Chapter 15: Aging (1)

Question 1

What are the 6 ways to define aging?

Answer 1

• Chronological age—measured by time
• Functional age—a combination of chronological, physiological, and emotional ages
• Physiological age—functioning of our body
• Psychological age—individual perception of age
• Social age—how people cope with their social roles
• Emotional age – ability to appraise and remember life events more positively with age

Question 2

What is a major change in the cardiovascular system as we age?

Answer 2

As we age, one of the major changes of the cardiovascular system is the decrease of elasticity of the aorta and arteries.

Question 3

How is skeletal affected when you age, name a disease that accompanies this.

Answer 3

Skeletal muscles get both smaller and weaker with aging

Sarcopenia: degenerative loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength

Question 4

Explain bone health is different times of life.

Answer 4

In younger years, bones grow stronger because bone mineral accumulates and lays down more bone tissue

As we mature, bone mineral accumulation and loss are about equal.

As we move into adult years, bone mineral loss surpasses growth, resulting in a deterioration of bone tissue

Question 5

What is osteoporosis?

Answer 5

Osteoporosis: loss in bone density

Bone tissues become fragile, brittle, and porous

Question 6

What are the factors increasing a woman’s risk of osteoporosis?

Answer 6

Factors increasing a woman’s risk of osteoporosis include: Family history, smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, low calcium intake, a sedentary lifestyle

Question 7

Mental ability declines along with physical vigour when you age. True or false?

Answer 7

False. Mental ability does not decline along with physical vigour.

Question 8

In the aging brain, what functions decline and is preserved?

Answer 8

Declines in:
Reaction time
Intellectual speed and efficiency
Nonverbal intelligence
Maximum work rate for short periods

Preservation of:
Understanding
Vocabulary
Ability to remember key information
Verbal intelligence

Question 9

What are the normal memory changes?

Answer 9

Normal memory changes:

• Recalling information takes longer
• Distractions become more disruptive
  -“Accessing” names gets harder
• Learning new information is harder

Question 10

What is menopause, when does it begin?

Answer 10

Complete cessation of menstrual periods for 12 consecutive months

Usually arrives at age 51 or 52 years

Question 11

What do women who undergo medical/surgical menopause experience?

Answer 11

Women who undergo surgical or medical menopause often experience flushing, sweating, sleeplessness, morning awakenings, involuntary urination, changes in libido, mood swings, perception of memory loss, or changes in cognitive function

Question 12

What are the ways to define death?

Answer 12

• Functional death—end of all vital functions
• Cellular death—gradual death of body cells after the heart stops beating
• Cardiac death—moment when the heart stops beating
• Brain death—end of all brain activity
• Spiritual death—moment when the soul leaves the body

Question 13

What are the emotional responses to dying?

Answer 13

1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

Question 14

What are advance directives?

Answer 14

Used to specify the kind of medical treatment individuals want in case of a medical crisis

Help physicians make decisions about life-extending treatments for terminally ill patients if family members are not available

Question 15

What is healthcare proxy and DNR?

Answer 15

Healthcare proxy: An advance directive that gives someone else the power to make decisions on your behalf

Do-not-resuscitate (DNR): Indicates that you do not want to be resuscitated if your heart stops beating