Integrity vs Despair. Look-back at Life

Psychosocial Domains

• Social Integration - degree of community involvement

  • Assosciated with better health and well-being

  • Social networks shrink w/ age

• Stress - affects hear rate and mood

Social Isolation and Loneliness

Linked to poor functional outcomes

Healthy Aging (WHO)

• Process of developing and maintaining a healthy life through decline of age.

• Focus is to meet basic needs/functional ability

UN Decade of Healthy Aging

• Priorities are foundation and platform for long-living

Philippine Population Pyramid (2020)

Addresses age distribution of population within Philippines

Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010

Current policies addressing healthy aging in the Philippines

Self-assessed health markers in the Philippines

• Pain - 1 in 3 older Filipinos report chronic pain

• Falls - 1 in 5 elderly experience falls in the last 12 months

• Functional Health/ADLs - 22% of older Filipinos have difficulty performing

Barangay Health Station

Most common health facility in the Philippines

Economic well-being of elderly

Older filipinos have generally poor economic status

Assets, Labor, Appliances

3 most commonly cited income sources of elderly income sources

What attitudes and beliefs influence elderly health.

The belief that they (the elderly) have important skills to pass along.

Loneliness in the Philippines

Relatively uncommon in the elderly filipinos.

Factors influencing emotional health of elderly.

Loneliness, Social Isolation, and Life Satisfaction