AGNG 313 Midterm 2

Definitions:

Biomedical Model: Traditional approach defining health as the absence of disease.
Biopsychosocial Model: Recognizes multiple factors influencing health outcomes.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM): Increasing acceptance of non-conventional practices in healthcare.
Integrative Medicine: Integration of conventional and complementary approaches in healthcare.
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs): Essential tasks for independent living and self-care.
Socioeconomic Status (SES): A measure of an individual's or group's economic and social position based on factors like income, education, and occupation.
Dementia: A syndrome characterized by progressive deterioration in cognitive function beyond what might be expected from normal aging.
Mental Illness: A range of conditions affecting mood, thinking, and behavior, often associated with distress and impaired functioning.
Health Disparities: Differences in health outcomes between different population groups, often resulting from social, economic, and environmental disadvantages.
Informal Care: Support provided by family, friends, and neighbors in activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental ADLs, often filling gaps in professional care.
Caregiver Burden: Challenges and stress experienced by caregivers, including time constraints, financial pressures, and emotional strain.
Gerontechnology: Use of technology to support older adults in maintaining independence and quality of life, including devices and systems designed for home-based care and monitoring.
New Models of LTC Living: Innovative approaches to long-term care aimed at providing more personalized, home-like environments for older adults, such as The Greenhouse Project, Eden Alternative, and Person-Centered Care.
Meaning and Purpose: The sense of significance, direction, and fulfillment in one's life, often derived from various sources such as work, relationships, spirituality, and personal values.
Wellness: Overall well-being encompassing physical, mental, emotional, and social health.
Conscientiousness: Personality trait characterized by self-discipline, organization, responsibility, and goal-directed behavior.
Resilience: Ability to adapt and bounce back in the face of adversity or challenges.
Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to reorganize and form new neural connections throughout life in response to learning, experience, or injury.
- **Physical Stress:** Refers to the physiological strain experienced by the body due to various factors, including aging, injuries, and illnesses.
- **Emotional Stress:** Relates to the psychological strain caused by challenging situations, such as financial concerns, relationship issues, or health problems.
- **Stress Hormones:** Chemicals produced by the body in response to stress, such as cortisol and adrenaline, which can have both short-term benefits and long-term health consequences.

Chapter 4 Key Points:

Cultural Diversity: Health beliefs and behaviors vary among ethnic and cultural groups, influencing approaches to wellness and healthcare.
Biopsychosocial Model: Acknowledges the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors in shaping health outcomes.
CAM Integration: Increasing acceptance of complementary practices, leading to the integration of conventional and alternative approaches in healthcare.
Health Promotion: Shift from disease treatment to preventive measures and health promotion, emphasizing lifestyle factors and wellness.
Oral Health: Often overlooked aspect of overall health, influenced by socioeconomic status and cultural practices.
Cultural Competence: Essential for effective healthcare delivery, requiring ongoing training and understanding of diverse cultural perspectives.
Intersectionality: Recognizing the intersecting elements of diversity (e.g., sexual orientation, race/ethnicity) in shaping health experiences and behaviors.

Chapter 5 Key Points:

Individual Responsibility vs. Systemic Inequality: While individual behaviors play a role in health outcomes, systemic factors such as access to healthcare, environment, education, and social determinants contribute significantly to health inequality.
Chronic Conditions in Aging: Chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and dementia are prevalent among older adults, impacting quality of life and requiring comprehensive management strategies.
Alzheimer's Disease: A progressive neurodegenerative condition affecting memory, cognitive function, and daily activities, with no cure but management options available.
Mental Health Challenges: Mental health concerns affect a significant portion of older adults, with cultural beliefs influencing perceptions and attitudes towards diagnosis and treatment.
Cultural Perspectives on Dementia: Differing cultural beliefs about dementia may influence recognition, acceptance, and approaches to care within various communities.
Special Considerations: LGBT elders and rural populations face unique challenges in accessing dementia care and support services, including issues related to social isolation and limited resources.
Socioeconomic Status and Health: Lower income and less education are associated with poorer health outcomes and shorter life expectancy, affecting access to healthcare, health behaviors, and exposure to stressors.
Gender Differences: While women tend to live longer, they may experience more chronic health conditions and have fewer economic resources compared to men, with factors contributing to these differences not fully understood.
Race/Ethnicity and Health Ratings: Health ratings vary among different racial and ethnic groups, influenced by factors such as socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, and historical experiences of discrimination.
Health Disparities in Various Communities: Each racial/ethnic group faces unique health challenges influenced by cultural, socioeconomic, and environmental factors, leading to disparities in chronic diseases, disability rates, and access to care.
Sexual Orientation and Health: LGBT adults may experience discrimination in healthcare settings, leading to difficulties accessing medical services and higher rates of certain health issues, with transgender older adults facing particularly significant disparities.
Mortality and Diversity: Mortality rates vary by gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, with heart disease and cancer as leading causes of death across all groups, but variations in other causes such as chronic lower respiratory disease, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease.
Mortality Rates: The frequency of deaths within a specific population over a defined period, often analyzed by demographic characteristics such as age, gender, and race/ethnicity.

