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 Functional Capacity of the

elderly

 Prepared by:
Maria Cris A. Babula
BSN 37TH
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Source :https://www.slideshare.net/narasimhabc/health-care-of-elderly
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Source :https://www.slideshare.net/drzargari/agingrelated-changes
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Change in vertebral column with age leads
to loss in height mainly due to thinning of the
intervertebral disks
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The costal rib cartilages become calcified
and less flexible with a decrease in chest
diameter by 2-3 cm
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Reduction of collagen in bone, tendons and ligaments causes
diminished flexibility
-Thinning of articular cartilage and loss of synovial fluid may
cause joint pain
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Muscular system
- Loss in muscle power especially with extensor
muscles involved in vertebral column causing the ‘’bent-
over’’ appearance
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Weakened muscles cause a tendency
to flex or bend at the hips and knees
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The combination of this factors causes a decrease in the elderly
person’s heights

Source:https://www.slideshare.net/drzargari/agingrelated-changes
  Overall cardiovascular function at rest in most healthy elderly
individuals is adequate to meet the body's need for pressure and flow.
The resting heart rate is unchanged. Heart size is essentially not
different in younger vs older adults, but heart wall thickness increases
modestly, due largely to an increase in myocyte size. While the early
diastolic filling rate is reduced, an enhanced atrial contribution to
ventricular filling in elderly individuals maintains filling volume at a
normal level. Although systolic pressure at rest increases with age, the
resting end-systolic volume and election fraction are not altered, due
partly to the increase in left ventricular thickness.

Source:https://www.slideshare.net/drtoufiq1971/cardiov
ascular-problems-in-elderly
Source:https://www.slideshare.net/drtoufiq1971/cardiova
scular-problems-in-elderly
 zCommon Functional Problems of the elderly

Bladder Control Problems

 Lack of bladder control, or “urinary incontinence,” . Urinary incontinence
can lead to problems such as falls, depression, and isolation. In most
cases, incontinence can be cured or greatly improved with treatment..
 Sleep Problems
 Sleep problems can affect your quality of life and can contribute to falls,
injuries, and other health problems. If there’s have trouble sleeping at
night or feel sleepy during the day, tell healthcare provider so they can
identify the type of sleep problem you have.
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Common Functional Problems of the elderly
 Delirium

 Many older adults who go to the emergency room or are admitted to the hospital develop
delirium. Delirium is a state of sudden confusion. Delirium is a medical emergency, similar to
chest pain. Make sure that you and your friends and family know the signs of delirium and seek
medical attention right away at the first sign of any sudden changes in mental function.

 Dementia

 Dementia, most simply, is a memory problem significant enough to affect your ability to carry out
your usual tasks. While the most common cause is Alzheimer’s Disease, there are many other
types. Various tests can help determine whether you or someone you care for might have
dementia and what type it might be. If so, there are treatments that can improve function and
slow down the disease.
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Common Functional Problems of the elderly

 Falls

 Falls are a leading cause of serious injury in older people. There are many risk factors for falling,
including safety hazards in the home, medication side effects, walking and vision problems,
dizziness, arthritis, weakness, and malnutrition. Like other geriatric syndromes, falls usually have
more than one cause.

 Tell your healthcare provider immediately if you have fallen. They will look into what caused your
fall and suggest steps to prevent future falls. There are many treatments, such as exercise and
physical therapy, that can help improve your gait and walking and prevent falls.

 Osteoporosis

 Osteoporosis, or “thinning bones,” is a condition that makes the bones of older adults more fragile
and easy to break. Women 65 and older, and men over age 70, should get a bone mass density
(BMD) test. Increased calcium and vitamin D intake, strength training exercises, and weight-
bearing exercises such as walking are important to keeping your bones healthy. Your healthcare
provider may also recommend medications or other treatments.
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Common Functional Problems of the elderly

 Weight Loss
 Weight loss is a very common problem in older adults. Weight loss can be
caused by the diminished sense of taste that comes with aging, or it can be a
suggestion of an underlying serious medical problem. No matter the cause,
weight loss can lead to other problems, such as weakness, falls, and bone
disorders.

https://www.healthinaging.org/tools-and-tips/guide-geriatric-syndromes-common-and-
often-related-medical-conditions-older-adults
https://www.healthinaging.org/tools-and-tips/guide-geriatric-syndromes-common-
and-often-related-medical-conditions-older-adults
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Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

 What are Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)?

 Activities of Daily Living or ADLs is a term used by healthcare professionals to
refer to the basic self-care tasks an individual does on a day-to-day basis.
These activities are fundamental in caring for oneself and maintaining
independence. An individual's ability or inability to perform ADLs is often used
by health professionals as a way of measuring an individual’s functional status,
especially that of older adults or those with disabilities.
 Basic ADLs, sometimes referred to as BADLs, are self-care activities routinely
performed which include, but are not limited to:
 Functional mobility, which includes the ability to walk and transfer in and out of a
chair or bed. Essentially, it's the ability to move from one place to another as a
person goes through their daily routines.
 Personal hygiene, oral care and grooming, including skin and hair care
 Showering and/or bathing
 Toileting, which includes getting on/off toilet and cleaning oneself
 Dressing, which includes selecting appropriate attire and putting it on
 Self-feeding
 Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
 Instrumental Activities of Daily Living or IADLs are not essential for basic
functioning; however, they enable a person to live independently within a
community. They’re generally more complex than basic ADLs.
 IADLs are made up of activities which include, but are not limited to:
 Housekeeping, laundry and other home care chores
 Money management
 Meal preparation
 Moving/changing residences
 Shopping for groceries and other necessities
 Medication management
 Using the telephone or computer
 Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living
 There are many ADL and IADL evaluation tools used to measure the normal
changes that occur due to aging and health problems. A functional assessment
providing objective data is one of the best methods of evaluating the health
status of older adults to determine future decline or improvement.
 The Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living, generally referred
to as the Katz ADL Index, is one of the best tools for this purpose.
 Other reasons for evaluating ADLs include:
 Providing an overview of functional status
 Determining physical/mental limitations
 Establishing a treatment plan
 Evaluating and monitoring progress
 Measuring and Facilitating the outcomes of rehabilitation

https://www.seniorliving.org/caregiving/activities-of-daily-living/
Sourcehttps://www.seniorliving.org/caregiving/activities-of-daily-living
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Caring for the patients with ADL
problems
1.Understand themselves, so that they can meet their personal needs
outside the health care setting. Eg., maintenance of body temperature
2. Set priorities as in giving care
3. Better to understand patient’s behaviour, so that they can respond
therapeutically rather than emotionally.
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 4. Relieve the distress of patients.eg., helping a patient to meet his/her unmet love
and affection
 5.Help client to develop and grow.eg., Nurse can help to move towards self
actualization by helping them to find meaning on their illness experience
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 Caregiving tasks
 -Medical and nursing treatments
 -Personal Care
 -Assistance with mobility
 -Emotional Support
 -Communication
 -Seeking information and talking with health care providers

Sourcehttps://www.seniorliving.org/caregiving/activities-of-daily-living
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 Reference:
 -https://www.slideshare.net/drzargari/agingrelated-changes
 -https://www.slideshare.net/drtoufiq1971/cardiovascular-problems-in-
elderly
 -https://www.healthinaging.org/tools-and-tips/guide-geriatric-
syndromes-common-and-often-related-medical-conditions-older-adults
 -https://www.seniorliving.org/caregiving/activities-of-daily-living/