OT 504 Wk 1 LG2 Factors that Influence aging

What 7 major factors influence aging?

Gender, social factors, cohort effects, public policy, socioeconomic status (SES), residence, experiences/personal characteristics, and cultural factors.

gender and social factors include

access, pensions, widowhood, poverty. life satisfaction and research

the environment affects

the physical safety, cognitive function, and mental health

rural communities are

stronger tighter knit communities socially, geographically more spread out, informal support , and transport and lack of access to services

suburban communities tend to

have greater financial resources, few communities and reosurces which is why they rely on driving

urban communities tend to

access services more, greater public transportation, less financial means, hard to cross streets, fear for safety and crime

aging in place

Remaining in one's own home and community as one ages.

why are the majority of elders aging in place?

because of illness, medicaid cuts, and fear etc

Migration

alters who lives with them,where they live, who cares for them

Institualization

3.6 % of people over 65 are aging in plce, for most people medicare can pay for long term care

genetics

predisposition to certain conditiis :

What are cohort effects?

Differences among groups born during the same historical period that shape attitudes, values, and aging experiences.

What is an example of a cohort effect?

The Greatest Generation (~1910-1924) tended to value hard work, conformity, and sacrifice.

How does SES influence aging?

Higher education and SES are associated with better health outcomes, health literacy, and access to resources.

What does "aging in place" mean?

Remaining in one's own home and community as one ages.

How can residence affect aging?

Rural, suburban, and urban settings differ in transportation, healthcare access, social support, and services.

How do personal attitudes affect aging?

Positive views of aging are associated with better outcomes, while negative views are associated with poorer outcomes.

How can culture influence aging?

Through values, social support, health beliefs, cultural resources, and stigma toward health conditions.

What age-related changes occur in the nervous system?

Loss of neurons and myelin, frontal lobe atrophy, and neurotransmitter changes.

What are consequences of nervous system aging?

Reduced executive function, slower processing speed, slower reaction time, and less deep sleep.

What is cognition?

How the CNS processes and uses information, including attention, memory, learning, language, praxis, recognition, and executive functions.

Is cognition the same as intelligence?

No.

What cognitive changes may occur with normal aging?

Slower processing speed, reduced working memory, decreased episodic memory, and needing more time for complex tasks.

Are cognitive changes that impair function part of healthy aging?

No. Functional impairment suggests pathology.

What sensory changes may occur with aging?

Reduced proprioception, vestibular sensation, and kinesthesia.

What age-related cardiovascular changes occur?

Increased adiposity, endocardial scarring, loss of autorhythmic cells, decreased cardiac output, decreased max heart rate, and atherosclerosis.

What are common consequences of cardiovascular aging?

Hypertension, fatigue, dyspnea, orthostatic hypotension, stroke, heart attack, aneurysms, and thrombus formation

What is orthostatic hypotension?

A drop in blood pressure when changing positions, often causing dizziness or lightheadedness.

What is syncope?

Temporary loss of consciousness due to decreased blood flow to the brain.

common symptoms of syncope

blacking out, feeling light headed, falling for no reason, feeling dizzy

if a patient is experiencing tunnel vision what condition are they experiencing?

syncope

treatment for syncope

addressing underlying causes, such as dehydration or medication adjustments, as well as lifestyle modifications like increasing fluid intake and avoiding triggers.

What should an OT evaluate in a client with syncope?

Fall risk, BP changes with position changes, medication use, daily routines, and home safety.

What age-related respiratory changes occur?

Decreased vital capacity, loss of lung recoil, reduced alveolar surface area, stiffened rib cage, and decreased oxygen saturation.

What are consequences of respiratory aging?

Reduced activity tolerance, difficulty breathing during activity, pneumonia, COPD, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.

What should an OT evaluate for a client newly using oxygen?

Endurance, ADL performance, oxygen management, mobility, safety, and accessibility.

What age-related endocrine changes occur?

Decreased hormone release, decreased thyroid activity, reduced vitamin D production, decreased aldosterone, increased cortisol response, and insulin resistance.

What are consequences of endocrine aging?

Reduced cognition, strength, sexual function, thermoregulation, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and immunosuppression.

What type of diabetes becomes more common with aging?

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

What hematologic change commonly occurs with aging?

Decreased erythropoiesis.

What is a major consequence of decreased erythropoiesis?

Anemia.

Common symptoms of anemia?

