Lecture 27: Aging

Question 1

Define ageism and what is the value of older people

Answer 1

Unfair treatment based on a person’s age
-eg. media depictions, workforce

This leads to the psychological consequences

Value is in contribution to local family and whanau, society through volunteering, wisdom and judgement

Question 2

What are the 3 factors that affect longevity

Answer 2

1. 30% from genetics
2. 30-40% from our activity and behaviours that can increase our functional reserve for physiological functions which naturally decline with age (lung volume, CO, renal function, muscle strength)
3. 30% impacted by societal conditions - social determinants of health, public health system, transport, housing, accessibility to support services

Question 3

What 3 things do older age have increased risk of

Answer 3

1. Psychological decline: dementia although no great increase in prev.
2. Hospitilisation due to falls which is a major predicator for death, institutionalision, immobility which can cause 15% loss of muscle strength per day
3. Medicine interactions, minor illness,

Question 4

What are the problems facing NZ in the future due to increased proportion of 65-85+ people

Answer 4

1. Less tax payers to support the older population
2. Right now services are directed to european majority but there will be large % increases in Maori, pacific and asian populations as well.
3. Despite being projected to live longer, there is still an estimated increase in population disability- mismatch with health expectancy, ability for independent living - greater risk for women

Need to increase # of residential care

Question 5

What are the main differences between the Maori and Pakeha living in old age

Answer 5

Maori are more likely to be more independent living with family and therefore need to access support services/informal care. Pakeha more likely to be opposite and live in rest home

However the level of care- weekly, daily, critical is in proportion to need.

Question 6

What are 3 inequities in old age between Maori and Non Maori

Answer 6

There is a consistent disparity in life expectancy between Maori and Non Maori,

Non Maori have easier access to support services despite having a decreased uptake of those services

Maori have a much steeper projected increase of population disability