CARE FOR THE OLDER PERSON

NCM114
08/24/22 MYHTHS IN AGING
 Elderly people are incompetent and incapable of making
decisions or handling their own affairs
 Most elderly live in nursing homes
 All elderly people live in poverty
 Older people are lonely and unhappy
 Elderly do not want to work
 “Old age” begins at 65
 Retirement ends your active life
4 MAJOR PERSPECTIVE IN AGING
To understand the behavior and perspective of older adults,
though, it is necessary to project ourselves into an age context
with which we have no personal experience. This is not easy to
do and is one of the challenges in working effectively with
older adults.
 RECOGNITION OF AGING AS A HIGHLY DIVERSE
PROCESS. Chronological age is not a reliable predictor
of specific organ system efficiency. There is enormous
variation in the rate of the aging process both among
individuals of the same chronological age and in the
body systems of a given individual.
 IMPORTANCE OF REVERSE CAPACITY. In spite of
individual variations, the body organ systems, unless
stressed, generally continue to function quite
adequately in older age, although there is some loss of
reserve capacity.
 ACCIDENT PREVENTION. Age-related physical changes
increase the possibility of accidents and injury. Older
persons and those working with them need to become
extremely sensitive to and aware of situations that may
contribute to accidents.
 INCREASED HEALTH PROMOTION AND HEALTH
MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES. Older adults are more
susceptible to disease that the young. Physical changes
associated with aging leading to loss of body reserves
increases the older person’s vulnerability to illness.
Although there are many different formulas for “successful
aging,” most include the following:
*Encourage to have quality of human relationship (spiritual)
and to appreciate life.
*Advise to be a graceful receiver, and a graceful give.
*Self-actualization occurs.
DEMOGRAPHIC WITH AGING POPULATION
Over 1.2 billion people, or one in every 10 persons, will be aged
80 or older. Only 18% of the population will be children aged
under 15 years, as compared to 30% at present. The growth of
the older population often receives attention in connection
with the developed countries.
AGING IN THE PHILIPPINES AND GLOBALLY
The Philippines’s population increased by over 35% over the
last two decades with the older adult population (60 years and
older) expected to overtake those aged 0-14 years old by 2065
(Help Age Global Network, 2017a). Currently, life expectancy of
Filipinos is 57.4 years for the males and 63.2 years for females.
According to a 2018 study by the Philippine Institute for
Development Studies (PIDS), the Philippine is on its way to
becoming an “ageing society” in 2032. This means that in 13
years, Filipinos aged 65 years old and older will make up 7% of
our country’s total population. November 21, 2019.
IMPACT OF AGING IN THE FAMILY
Aging can contribute to poor family relationships in a number
of ways. Older people with care requirements are
predominantly looked after by their families. Longer life
expectancies, couple with extended aging-related illness or
disability, can significantly prolong the care phase.
Caring for aging parents has multiple impacts on your family
life, including emotional, physical, financial and structural
effects.
08/31/22

- Admit and accept reality that aging imposes some

limitations. (Elderly should be taught to extra cautious)
- Be willing to change or modify lifestyle as necessary,
especially physical activities and social roles
*Advise them to remain flexible mentally and
emotionally.
*Reduce/ avoid stress whenever possible
*Advise to have lifestyle to maximize remaining
abilities.
- Develop new standards for self-evaluation and new
goals.
*Encourage them to see and measure their self-worth
CARE FOR THE OLDER PERSON
NCM114