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Course Sample:
Introduction The news is everywhere?the growth of the population of older adults is escalating rapidly and will continue to do so due to the aging "baby boomer" population. Other factors such as improvement in health care and general living conditions also have had a significant effect on longevity. Nurses and health care professionals must be prepared to provide the necessary assistance to help this group of folks make the best use of their functional capabilities throughout the aging process. Gerontological nursing is a growing profession that focuses on providing quality services to older adults. This course will provide the reader with basic information related to the older adult and how nurses can intervene to make the elderly clients' final years a period of maximum independence and quality living. Epidemiology According to the U.S. Census Bureau statistics indicate that the percentage of people age 65 and over will reach 82 million or 20.3 % of the population by the year 2050. That figure is up from only 12 million or 8.2% in 1950. In addition the number of people between 18 and 64 who will be caring for the elderly population is declining. (CDC, 2003). Other statistics indicate that older adults represent 40% of all acute hospital admissions and take 25% of prescription drugs. Definition of aging/elderly, senior citizen Some of the terminology used to describe the elderly population may be "frail" or "able" elderly. The young old (65-74), middle-old (75-84) and old-old (over 85 years) are other categorizations used. Defining the terms aging or elderly is complex not only because of the subjective nature of the task but also because of long standing myths about "getting older" and because of cultural and societal interpretations. Physiological changes that may be related to genetic differences also add to the complexity of defining the terms "old or aged". Both nursing and medical research are making increased efforts to differentiate between the normal aging processes and pathology. Myths about aging Ageism is a form of labeling older people based simply on their advanced age. Typical ageism remarks like "He's just an old slow poke on the road and shouldn't be driving" or shouting at an older person because one believes all elderly are hard of hearing, are just a couple of examples of how the older adult is often viewed by younger people. Ours is a culture that highly values youth often to the point of a negative reflection on the elderly. These ageist views contribute to a low self esteem and dependency by some older folks. (Sargeant, 1999) Cultural differences In caring for the elderly nurses must be aware of the influence of cultural differences. As nurses we provide care to clients from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds. Recognizing and understanding the differences related to culture yet avoiding stereotyping is necessary to provide quality care to all elderly clients regardless of family tradition. Treating each elderly client as a unique individual with unique needs is paramount. Also healthcare professionals need to be sensitive to the traditions and concerns of families as they are frequently closely involved in the care of their elderly relatives. Gender and genetic differences Life expectancy differs somewhat among males and females as well as with racial background. White women live longer than white males. White males have a longer life expectancy than black males. The ratio of older men to older women declines with each advancing decade. More older women live alone than older men. Theories of Aging Erik Erikson (1982) described developmental tasks for each of eight stages of life. He described the tasks of the final stage, old age, as Integrity vs. Despair. By accepting the challenges of old age and finding a meaning in one's life, Erikson believed that the individual had gained integrity. On the other hand feelings of anger, bitterness and depression can lead to despair. |
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