Study of all aspects of the aging process

Including clinical, psychologic, economic, and sociologic problems of older adults and the consequences of these problems for older adults and society.

What they can do ADL wise.

Includes cognition

Fear of agining

Refusal to accept older adults into the mainstream society

Both senior citizens and younger persons can both fall prey to such irrational fears

The dislike of aging and older people based on the belief that aging makes people unattractive, unintelligent, and unproductive.

An emotional prejudice or discrimination against people based solely on age

Allows the young to separate themselves physically and emotionally from the old and to view older adults as somehow having less human value

Reaches beyond emotions and leads to actions

Results in different treatment of older people simply because of their age.

Stastistical Study of human population

Concerned with a population's size, distribution, and vital statistics

Consists of people born after WWII between 1946 and 1964

Account for approx 1/3 of all Americans today

More than 2/3 of older adults live indepedently in a family setting.

Older adults try to keep their home despite physical or economic difficulities. It represents independence and security.

Combine privacy with easily avaliable services.

most consist of private apts that are purchased or rented.

For a large initial investment and substantial monthly rental and service fee, older persons or couples are guarenteed a residence for life.

Independent residents occupy apartment units, but extended care units are attached to this apartment complex or located nearby for residents who require skilled nursing services.

May be simple apartments without any special services or limited services.

Waiting lists and 1-2 year delays are common

Two/more unrelated people share a household in which they have private bedrooms but share common area.

Potential for abuse!

Community Based Residential Facility is similiar.

Provide room and board, personal care, and medical, and nursing services.

Licensed by indiviual states and regulated by both federal and state laws.

The government program that provides health care funding for older adults and those with disabilities

Most americans older than 65 qualify

Two formal types of advance directive are recognized in most states.

Durable power of attorney for health care & living will

transfers the authority to make health care decisions to another person.

Court appoints legal guardian

Defined as failure to provide for the self because of a lack of ability or lack of awareness.

More likely to be seen when an older person has few or no close family or friends but it can occur despite their prescence.

Often connected with some form of mental illness or dementia

Physical - action that causes physical pain/injury

Neglect - passive form of abuse in which caregives fail to provide the needs of the older person under their care

Emotional - includes behaviors such as isolating, ignoring, or depersonalizing older adults

Financial abuse - the resources of an older person are stolen or misused by a person whom the older adult trusts

Abandonment - Occurs when dependent older persons are deserted by the persons responsible for their custody or care under circumstances in which a reasonable person would continue to provide care.

Responses to abuse - fear of being treated even worse or fear of being institutionalized or abandoned may prevent the victim from seeking help

Excessive accumulation of free radicals in the body is reported to cause or contribute to the physiologic changes of aging and a variety of diseases.

Such as arthritis, circulatory diseases, diabetes, and atherosclerosis.

The # of free radicals can be reduced by antioxidants, such as vitamins, carotenoids, selenium, and phytochemicals.  No proof.

Proposes that cell molecules from DNA and connective tissue interact with free radicals to causes bonds that decrease the ability of tissue to replace itself.

This results in skin changes typically attributed to aging, such as dryness, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity.

Proposes that activity is necessary for successful aging

Active participation in physical and mental activities help maintain funcitioning well into old age

Purposeful activites and interactions that promote self esteem imrpove overall satisfaction with life, even at an older age.

Identifies 8 stages of developmental tasks that an individual must confront throughout the lifespan.

Ego integrity vs. despair