CARE OF THE OLDER

PERSON

Sheila Maria G. Batoon

sgbatoon@uc-bcf.edu.ph
Caring the Older Person
OLD AGE
…..generally begins at the age of
60

People in this age group are called…

…..Senior Citizens
According
Accordingtotothe
theWorld
WorldHealth
HealthOrganization….
Organization….
….there are almost
….there are almost
962
962million
millionpeople
peopleoveroverthe
theage
age60
60
living
livingininthe
theworld
worldtoday.
today.
…among
…amongthose
those13%
13%are areover
over
8080years
yearsold.
old.
…it is expected that by 2050
…it is expected that by 2050
this
thisnumber
numberwill
willbe
bealmost
almost
22billion
billionand
and
the
thenumber
numberofofelderly
elderlywill
willbe
be
higher
higherthan
thanthe
thenumber
numberofof
children
children
• In 2018, for the first time in history,
persons aged 65 and above
outnumbered children under
five years of age globally.

» The number of persons aged

80 years or over is projected
to triple, from 143 million
in 2019 to 426 million
in 2050.
InInthe Philippines….
the Philippines….

According
Accordingtotothe
theNational
NationalStatistics
Statistics
Office,
Office,the
thetotal
totalnumber
numberofofSenior
Senior
Citizens
Citizens(60
(60years
yearsold
oldand
andabove)
above)isis
8.2
8.2million
millionasasofof2020.
2020.

….this
….thisnumber
numbercomprises
comprises7.5%
7.5%ofofthe
thetotal
totalPhilippine
Philippine
population;
population;
…..with
…..withalmost
almost5%
5%ofofthe
thepopulation
populationare
areaged
aged6565
years
yearsand
andabove.
above.
More
MoreStatistics…
Statistics…
AtAtthis time elderly population is growing
this time elderly population is growing by by
800,0000
800,0000per permonth
month
Did
Didyou
youknow
knowthat…
that…
Japan
Japanhas
hasthe
themost
mostnumber
numberofofelderly
elderlyininthe
the
world…..1/3
world…..1/3ofofitsitspopulation
population
(126,688,628)
(126,688,628)isis over
over65….
65….
………2.3
………2.3million
millionare
areon
ontheir
their70’s
70’s
• AGING – the total life process;
physiologic, behavioral and social
changes that occur within increasing
chronological age.
• AGED – one who has reached near
the end of the aging process
• GERONTOLOGY – the study of
phenomena of old age
• GERONTOLOGIC NURSING - a
more holistic view of the nursing
care of older persons
• GERIATRICS – is the treatment of
the accompanying disease of old
age.
•GERIATRIC NURSING - nursing care
primarily for older persons who are ill
•GERONTIC NURSING - nursing care
pertaining to an older person, a
compromise between geriatric
nursing & gerontologic nursing
> Pertaining to both geriatrics and
gerontology
•SENESCENCE – the process of growing
old or the period of old age

•SENILE – is often clinically annotated

with old person with mental & physical
weaknesses
 CLASSIFICATION OF OLD AGE

• Young old age 60-70 years

• Middle old age 70-80 years
• Old old age 81 years &
above

Rajbir Kaur,MPH,PU 13
 DEFINING AGE

• CHRONOLOGICAL AGE – exact age from birth

• BIOLOGICAL AGE – age is determined by
physiology rather than chronology
• FUNCTIONAL AGE – age in terms of functional
performance
 TRENDS IN POPULATION AGING
1.Population are getting older
2. Population aging by development group
3. Population aging is happening much
more quickly from the past
 IMPLICATIONS OF
POPULATION AGING

1. The older population is itself aging

2. The older population is growing faster in urban
areas than in rural areas
3. High-income countries tend to be most aged
 FACTORS INFLUENCING
POPULATION AGING
• 1. Fertility & mortality as determinants
>countries that had high fertility 60years ago
saw faster growth in the number of older persons
• 2. Demographic Transition
>population aging is an enevitable consequence
of the demographic transition
3. International migration & aging
4. Economic Implications
> recognizing the challenges posed by
population aging, many countries are pursuing
pension system reforms
5. Socio-cultural Implications
>the nature of the dependency of older people
on younger kin is dictated by cultural norms
6. Health Implications
> the main health burden for old people are
from non-communicable diseases.
 WHAT MAKES US AGE
DIFFERENTLY
• 1. Genetic Inheritance
• 2. What we are
• 3. What we live
• 4. Our health behaviour
• 5. Our access to health care
 Few Aspects in Aging
1. It may not always be possible to
differentiate normal aging from
disease.
2. It is diseases that make old age
miserable, not the normal changes
of aging.
3. The normal changes with aging
reduce your reserve capacity.
 4. Aging results in a diminished ability to
maintain homeostasis and regulate body
systems
5. Aging is accompanied by heterogeneity.
6. The rate of physiologic decline can be
modified
 THEORIES OF AGING

