Gerontological Nursing Course 2nd Lecture

Terminology

Presented by:

Dr: Soad Hassan

TerminologyElderly:-

Elderly is a person who 60 years or more.

Categorization of elderly population:-

Age 60 to less than 75 years …………. The young-old Age 75 to less than 85 years … ………….The middle -old Age 85years and the older ……………...the old-old

Aging-:It is a natural process that begins at birth and ends at death.

It can be defined as the sum of changes that normally occur in an organism with the passage of time.

The aging process is progressive, but not all individual necessarily show signs of aging at the chronological age.

Chronological age:

The measure of time elapsed since a person's birth.

Or

it is the number of years you have been alive.

Biological or functional age:

It is the reference to internal and external changes in physical structure of a person.

People who function poorly are thought to be “biologically older” than their chronological peers; conversely, people who function well might be deemed “biologically younger.

Successful aging :

Defined as avoiding disease and disability, maintaining high cognitive and physical function, and being socially engaged throughout the life span.

Gerontology:

It is the science or scientific study of aging.

It is the study of all aspects of aging process including the clinical, psychological, economic, and sociological problems of the elderly and the consequence of these problems for both population and the society

Geriatrics:

It is the study and practice of the medical problems and care of older people with disease.

It focuses on diagnosis and treatment of disease common among elders.

Gerontological nursing:

It is the specialized area of nursing that focuses on providing care to elderly persons through the use of nursing process (i.e. assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation) .

When using nursing process in planning care, the gerontological nurse considers the needs and characteristics unique to the older adults.

Gerontics or gerontic nursing:

It is the nursing care and services provided to the aged which aim to safeguard and increase health and to provide comfort to the extent necessary.

Senescence:

It is a period of one’s life during which the greatest amount of aging occur.

The process by which a cell looses its ability to divide, grow, and function. This loss of function ultimately ends in death.

It is a degenerative process, only.

Senility: It is the pathological and functional defects resulting from the aging process.

Ageism:

It is a process of systemic stereotyping and discrimination against people because they are old.

Or:

It is the dislike of aging and older based on the belief that aging make people unattractive, unintelligent and unproductive.

Ageism implies that as soon as a person can be described as old they are automatically:

Of little value

A burden on society

Unable to look after themselves

Slow to accept change

Deaf or stupid

Child-like or sweet.

Significant others -:

Are persons that fulfill the family role for older adults, regardless of whether they are unrelated or reside in different household.

Caregiver:

One who contributes the benefits of medical, social, economic, or environmental resources to a dependent or partially dependent individual, such as a critically ill person.

An individual, such as a physician, nurse, or social worker, who assists in the identification, prevention, or treatment of an illness or disability.

Activities of daily living-:

Are those self care activities that the individual must accomplish each day to meet his own needs and the demands of daily life which include personal hygiene, bathing, dressing, grooming, feeding, toileting and mobility.

Instrumental activities of daily living -:

Are those activities needed to support independent living, these generally include housekeeping, food preparation, use of telephone, doing laundry, using public transportation, taking medicine, handling finances, shopping, mobility and home maintenance .

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