The Aging Process

Aging Process

• Biologic age – person’s position in time relative to

his potential life span.
• Psychologic age – the individual’s capacity for
adopting to his environment
• Social age – a person’s role in the family, at work,
in his community as well as his interest and
activities
 Characteristics of Aging
• Hereditary factors – the genetic factor in these
biologic processes determines
1.1 the time of onset
1.2 the course and direction
1.3 the time sequences of the various
• Stresses of life
 Three Classes of Models of Aging Hypothesized

• Aging due to loss of cellular synthesis

causes 1.1 genetic damage (DNA)
1.2 loss of message-translating ability
• Aging due to loss of cellular function
causes 1.1 loss of function of cellular organelles
2.2 insufficiency of growth factors
2.3 an accumulation of inhibitors
• Aging due to loss of intercellular coordination
causes 3.1 physical alteration
3.2 decreased cell responsiveness due to loss
of receptor sites or cell loss
 Biologic aging leads to different
responses in the elderly
• Healing takes place more slowly
• Gradual loss of tissue elasticity
• Bones become rarefield in the aging process
• Circulatory changes due to lessened elasticity of
blood vessels
• Nervous system gradual degeneration
• Vital organs like liver, heart, kidneys, etc..
Nursing Needs of
Elderly
Goal – of medical and nursing care is to keep
patient’s functioning at the highest possible
level for their age
• Elderly living with chronic ailments and
continuing degenerative changes
• The nurse who view aging as a normal,
inetivitable process, requiring adjustments in
living patterns but not a withdrawn from life,
works best with the aging patient.
 Nurse’s Philosophy
• Necessary nursing care depends
• In planning nursing care elderly patients
• Placing equipment conveniently
• Many adjustments can be made to help the patient
• Elderly patient often need help
• Many elderly patient can give most in all necessary physical care
• Physical change occurs in the aging process
• The feet and legs usually show the results of limitation
• Slumped posture
• Exercise for the arms and legs, exercise to deep abdominal
and exercises to strengthen the extensor muscles
• Older persons should wear clothing that is comfortable for
them
• The older person should be encouraged to wear firm
• Fresh air
• Rest is essential for the aged
• Sleep lightly and intermittently frequent walking
• Many elderly people are undernourished
• There is no evidence that increase constipation
• Frequently od voiding is common with aging
• Involutional changes
• Many older men have hypertrophy of the prostate
• Incontinence of urine and of feces