GERONTOLOGY

TERMINOLOGY
Elderly:-
Elderly is a person who 60 years or more.

Categorization of elderly population:-

Age 60 to less than 75 years …………. The young-

old
Age 75 to less than 85 years … ………….The
middle -old
Age 85years and the older ……………...the old-old
 AGING:-
• It is a natural process that begins at birth and ends at death.

• It can be defined as the sum of changes that normally occur in

an organism with the passage of time.

• The aging process is progressive, but not all individual

necessarily show signs of aging at the chronological age.
 CHRONOLOGICAL AGE:

• The measure of time elapsed since a person's birth.

Or

• it is the number of years you have been alive.

 BIOLOGICAL OR FUNCTIONAL
AGE:
• It is the reference to internal and external changes in physical
structure of a person.

• People who function poorly are thought to be “biologically

older” than their chronological peers; conversely, people who
function well might be deemed “biologically younger.
 SUCCESSFUL AGING:
• Defined as avoiding disease and disability, maintaining high
cognitive and physical function, and being socially engaged
throughout the life span.
 GERONTOLOGY:
• It is the science or scientific study of aging.

• It is the study of all aspects of aging process including the

clinical, psychological, economic, and sociological problems of
the elderly and the consequence of these problems for both
population and the society
 GERIATRICS:
• It is the study and practice of the medical problems and care of
older people with disease.

• It focuses on diagnosis and treatment of disease common

among elders.
 GERONTOLOGICAL NURSING:
• It is the specialized area of nursing that focuses on providing care
to elderly persons through the use of nursing process (i.e.
assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation) .

• When using nursing process in planning care, the gerontological

nurse considers the needs and characteristics unique to the older
adults.
 GERONTICS OR GERONTIC
NURSING:
• It is the nursing care and services provided to the aged which aim
to safeguard and increase health and to provide comfort to the
extent necessary.
 SENESCENCE:
• It is a period of one’s life during which the
greatest amount of aging occur.

• The process by which a cell looses its ability to

divide, grow, and function. This loss of function
ultimately ends in death.

It is a degenerative process, only.

Senility:
• It is the pathological and functional defects
resulting from the aging process.
 AGEISM:
• It is a process of systemic stereotyping and discrimination
against people because they are old.
Or:

• It is the dislike of aging and older based on the belief that

aging make people unattractive, unintelligent and
unproductive.
Ageism implies that as soon as a person can be described as old
they are automatically:
• Of little value
• A burden on society
• Unable to look after themselves
• Slow to accept change
• Deaf or stupid
• Child-like or sweet.
 SIGNIFICANT OTHERS:-
• Are persons that fulfill the family role for older adults,
regardless of whether they are unrelated or reside in different
household.
 CAREGIVER:
• One who contributes the benefits of medical, social, economic,
or environmental resources to a dependent or partially
dependent individual, such as a critically ill person.

• An individual, such as a physician, nurse, or social worker, who

assists in the identification, prevention, or treatment of an illness
or disability.
 ACTIVITIES OF DAILY
LIVING:-
• Are those self care activities that the individual must accomplish
each day to meet his own needs and the demands of daily life
which include personal hygiene, bathing, dressing, grooming,
feeding, toileting and mobility.
 INSTRUMENTAL
ACTIVITIES OF DAILY
• Are those activities needed to support independent living, these
generally include housekeeping, food preparation, useLIVING:-
of
telephone, doing laundry, using public transportation, taking
medicine, handling finances, shopping, mobility and home
maintenance .
Thanks for Your Attention!!