ch5 aging

● Average Longevity

○ Age at which half the individuals born in a particular year will have died ○ Varies by province (Table 5.1) ○ Influenced by income ● The older population (65+) will almost double by 2050 ● Canada now has more individuals 65 and older than children 14 and younger ● Which age group is growing the fastest within the over 65s?

● Maximum longevity

the oldest age one can possibly live ● Supercentenarians

● Healthy Immigrant Advantage

○ Why does this occur? ○ Immigrant females enjoy a higher life expectancy than immigrant males, but there is a smaller gap between female-male life expectancy

● Indigenous Peoples

○ Lacking data ○ Need meaningful Indigenous leadership ○ Evidence suggests Indigenous populations are younger and growing faster than non-Indigenous populations

Others Factors Affecting Longevity

● Genetic factors Environmental factors

● Genetic factors

○ How long did parents live? ○ Twin studies show genetics account for a small percentage of how long you will live

●Environmental factors

○ Air and water pollution ○ Carcinogens ○ Smoking/abusing alcohol or drugs ○ Lower SES

● What is health?

○ “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO, 1948). ● Shift in pattern of diseases ○ Acute diseases ○ Chronic diseases

Our current health is determined by many factors

Social and Economic Environment Individual Characteristics Individual Behaviours Physical Environment

● In Canada, acute diseases have ceased to be major causes of death due in large part to vaccines. ● Chronic--or noncommunicable--diseases now make up

7 of the 10 leading causes of death

Falls

● Leading cause of injury death in older adults ● Leading cause of unintentional injury and injury-related hospitalizations among Canadian adults aged 65 and older ● Many older adults do not fully recover after a fall

● Disability

often arises from living with a chronic medical condition ● Disability is more prevalent among women

Two components to disability

○ Activities of daily living (ADLs)

Models of disability

• Medical model • Social model • WHO-ICF model

Medical model

interventions are needed to correct disease or injury as the source of disability

Social model

social forces are to blame for disability

WHO-ICF model

a multidimensional classification that emphasizes health and normalizes disability

Verbrugge and Jette’s (1994) model of disablement includes

● Sociocultural factors (e.g., social and physical environment) ● Personal factors (e.g., attitude and lifestyle) ● Risk factors ● Intervention strategies

Frailty

● Defined as an aging-related syndrome of physiological decline ● Characterized by marked vulnerability to adverse health outcomes

Trends in Illness and Disability

● Non-communicable diseases or chronic illnesses contribute significantly to death rates ○ Many non-communicable diseases are preventable

Trends in Illness and Disability

● Compression of Morbidity Hypothesis 20 Morbidity Morbidity Morbidity Morbidity ● Expansion of Morbidity Hypothesis ● Dynamic Equilibrium Hypothesis

Comorbidity

○ Multiple chronic or acute diseases in an individual

Polypharmacy

○ Use of five or more medications ○ Associated with adverse health outcomes ○ Changes in the way the body absorbs and secretes medications increases the risk of adverse reactions

● Saskatchewan a leader in universal healthcare in Canada ● 1984= Canada Health Act is enacted ● Based on the core principles

○ Universality, Portability, Public Administration, Accessibility, and Comprehensiveness ● Canada and most OECD countries experiencing rising healthcare costs

The European Union has helped convey a more positive image of population aging

○Highlights the potential of older people ● Aim is to reverse the belief that older adults are a burden on society

Longevity is influenced by genetics and environmental factors

● Health is not merely the absence of disease, but a “state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being” (WHO, 1948). ● Illnesses, disabilities, healthcare systems, and treatment all impact functioning and quality of life for older people ● Models of successful aging and health promotion challenge perceptions of older people as burdensome, encouraging their active participation in society and the economy.