Seeing Older Adults Through The Eyes of Wellness – Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key aging and wellness concepts from the lecture notes.

Older adult

A complex and unique individual whose functioning and well‑being are influenced by age‑related changes and risk factors; not defined by a specific chronologic age and may not identify with labels like elderly or senior.

Chronologic age

The length of time that has passed since birth; one way to describe age but does not alone define being an older adult.

Aging

A biopsychosocial process beginning at conception, involving losses and gains, influenced by social determinants of health, with senescence and varying adaptation to stress; healthy ageing is the goal.

Biopsychosocial process

The integrated biological, psychological, and social/spiritual aspects of aging that shape functioning and well‑being.

Senescence

The process of growing old; a decreasing ability to adapt to stress.

Healthy ageing

The concept of maintaining health and function and achieving successful ageing during the aging process.

Ageism

Prejudice and stereotypes applied to older adults based on age, which can affect care and attitudes toward aging.

Subjective age

A person’s own perception of how old they feel.

Perceived age

How other people estimate a person’s age.

Functional age

Physiologic health, psychological well‑being, socioeconomic factors, and the ability to function and participate in activities.

Aging anxiety

Fears and worries about detrimental effects of aging that lead to avoidance behaviors.

Age attribution

The tendency to attribute problems to the aging process rather than to treatable conditions.

Engagement with life

Active participation in life activities and meaningful involvement as part of wellness.

High‑level wellness

Integration toward maximizing potential with balance and purposeful direction in environment and life.

Wellness

A purposeful process of growth, integration of experience, meaningful connection with others, and living values to be well.

Health

The ability to function at one’s highest capacity despite age‑related changes and risk factors; includes physical, psychosocial, and spiritual aspects.

Holistic nursing

Nursing that views the person as a whole and honors health beliefs and values to promote wellness.

Health promotion for older adults

Focus on self‑responsibility to maintain or improve health and prevent decline.

Nursing interventions for wellness

Actions that address body–mind–spirit interrelatedness, use wellness diagnoses/outcomes, and teach self‑care to improve health and functioning.

Body–mind–spirit interrelatedness

The interconnected physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of a person that influence health.

Empathy

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another by seeing things from their perspective.

Common ground

A shared reality achieved by suspending stereotypes, respecting the older adult’s self‑perception, and fostering mutual understanding.

Demographics

Statistical data about the population of older adults, including age distribution and growth trends.

Young Old

Age 65–74.

Old Old

Age 85 and older.

Life expectancy

The average number of years a person is expected to live; historically increased from about 40–50 years in 1900 to about 78 today, with projections to about 85 by 2050.

Germ theory

The theory that microorganisms cause disease, underpinning improved hygiene and health practices.

Semmelweis

19th‑century physician who promoted hand washing to prevent infections, such as childbed fever.

Grandparents raising grandchildren

Skip‑generation households where grandparents provide care for their grandchildren.

Sandwich generation

Family caregivers/providers in the middle generation who care for both aging parents and their own children.

Poverty in older adults

A portion of older adults living below the poverty level, influenced by medical costs and income gaps.

Median income (older adults)

Typical income levels showing gender gaps (e.g., 2017: men ≈$32,654; women ≈$19,180; head‑of‑household median ≈$61,946).

Living arrangements

Patterns such as 57% living with a partner, 28% living alone, 44% of women over 75 living alone, and 3.5–4% in institutions like assisted living or nursing homes.