EDN Module 1

Irene Burnside

Mother of gerontological nursing

Geriatrics

Branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease in older people

Gerontology

Study of social, cultural, psychological, cognitive, and biological aspects of ageing

Senescence

State of being old: process of becoming old. Period of gradual decline that follows the development phase in an organism’s life.

Senility

Old age, physical and mental decline

Old age

Ages nearing or surpassing the life expectancy of human beings and is thus the end of the human life cycle.

Later part of life.

65 years defining standard

Aging

The process of becoming older.

Represents the accumulation of changes in a human being over time and can encompass physical, psychological, and social changes.

Chronic illness

Disease that persists for a long time.

Disease that lasts 3 months or more.

Type of disease generally cannot be prevented by vaccines or cured by medication.

Geriatric nursing

A nurse specialist who will help elderly patients recover from illness or injury by providing practical care and developing patient care plans.

May also help with rehabilitation and conduct check-ups in skilled care facilities or hospice facilities

Gerontological nursing

The specialty that focuses on health and wellness, in addition to illness

Gerentophobia

Fear of aging and refusal to accept older adults into the ,airstream of society

Ageism

Discriminates, stigmatizes, and disadvantages older adults based on their chronologic age

Presbycusis

Decreased ability to hear high pitched tones (s, sh, ph & p)

Men are more affected than women

Presbyopia

Decrease in visual accommodation

Urinary incontinence

Unplanned or uncontrolled loss of urine