Chapter 6 Key Points:

Living Arrangements: Older men are more likely to live with their spouses, while older women are more likely to live alone, with variations observed across different racial/ethnic groups.
Informal Care: Involves support provided by family, friends, and neighbors in activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental ADLs, with caregivers often filling gaps in professional care.
Gender of Caregivers: Caregiving experiences vary by gender, with traditional gender roles influencing the type of care provided, caregiver burden, and coping strategies.
Gender Differences in Caregiving: Men tend to adopt problem-solving approaches, while women may experience guilt, depression, and feelings of burden, with caregiving expectations differing based on gender.
Differences in Race, Ethnicity, and Sexual Orientation: Caregiving experiences vary across racial/ethnic groups and LGBT communities, with cultural beliefs, family dynamics, and access to support services influencing caregiving roles and responsibilities.
Formal Caregiving Services: Include home health services, home care assistance, home-delivered meals, community-based services, and nursing home care, with recent trends showing increased use of home care and assisted living facilities.
New Models of Long-Term Care (LTC) Living: Innovative approaches like The Greenhouse Project, Eden Alternative, and Person-Centered Care aim to provide more personalized and home-like environments for older adults receiving long-term care.

Extra Info from Slides - not in chpts:

Stress and Aging:

Overview : Understanding the impact of stress on aging allows individuals to implement strategies to manage stress effectively, promoting better overall health and longevity. By adopting healthy lifestyle habits and seeking support when needed, older adults can navigate life's challenges with resilience and vitality.

University of California at San Francisco Report (2000): Highlights the damaging effects of excess cortisol on the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for memory storage and retrieval.
Five-Year Study on Stress and Alzheimer's (2007): Published in the journal Neurology, it found a correlation between high stress levels and an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
Study on Telomeres and Stress (2004): Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, it revealed that stress can accelerate cellular aging by shortening telomeres, contributing to overall aging processes.
Key Points:
Effects of Stress on Health: Both physical and emotional stress can have detrimental effects on health, exacerbating age-related issues such as slower wound healing, increased susceptibility to illnesses, and cognitive decline.
Link Between Stress and Chronic Diseases: Prolonged exposure to stress hormones is associated with a higher risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, and weakened immune function, particularly concerning for older adults already vulnerable to these illnesses.
Impact on Cognitive Function: Excessive cortisol levels over time can impair memory function, potentially leading to cognitive decline and increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Telomeres and Cellular Aging: Stress can accelerate cellular aging by shortening telomeres, which are crucial for cell division and longevity, contributing to overall aging processes.
Strategies for Managing Stress: Maintaining a positive outlook, staying socially connected, engaging in regular exercise, and practicing relaxation techniques are effective ways to reduce stress levels and promote healthy aging.

Terman Study Slides:

Considerations to live to be 100yrs old:

- Health
- Encore Careers
- Finances
- Companionship
- Happiness

The Blue Zones:

- Study of communities with long-lived elders, identifying common lifestyle habits for longevity.

The Longevity Project:

- Longitudinal research study initiated in 1921 examining factors influencing long life.
- 1500 bright boys and girls born around 1910 from California were studied.
- Some died in their sixties, while others lived well into old age.

Research:

- Discussion on limitations and biases in longevity research, with myths debunked.

"The Termites":

- Examination of individuals followed throughout their lives to understand longevity factors.
- Followed nearly their entire lives.
- Studied their qualities, behaviors, and outcomes.

Findings:

- Presentation of findings from "The Termites" study, highlighting the importance of conscientiousness.
- By the end of the 20th century, 70% of the men and 51% of the women had died.
- Resilience and patterns influencing long life trajectories were observed.

Measurement:

- Description of the conscientiousness scale and its use in assessing longevity factors.
- The conscientiousness scale combined four characteristics rated by parents and teachers.

- Not Conscientious? You Are Not Doomed!:

- Discussion on efforts to change personality traits and promote neuroplasticity.

Self-Assessment:

- A self-assessment questionnaire to determine levels of conscientiousness.

1. **I am always prepared.**

- 1 – very inaccurate

- 2 – moderately inaccurate