After Midterm: OA

Question 1

various changes demand mx adjustments ie.

Answer 1

changes in family roles and relationships (grandparenting, parenting, loss of spouse)
retirement (loss of work role, reduced income)
changes in health and fxning

Question 2

cumulative effect of life transitions (2)

Answer 2

shrinking social world

awareness of mortality

Question 3

responding to life transitions (3)

Answer 3

life review and life story (encourage them to tell you it)
self-reflection (journaling, letters, emails, art)
strengthening their inner resources (empowering them)

Question 4

Apocalyptic demography def’n

Answer 4

used to characterize the oversimplified notion that the demographic trend of population aging will be catastrophic for our society

Question 5

(5) interrelated themes of apocalyptic discource

Answer 5

1. aging is a SOCIAL PROBLEM that needs fixing
2. HOMOGENIZES OAs
3. BLAMES OAs for overusing social programs and for government debt
4. Intergenerational injustice and conflict
5. Intertwine social policy and population aging

Question 6

ageism def’n

Answer 6

prejudice and discrimination against OAs

Question 7

ageism manifested by

Answer 7

words and attitudes

Question 8

causes of ageism (2)

Answer 8

REVERENCE for youth in many modern western societies (eg., media)
MISINFORMATION about OAs and aging (myths/stereotypes)

Question 9

consequences of ageism (2)

Answer 9

how OAs are treated (prejudice)

psychological distress

Question 10

(5) key dimensions of ageist bias in healthcare (how it fails OAs)

Answer 10

1. HCPs lack education about proper care for many OAs
2. OAs (vs. YAs) less likely to receive preventative care
3. OAs (vs. YAs) less likely to be screened/tested for diseases
4. proven medical interventions for OAs often ignored lieading to inappropriate or incomplete care
5. OAs are consistently excluded from clinical trials

Question 11

not taking action against ageism (2)

Answer 11

suppresses the politicsof age in the social dialogue

perpetuates harm for OAs

Question 12

current and future HCPs lack education/knowledge about (3)

Answer 12

aging
OAs and their needs
responsive care

Question 13

adverse events definition:

Answer 13

unintended injuries or complications that result in death, disability, or prolonged hospital stay and arise from HC management

Question 14

clinical iatrogenesis definition:

Answer 14

HCPs, treatments, and hospitals are the pathogens or “sickening agents”

Question 15

examples of iatrogenesis

Answer 15

addictions/SEs of prescibed drugs
unnecessary hysterectomies
spread of HIV/AIDS/HepC through blood transfusions
inaccurate test results
infection outbreaks

Question 16

recommendations from the Special Senate Committee on aging

Answer 16

counter ageism
integrate care 
comparable access to services across the country
age-friendly cities and communities
eliminate poverty
incorporate research and new technology

Question 17

recommendations in Living Longer, Living Well:

Answer 17

• -> promote health and wellness
• -> strengthen/enhance primary care, home and community care, acute care for OAs and LTC
• -> address specialized needs of OAs, ageism and elder abuse and unique needs of older aboriginal persons
• ->medications for OAs (better rpescribing)
• -> care for caregivers
• -> develop elder-friendly communities
• -> ready all futureHCPs (core educational programs)

Question 18

factors that fuel complexity of OA care:

Answer 18

• OA diversity, uniqueness
• factors that affect their wellbeing such as pverty and social isolation
• interrelations between NACs and the effects of disease/drugs/txs
• causes of illness are more variable
• frequently, presentation of physical disease overlaps with presence of psychological disease
• many OAs underreport
• • manifestations of illness (even acute) tend to be subtle/muted and less predictable (ie. painless MI or ulcer, pneumonia w/o a cough, mental changes with infection rather than elevated temp)
• many conditions can coexist and muddy the ability to chart the course of one dx or ID the cause/s of symptoms
• risk of complications is high
• OAs may have mx complaints due to many coexisting diseases

Question 19

(factors cont’d) a manifestation of illness in an OA will have at least 3 possible explanations e.g.,

Answer 19

a change in fxn usually r/t a combo of the following:

• acute illness
• psychosocial factors (loss, grief, depression)
• enviro conditions
• NACs
• a new chronic illness
• an existing chronic illness
• an adverse effect of meds or other txs

Question 20

types of potential drug interations

Answer 20

drug-drug
drug-person
drug-food
drug-herb
drug-disease

Question 21

(factors cont’d) common PROBLEMS in OAs inlcude (A LIST OF i’s):

Answer 21

immobility
instability
incontinence
intellectual impairment
infection
imapired hearing or vision
isolation (depression)
irritable colon
inanition (malnutrition) 
impecunity (little or no money)
insomnia
immune deficiency
impotence

Question 22

(factors cont’d) assessmnet of physiologic illness becomes even more difficult when OAs are (3)

Answer 22

depressed
cognitively impaired
or otherwise psychosocially compromise

Question 23

(factors cont’d) conditions may be (3):

Answer 23

missed (and dismissed)
underdiagnosed
incorrectly diagnosed

Question 24

(factors cont;d) consequences of illness (greater burden of harm) (3):

Answer 24

are far more reaching (greater impact on the OA)
may combine with other factors to reduce fxn and QoL
may include serious psychosocial consequences

Question 25

(factors cont'd) HCPs lack knowledge about:

Answer 25

- - the unique manifestations of aging, disease, and adverse drug reactions - - relationsips b/w NACs and disease - - accurate and effective assessment and tx of common geriatric conditions - - interplay amongst NACs, chronic and acute conditions, and the effects of treatments

Question 26

due to all these factors, assessment of OAs (3):

Answer 26

- may require a detective-like approac - is time-consuming and puzzle-solving - if shortened, can harm the OA