Development of late adulthood.

Dr. Hanan Said Ali.

Learning objectives

Identify normal physical changes associated with age.

Describe the Psychosocial Aging.Explain the cognitive abilities and

aging. Identify the health problems associated

with late adulthood.

Introduction The growth of the elder population is

characterized by unique and diverse individuals who may require a variety of health care professionals to meet their health care needs.

Gerontology

Is a term used to define the study of aging and older adults.

Categorizing of aging population

The old age are categorizing as : Young –old : 65- 75. Old :75 – 85. Old – old : 85 – to 100 years. Elite old :over 100 years

Normal physical changes associated with age

Integumentary system.

Physical changes Physical changes

* Increased skin dryness. *Progressive wrinkling and sagging of the skin.

* Increased skin pallor. * Brown “ age spots” in face , hands, arms.

* Increased skin fragility. *Slower nail growth and increased thickening with rigid.

* Decreased perspiration. * Thinning pubic, and axillary hair

Normal physical changes associated with age

Neuromuscular

Physical changes Physical changes

* Decreased speed and power of skeletal muscle

contractions.

*Impaired balance.

* Slowed reaction time. * Greater difficulty in complex learning and abstraction.

* Loss of height. *Joint stiffness.

* Loss of bone mass. * Kyphosis, decrease in bone density spontaneous fracture,

•osteoporosis

Normal physical changes associated with age

Sensory / Perceptual

Physical changes Physical changes

*Cataract that reduces visual acuity.

*Decreased sense of taste especially the sweet

sensations at the tip of the tongue.

•* Increased sensitivity to glare and decreased ability to adjust

to darkness.

* Decreased sense of smell.

* Partial or complete glossy while circle around the

periphery of the cornea.

•* Increased threshold for sensation of pain.

•* Progressive loss of hearing ( Presbycusis.)

Sensory / Perceptual

Presbyopia : The inability to focus or accommodate

due to a loss of flexibility of the lens.

Presbycusis Gradual loss of hearing is more

common among men than women.

Normal physical changes associated with age

Pulmonary

Physical changes Physical changes

• Decreased ability to expel* foreign or accumulated

matter.

*Difficult, short, heavy, rapid breathing ( dyspnea)

following intense exercise.

*Decreased lung expansion, less effective exhalation.

Normal physical changes associated with age

Cardiovascular

Physical changes Physical changes

* Reduced cardiac output particularly during increase

activity.

*Reduced elasticity and increased rigidity of

arteries.

* Shortness of blood in the extremities.

•* Increased in diastolic and• systolic blood pressure.

* Orthostatic hypertension

Normal physical changes associated with age

Gastrointestinal Urinary

Physical changes Physical changes

* Delayed swallowing time. *Reduced filtering ability of the kidney & functions.

* Increased tendency for• indigestion.

* Less effective concentration of urine.

* Increased tendency for constipation .

•* Urinary urgency and urinary• frequency

*Gastric irritation. * Tendency for nocturnal frequency .

Normal physical changes associated with age

Genitals

Physical changes Physical changes

•* Prostate enlargement

*Decreased fimness of erection.

* Shrinkage and atrophy of the vulva, cervix.

* Decreased vaginal lubrication.

* Reduced in secretion . * Increased time to sexual arousal .

Normal physical changes associated with age

Immunological Endocrine

Physical changes Physical changes

* Decreased immune response, lowered

resistance to infections.

*Increased insulin resistance.

* Poor response to immunization.

* Thyroid function.

Psychosocial Aging

The developmental task at this time is ego integrity versus despair.

They view life with a sense of wholeness and derive satisfaction from past accomplishments.

They view death as an acceptable completion of life.

Retirement

Many who are healthy continue to work on a full- or part- time basis.

It offers these people a better income, a sense of self- worth.

Retirement can be a difficult time of adjustment, it requires a process of adaptation.

Most elders find many outlets, including jobs, community projects, travel, recreational pursuits.

Cognitive abilities and aging

The older adult maintains intelligence, problem solving, judgment, creativity.

Intellectual loss generally reflects a disease process such as atherosclerosis, which cause the blood vessels to narrow and diminishes perfusion of nutrients to the brain.

Memory impairment is more prevalent in persons

over age 85 years.

Memory

Short –term memory ( at a given moment) Recent memory

( the recent past of minutes to a few hours) Long- term memory

( longer than 72 hours and usually weeks & years)

In elders, retrieval of information from- long memory can be slower (infor. Not frequ. Used)

Older adults tend to forget the recent past.

Health problems

Injuries Fractures Fire are a hazard for the elder with a failing memory. Reduced sensitivity to pain and heat.

Hypothermia A lowered metabolism and loss of normal

insulation from thinning subcutaneous tissue decrease the client ability to retain heat.

Chronic disabling illness Many older adults function well within the

community without impairment.

Other are affected with one or more chronic illness that impairs their functioning.

Examples: Arthritis, osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke,

obstructive heart disease, hearing and visual alteration.

Dementia

Is a progressive loss of cognitive function. The most common type of dementias is

Alzheimer’s. Symptoms: Decline in memory, learning, attention, judgment,

orientation, and language skills. The symptoms are progressive and exhibit a steady

decline in cognitive and physical abilities. It lasting between 7 and 15 years and ending in death.

SUMMARY

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QUESTIONS ?