1. BIOLOGICAL THEORIES
2. PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES
3. SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES
 Biological Theories of
Aging
Programmed Theory
Programmed Longevity
Endocrine Theory
Autoimmune/Immunologic Theory

Error Theory
Wear and Tear Theory
Cross Link Theory
Somatic DNA Damage Theory
 BIOLOGICAL THEORIES

A. PROGRAMMED THEORIES – Aging follows a

biological timetable, perhaps a continuation of
the one that regulates childhood growth and
development.
a. Programmed Longevity - Aging is the result of
the sequential switching on & off of certain genes
b. Endocrine Theory
– biological clocks act through hormones
to regulate the pace of aging

c. Autoimmune Theory/Immunological
Theory
- states that aging is caused by a change
in the immune system.
B. DAMAGE OR ERROR THEORIES
- Aging is caused by environmental damage
to the body’s system which accumulates over
time.
a. Wear and Tear Theory
- Parts wear out and the machine breaks
down. Cells and organs have vital parts that
wear out after years of use
b. Cross-Linking Theory
– - In this theory, an accumulation of cross-linked proteins
damages cells and tissues, slowing down bodily
processes resulting in aging
c. Free Radical Theory
– - This theory proposes that superoxide and other free
radicals cause damage to macromolecular components
of the cell, giving rise to accumulated damahe causing
cells and eventually organs, to stop functioning.
d. Somatic DNA Damage Theory
- DNA damages occur continuously in cells of
living organism

e. Rate of Living Theory

- The greater an organism’s rate og oxygen basal
metabolism, the shorter its life span.
Psychological Theories of Aging
Jung’s Theory of Individualism
Erikson’s Developmental Theory
 PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES

1. JUNG’S THEORY OF INDIVIDUALISM.

Hypothesize that as a person ages, the shift of
focus is away from the external world toward
the inner experience. To age successfully, the
older person will accept past accomplishments
and failures. It is also the time for
contemplation and introspections
2. ERIKSON’S EIGHTH STAGE THEORY
- Ego integrity vs. Despair
- Stage of later maturity where one strives to
reach acceptance of self
- Signs of Ego integrity: acceptance of both
failures and successes in life; feelsincontrol of one’s
life; accepts self and others, approaches death with
less fear
- Negative resolution: feeling of despair and
regret, disappointment, and fear of death
 Social Theories of Aging
Disengagement Theory
Activity Theory
Social breakdown Reconstruction Theory
What are the Elderly Like?
What are the Elderly Like?

Social Theories of Aging

Disengagement Theory – as older persons slow down,
they gradually withdraw from the society.

Disengagement is a mutual activity in which the older

person not only disengaged in the society, but the society
disengages from the older adult.

The older person develops greater self-preoccupation

and decrease emotional ties with people and reduced
interest in social activities. Such social withdrawal and
increased self-absorption was thought to increase life
satisfaction among them.
 Social Theories of Aging
Activity Theory– as opposed to the disengagement
theory, this theory argues that the more active and
involved the elderly are, the more likely that they are
satisfied with their lives.

It is therefore important to find substitute activities for

them after their retirement.
Social Theories of Aging
Social Breakdown -Reconstruction
Theory
This theory states that aging is promoted
through negative psychological functioning
brought about by the negative views of the
society about elderly and inadequate provision of
services for them.

Social reconstruction can occur by changing

the society’s view of the older person and by
providing adequate social services for them.
 Gerotranscendence Theory

• (Lars Tornstam, The Journal of

TransPersonal Psychology, Vol
43(2):166-180. )
– Gero ( Greek )– old age
– Transcendence ( Latin )– to climb
over
• According to Lars Tornstam,
Aging is a developmental stage that
occurs when an individual who is living
into very old age shifts their
perspective “…from a materialistic and
rational view of the world to a more
cosmic and transcendent one, normally
accompanied by an increase in life
satisfaction.”
Gerotranscendence Theory
• The theory suggests that human aging
includes a potential to mature into a
new outlook on and understanding of
life. These include a redefinition of the
self and of relationships to others.
 Characteristics Of
Gerotranscendent
• Less self-occupied and more
altruistic
• Decreased interest in material things,
viewing too many possessions as
burdensome
• Selective in choices of social and
other activities which they find
unnecessary;
 Characteristics Of
Gerotranscendent
• Has greater need for “alone time” for
thought and meditation – positive
solitude
• Able to accept “ mysteries of life “
• Views death as a natural part of life
Caring is an aging process
To rediscover Self