Chapter 8 Flashcards
(44 cards)
Does universal medical care eliminate health inequality? Why or why not?
No. Medical care is only one part of maintaining health. The main issue lies in social determinants of health, not just access to care.
What does “aging in place” mean?
Supporting older adults to live safely and independently in their own home or community for as long as possible.
What are the three factors influencing the rate of care for the elderly?
Structural (e.g., gender), Enabling (e.g., absence of spouse, rural living), and Need (e.g., diagnoses).
Do older adults misuse the healthcare system?
No, older people do not misuse or overuse healthcare services.
What is home care, and what are its goals?
Home care includes social and medical services provided at home to help older adults recover, remain independent, and prevent injury or illness.
What is residential care?
A regulated facility providing 24-hour care and supervision for individuals with chronic illness, disabilities, or cognitive impairments.
List four challenges to long-term care in Canada.
1) Inadequate attention to resident complexity, 2) Underfunding, 3) Lack of system integration, 4) Poor workforce support.
What influences quality of life in aging populations?
Physical and social environments, and public policy that incorporates older adults’ perspectives.
What are typical living arrangements for older Canadians?
Most live with a spouse or alone, not in institutions. Varies by ethnicity and immigration status.
What are the two meanings of community?
Defined by geography or by social relationships (social capital). Can be age-integrated or age-segregated.
What is the person-environment interaction?
How personal traits and environmental conditions interact, and the meaning environments hold for individuals.
What is the Ecological Model of Aging?
A framework that sees adaptation as a balance between personal competence and environmental demands (press).
What are common environmental challenges for older adults?
Falls/injuries, transportation loss, victimization, tech access, and homelessness.
What are three types of risk factors for falls?
Personal (e.g., balance), Home (e.g., poor lighting), and Community (e.g., icy sidewalks).
Why is transportation a major issue in later life?
Losing driving ability affects independence. Alternatives must balance safety and autonomy.
Are older adults often crime victims?
No, but they fear crime more and are often victims of fraud or financial abuse.
How does technology impact older adults?
Tech can improve life quality and safety but isn’t accessible to all; digital divide exists.
What causes homelessness among older adults?
Often rooted in lifelong issues or triggered by recent trauma. Disadvantaged groups are at higher risk.
What are the three housing choices for older adults?
1) Stay in family home, 2) Move within same community, 3) Move to another community.
What factors influence a decision to move in later life?
Health needs, being closer to family, better housing or services.
What is institutionalized living, and what are its challenges?
Long-term residential care for frail elders; it’s stigmatized and often seen as a loss of autonomy. Care staff also face structural and emotional challenges.
What are examples of supportive housing?
Retirement homes, home-sharing, accessory apartments, or paid companions offering meals and care.
What does environmental gerontology study?
The behavioural, social, and psychological implications of encounters between older adults and their environments.
According to the WHO, what defines an age-friendly community?
One with policies, services, and structures in the physical and social environment that support older adults to age actively with security, health, and societal participation.
