Exam 1 - Study Material Flashcards
(192 cards)
What is gerontology?
The scientific study of the effects of time on human development, specifically the study of older persons; it encompasses ALL aspects of the aging process and the consequences of these problems for both the elderly population and society.
What is geriatrics?
A specialty that focuses on healthcare of elderly people and aims to promote health by preventing and treating disabilities in older adults
Define aging
The chornological, biological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual aspects that determines how old one feels.
What are the different age categories?
- Pre-elderly = 55-64 years
- Young-old = 65-74 years
- Middle-old = 75-84 years
- Frail-old = 75+ needing services; or 85+
- Oldest-old = 85+
- Elite-old = 95+
- Centenarians = 100+
- Super centenarians = 110+
What is the fastest growing segment of the US population?
Adults aged 85+ Is the fastest growing segment of the population.
13% of the population are elderly people
What is the goal in studying aging?
To use our knowledge and skills to help people of all ages, races, and cultures acheive healthy aging.
What is the rationale for the study of aging?
- Increasing interest in the biology of aging – Why do we get old? Can we retard the process?
- Phenomenal shift in life expectancy – Growing population of the older adults.
- Diseases of affluence are abundant in old age – Looking at more long-term illnesses, i.e., cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke.
- Cost of health care has increased.
- Negative attitudes toward elders persist.
- *
What are some demographic characteristics related to aging and the aged?
- Most people 65+ are high school graduates (78%)
- More women 65+ live alone, more men living with a spouse
- Women tend to live longer then men
- Some minority groups tend to not live as long as the white population, but at a certain age (the minorities) live longer than their white counter parts. (this is known as the Racial Mortality Crossover Phenomenon)
- More men marry, and if you’re married you live longer.
- Most elderly people live in houses, apartments, and public housing
- Main source of income for the elderly has been social security
- 50% of elderly people will have probelms with hypertension. arthritis and heart disease are other common problems
- Make up 85% of hospitalized patients
- Aging population is growing
- Minorities increasing in population while nonwhite population is decreasing.
What are the 4 main reasons for the increase in life expectancy?
Life expectancy in America has trended upward as a result of:
- reduced death rates for children and young adults
- new drugs
- medical tenchology
- better disease prevention.
What is compression of morbidity?
A concept that proposes that premature dealth will be minimized, and disease and functional decline will be compressed into a period of 3 to 5 years before dealth.
What are the ANA Standards of
Gerontological Nursing Practice?
- Assessment
- Diagnosis
- Outcomes Identification
- Planning
- Implementation
- Evaluation
What is the role of a Gerontological Nursing generalist?
A nuse who has completed a basic-entry level educational program.
What is the role of a Gerontological Nursing specialist?
- Provide direct & indirect care to patients and their families.
- Serve as nurse consultants to staff on complex issues of patient care.
- Advanced preparation at the master’s level; clinical expertise (Educator & Advanced Practice Nurse Roles)
What is the role of a Nurse Educator?
- Nurses who teach & practice as faculty in colleges and universities, or as staff development educators in health care facilities.
- Design, implement, evaluate and revise academic and continuing education programs.
- Have a masters or doctoral degree
What is the role of a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner?
- Provide primary care for older adults in an independent practice or a collaborative practice with a physician.
- Have considerable autonomy in treating common illnesses.
- Prescriptive authority
What role do Gerontological Nurse Entrepreneurs play?
Nurse Entrepreneurs combine their nursing background with business and utilize their individual creativity and resourcefulness to start their own companies.
Define “certification” as it relates to nursing.
The formal process by which clinical competence is validated in a specialty area of practice
What organization gives certifies nurses?
ANCC = American Nurses Credentialing Center
What are the 6 steps you need to complete to obtain your Gerontologic Nurse (BSN) Certification?
- Need a BSN
- RN license
- 2 years full time nurse expierence
2000 hrs. of clinical practice in specialty area (geriatrics) within last 3 yrs.
- 30 hrs. of C.E. in Gero in the last 3 years
- Pass the specialty certification exam
What is Ageism?
Discrimination or prejudice against people of specific ages, especially in employment
What is the Impact of Ageism?
- Fosters myths and stereotypes
- **Decreases opportunity for elder employment - People think they can’t work as well as younger people. **
- Rehabilitation and health education not a priority (it is for the younger adult)
- Decreases self-esteem on part of the elder
- May result in self-fulfilling prophecy in the elder - Becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy for the elderly, i.e., dressing the elderly for them; they might start to think that they are actually slow.
- Fosters social isolation or dependence on part of the elder - They know these myths so they won’t take time to be around people. Need to include them in patient teachings and communication.
- Creates Gerontophobia for the aging adult
- Lack of empathy and patience, disrespect common
- Decreased compensation and respect for nurses etc. working in LTC settings
What is the mortality crossover effect?
- Minorities tend to not live as long as the white population. This is usually due to access to health care, economics, and socioeconomic status.
- However, after age 75, minorities tend to have lower death rates than the white population and this is due to the fact that they tend to have hardy personalities and they have access to better health care.
How do children and adolescents view aging compared to adults?
Children:
- View it more positively, they want to grow up. (able to drive a car, go out, do more things)
Adults:
- Tend to view aging negatively, more problems, dying, less strength.
What is the Biological Theory of aging?
states that some form of breakdown at the organic and cellular level leads to decline, aging, and death of the cell, which results in aging of the entire body.



