Intro to Gerontology and Health Promotion

Question 1

Subjective Age

Answer 1

(feel age or age identity) a person’s perception of their age

Question 2

Perceived age

Answer 2

other people’s estimation of someone’s age

Question 3

Functional age

Answer 3

Physiological health and psychological well-being, socioeconomic factors and the ability to function and participate in desirable activities

Question 4

Difference between Gerontology and Geriatrics

Answer 4

Gerontology: scientific study of AGING (the effects of time on human development). Focus on healthy and successful aging.

Geriatrics: a subspecialty of internal medicine or family practice that focuses on the MEDICAL problems of older people. Shifts focus from curing to caring. Emphasis of QOL.

Question 5

Is older adulthood considered a culture?

Answer 5

Yes

Question 6

Difference between health and wellness

Answer 6

Health: Individual’s experience of sense of well-being, harmony and unity. Ability of older adult to function at highest capacity, despite the presence of age-related changes and risk factors

Wellness: an outcome (positive functional consequence) for older adults whose well-being and QOL is improved through interventions. It is integrated, congruent functioning aimed toward reaching one’s highest potential.

Question 7

4 points of access to nursing care

Answer 7

Community services: health promotion, adult daycare, respite services, adult day centers

Home services: (does not require a nurse, but can be involved in education, referrals, assessment, care planning, hands-on care)

Nursing home services: (require an RN skillset, dressings, medications, needs 24 hr assistance with ADLs)

Hospital services: (ACE - acute care for the elderly)

Question 8

In what setting do Older Adults experience the most functional decline?

Answer 8

It’s the most exacerbated in the hospital
- decline due to transitions in care
- incomplete transfer of information
- poor client education
- low staffing

Question 9

Screening for Healthy Older Adults

Answer 9

BP checks - Q1year

Serum cholesterol - Q5years

Fecal occult blood and rectal exam - Q2years (50+)

Sigmoidoscopy - Q5years (50-75)

Visual acuity and glaucoma - Q1year

Breast exam - Q1month (self), Q1year (practitioner)

Pap smear and pelvic exam for women - Q1year (until 3 years of -ve exams)

Mammogram for women - Q2-3years (50-74)

Digital rectal exam for men - Q1year

Question 10

Complexity of assessing health in older adults

Answer 10

• Having one or more chronic conditions in addition to acute health condition being assessed
• Less predictable manifestations of illness
• Changes in function can be caused by a combination of several conditions
• Treatments for symptoms, not the source of the problem masks the underlying issue and causes additional complications
• Cognitive impairments make it difficult to report
• When physiologic disturbances are detected, they are advanced
• Myths and misunderstandings of treatable conditions as just “aging”