Fatigue, weakness, bruising, and reduced oxygen delivery.

What immune changes occur with aging?

Fewer T-cells, altered cancer surveillance, thymus degeneration, and increased autoantibodies.

What are consequences of immune aging?

Increased infections, cancer risk, and autoimmune diseases.

What digestive changes occur with aging?

Dry mouth, reduced taste/smell, decreased gastric acid, slower intestinal motility, and decreased nutrient absorptio

Which nutrients have decreased absorption in aging?

Vitamin D, B12, iron, and calcium.

What are consequences of digestive system aging?

Dysphagia, aspiration, constipation, malnutrition, osteoporosis, gallstones, and fecal incontinence.

Why are older adults at higher risk for medication overdose?

Reduced liver detoxification efficiency.

What age-related genitourinary changes occur?

Loss of nephrons, reduced kidney efficiency, weakened pelvic floor muscles, decreased bladder capacity, enlarged prostate, and reduced hormones.

What are consequences of genitourinary aging?

Renal failure risk, dehydration, urinary incontinence, UTIs, kidney damage, and sexual dysfunction.

what condition can cause symptoms similar to dementia?

UTI, or urinary tract infections.

What age-related musculoskeletal changes occur?

Reduced bone density, vertebral collapse, fewer motor units, muscle fiber loss, reduced synovial fluid, and cartilage thinning.

What is sarcopenia?

Age-related loss of muscle mass and strength.

What are consequences of musculoskeletal aging?

Fractures, decreased height, kyphosis, reduced strength, flexibility, endurance, and slower reaction times.

Which body system is the most common contributor to disability in older adults?

Musculoskeletal system.

What skin changes occur with aging?

Less collagen, elastin, melanin, hydration, tactile sensitivity, and thermal sensitivity.

what happens if elders have decreased thermal sensitivity?

it puts increased risk of heat stroke or hyperthermia because they can’t tell temperature apart

What are consequences of integumentary aging?

Bruising, skin tears, cancer risk, wrinkles, thermoregulation problems, and foot conditions.

Why may skin injuries be harder to detect in older adults?

Blunted inflammatory response.

What changes occur in taste with aging?

Fewer taste buds and less saliva.

what can be a potential concern that OT have to watch out if elders have decreased taste and smell?

safety issues, like inability to detect spoiled food or gas leaks.

What are consequences of reduced taste and smell?

Reduced appetite, malnutrition, inability to detect spoiled food, and safety concerns.

What is a geriatric syndrome?

A multifactorial health condition resulting from impairments across multiple systems.

giants of geriatric (1975)

immobility, incontinence, instability, intellectual incapacity

geriatric syndrome(2007)

functional decline, pressure ulcers, incontinence, falls, delirium/dementia

What are emerging geriatric syndromes?

Sarcopenia, polypharmacy, polyprovider care, pain, and frailty

Define frailty.

An age-related pathological loss of physiologic reserve leading to vulnerability to stressors and increased disability risk.

Is frailty a normal part of aging?

No.

Is frailty the same as disability or comorbidity?

No.

What is pre-frailty?

The stage before frailty where risk factors are present but full frailty has not developed.

additional factors that may contribute to frailty onset?

pathophysiological symptoms like insulin resistance, clinical like poor oral health, and psychosocial/contextual factors like depression

which additional frailty onset factors do OT have to focus on ?

psychosocial/contextual factors like depresssion, low physical activity, poverty, living alone, low education, area deprivation

pathopsychological symptoms are ?

insulin resistance,, increasing blood clotting, sarcopenia, decreased V02 max, lowered testosterone, disease

clinical symptoms are?

weakness, weight loss(unintentional), viral infectin, obesity, comorbidity, cognitive impairment, fatigue, anemia, inflammation, malnutrition, poor oral health

how is frailty measured?

no gold standard exists; many tools available such as the Clinical Frailty Scale, Fried Frailty Phenotype, and other assessment scales.

What are the 5 criteria in Fried's Frailty Phenotype?

PEWWW:

• Physical inactivity

• Exhaustion/fatigue

• Weight loss (unintentional)

• Weakness (grip strength)

• Walking speed (slow)

How is frailty classified using Fried's model?

• Robust = 0 criteria

• Pre-frail = 1-2 criteria

• Frail = 3+ criteria

What amount of unintentional weight loss meets Fried's criteria?

≥10 lbs or >5% body weight.