Chronicity Flashcards
(34 cards)
Factors that influence healthy aging
Preventative care
Healthy diet
Exercise
Social determinants of health
Minimising stress
Genetics
Age related changes in sleep
- Decreased REM sleep
- Increased in light sleep
- Decrease in strength of circadian regulation
- Decrease in upper airway mass/tone = OSA
Age related changes in CNS
- Decreased memory recall
- Cerebral atrophy
- Decreased neurotransmitters
- Decreased nerve impulse transmission = slow reaction time
Age related changes in eyesight
- Decreased pupillary response
- Loss of peripheral vision and decreased depth perception
- Sensitivity to glare, less light hits retina
- Decreased discrimination of colours
- Increased eye disease
Age related changes to senses
- Reduced hearing
- Reduced eye sight
- 50% less taste buds by 80
- Reduced sense of smell
- Reduced sensitivity to touch
Age related changes in body temp control
- Difficult to regulate temperature due to changes in nervous system and some medications
Age related changes in cardiovascular system
- Less efficient under stress
- Reduced SV
- Decreased elasticity in blood vessels
- Increased arteriosclerosis = HTN
Age related changes in resp system
- Decreased lung compliance/elasticity
- Decreased muscle strength and less efficient gas exchange under stress
Age related changes in renal system
- Reduced number of nephrons so kidneys less efficient
- Decreased bladder capacity
- Benign prostate enlargement
Age related changes to GI system
- Dental deterioration
- Decreased saliva production
- Decreased nutrient absorption
- Decreased gastric motility and secretions
- Blunted thirst which masks onset of dehydration
Age related changes to immune system
- Increased autoimmunity
- Decreased resistance to infection
- Febrile response significantly lower
Age related changes in skeletal system
- Decreased muscle strength
- Decreased calcium in bones = decreased bone mass
- Degeneration of joints
Age related changes in muscular system
- Reduced muscle mass by 15-40%
- % of fat to muscle mass decreases
Age related changes in peripheral nervous system
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Impaired autonomic response time (e.g. decreased temperature control)
Age related changes in skin
- Decreased sweat production = impaired cooling
- Decreased tissue turgor
- Dry
- Less elasticity
- Thinning and fragile
- Nails tougher, brittle and thick
Dementia (major neurocognitive disorder) criteria
- Cognitive deficits that interfere with independence and are gradual in onset
- Difficulties with: concentration, learning new things and recalling memories, managing complex tasks and previously familiar activities, language, choosing how to behave socially, using insight
Mild neurocognitive disorder criteria
- Concern from the individual, informant or clinician
- A modest impairment in cognitive performance
- Cognitive deficits do not interfere with capacity for ADLs but require greater effort, compensatory strategies or accommodations
What are important factors to assess when assessing the health of older adults?
Look beyond the persons symptomology
- Physical environment
- Psychosocial wellbeing
- Spiritual needs
- Hobbies and interests
- General health
- Wishes and goals
What is involved in assessing and responding to care needs of older adults under consumer directed care?
Provide documented evidence that our assessment and responses to care needs are focused on:
- providing person-centred care, including support for carers
- recognising that consumers are active partners and have strengths as well as problems
- using those strengths to increase the person’s choice and control
- providing the right care in the right place at the right time
- proactively promoting health and encouraging protective health behaviours
- building a whole-of-service-system response (e.g. engaging GPs as part of a multidisciplinary coordinated approach)
What are the 5 elements that are essential to ensuring an older adult’s emotional wellbeing?
- Resilience and coping
- Productive contributions
- Social connections
- Comfort and basic needs
- Sensory enrichment
What are some cognitive effects of dementia?
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty completing complex tasks
- Reduced memory
- Reduced ability to learn new things
Why should person centred care be used for behaviours and psychological symptoms of dementia?
There are different reasons for the presentation of these symptoms. For example, aggression can be in response to pain or frustration, therefore instead of just giving antipsychotics or benzodiazepines to sedate them, learning more about them and their history can help settle the behaviours
What is the PAS?
Psychogeriatric assessment scale - used in people displaying symptoms of dementia, stroke or depression and used to get a better understanding of the cause as depression and dementia can often look similar
Examples of behavioural symptoms in BPSD
- Activity disturbances - agitation, restlessness, hyperactivity, wandering, inappropriate activity
- Aggression - verbal and physical
- Appetite and eating disorders
- Disturbed sleeping and waking cycle
- Socially unacceptable behaviours
