Chapter 14: Physical Challenges of Old Age

normal aging

• body deterioration that advances gradually over years

chronic disease

• health disorders that do not abate but persist and often get worse over time

activitires of daily living (ADL) problems

• difficulties physically handling life

instrumental ADL problems

• difficulty performing everyday household tasks (cooking/cleaning)

basic ADL limitations

• difficulty performing essential self care activities (bathing, eating)

socioeconomic health gap

• worldwide disparity between the health of rich and poor ppl

hispanic paradox

• hispanic americans statistically outlive white americans

health span

• number of years ppl can expect to live without ADL problems

presbyopia

• term for age-related difficulties with seeing close objects

lens

• transparent, disk-shaped structure in the eye that bends to allow us to see close objects

reaction time

• speed at which a person can respond to a stimulus

presbycusis

• age related difficulty in hearing

• caused by atrophy or loss of the hearing receptors in inner ear

elderspeak

• communication style used when an older person looks frail/impaired

• involves talking loudly and slowly as if your talking to a baby

osteoporosis

• disease where the bones become porous, fragile, and more likely to break

major neurocognitive disorder

• general term for any illness involving serious cognitive decline

dementia

• umbrella term for a range of disorders that affect memory, thinking, and social abilities

alzheimer’s disease

• attacks the core strucutre of human consciousness

neurofibrillary tangles

• long wavy filaments that replace normal neurons

• characteric of Alzheimer’s

senile plaques

• thick bullet shaped bodies of protons

• replace normal neurons

vascular neurocognitive disorder

• age related cognitive disorder caused by multiple small strokes

vascular dementia

• inpairments in the blood or network in the arteries feeding the brain

• small strokes

alternatives to institutionalization

• services to help keep old ppl who experience age-related disabilities

continuing -care retirement communities

• residential complex that provides different levels of service

• independent living to nursing home care

assisted-living facilities

• designed for ppl who have ADL limitations but not impairments that involve 24 hour care

day-care programs

• for older ppl who live w/ families

• provides activities and place for old ppl to go when family members are busy

home health services

• help ppl age in place (at home)

• paid caregivers come cook, clean, help w/ personal care

medicare

• US govs health insurance program for old ppl

• does not help with with ADL

nursing homes

• provide shelter and services to ppl with limited ADLs

• require 24 hour care

certified nursing assistant or aide

• main hands on care provider in nursing home

• helps old ppl with ADLs

osteoarthritis

• joint cartilage wears away (aching bones)

• makes opening a jar a hard task