gerontological concepts pat mezinskis april 2008
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Gerontological Concepts
Pat MezinskisApril 2008
Terms
Geriatrics
Gerontology
Chronologic Categories
young-old 65-74 years (53%) middle-old 75-84 years (35%) old-old 85 years and older
(12%)
Demographics of Aging
Major demographic shifts have occurred in the U.S. in the 20th century
Population over 65: 1900 4% (3.1million) 2004 12.4% (36.3 million)Projected: 2030 20% (71.5 million)
Demographics of Aging
Demographics of Aging
Population 85 and older: 2000 2% (4 million)Projected: 2050 5% (19 million)
Demographics of Aging
Population 100 and older: 1990 37,306
centenarians 2003 50,639
centenariansProjected: 2030 381,000
centenarians
Demographics of Aging
Life Expectancy: 1900 47 years 2004 77.9 years
For those reaching 65, they have a
life expectancy of an additional 18.5 years
Demographics of Aging
Gender 2004
Women 21.2 million Men 15.2 million
Ratio 139 women/100 men
Demographics of Aging
Race 2006-19% minorities
8.3% African Americans 6.4% Hispanics 3.1% Asian or Pacific Islanders < 1% American Indian or Native
Alaskan
Demographics of Aging
Marital Status 2006
72% of older men married 42% of older women married 43% of older women widows over 4 times as many widows as
widowers 11.8% of the older population divorced
Demographics of Aging
Living Arrangements 2006
over half of non-institutionalized older adults lived with a spouse
30% of non-institutionalized older adults lived alone
in women over 75, half lived alone
Demographics of Aging
Living Arrangements Nursing Home Population
65-74 years 1% 75-84 years 4.4% over 85 15.4%
Demographics of Aging
California Florida New York Texas Pennsylvania
Ohio Illinois Michigan New Jersey
Geographic Distribution in 200651 % of the population lived in 9 states:
Demographics of Aging
Employment 2006
15.4% (5.5 million) Americans 65 and over were in the labor force
3.1 million men, 2.4 million women
Demographics of Aging
Education 1970-2006
high school grads increased from 28% to 77.5%
2006 19% had a bachelor’s degree or more
Demographics of AgingComputer and internet access: 2000 & 2003
Health Care
80% of older adults have at least one chronic illness
Older adults spent $4,331 in out-of-pocket expenses in contrast to the total population- $2,766
Older adults spent 12.4% of total expenditures on health vs. 5.7% for all consumers
Most Common Chronic Illnesses in those over 65, as of 2005
Hypertension 48% Arthritis 47%
Heart disease 29%
Cancer 20% Diabetes 16%
Sensory Changes
Skin Decreased subcutaneous fat >fragile
skin Decreased sebaceous gland
activity>dry skin Decreased vascularity of
dermis>decreased body temperature regulation
Sensory Changes Vision
Decreased elasticity of lens>presbyopia (diminished ability to focus on near objects)
Decrease in pupil size>slower responses to changes in light
Atrophy of photoreceptor cells, ciliary muscle>diminished depth perception, sensitivity to glare
Thinning of retinal blood vessels>altered color perception
Sensory Changes
Vision (Pathologic Conditions) Cataracts: Leading cause of visual
impairment in older adults- due to opacity of the lens. Vision becomes blurred
Macular Degeneration: damage to the macula, causing gradual loss of central vision
Glaucoma: damage to optic nerve leading to loss of peripheral vision
Sensory Changes
Hearing Hardened ossicles, stiff muscles>
impaired sound conduction Loss of cochlear neurons, decreased
blood supply>presbycusis (diminished ability to hear high-pitched sounds, especially in the presence of background noise
Sensory Changes
Smell Atrophy of olfactory
bulbs>diminished sense of smell Taste
Reduction in taste buds>reduced taste sensation
Ageism
Term coined by Robert Butler in 1968
Wrote Why Survive? Being Old in America (1975)
Myths about Aging
“To be old is to be sick” Facts
Only 4-5% of older adults live in nursing homes
Only 23% of elderly claim to have disability
Myths about Aging
“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”
Facts The less people are challenged, the
less they perform Conditions of successful learning are
different for older people than for the young
Myths about Aging
“The horse is out of the barn” Facts
Bad habits do not produce irreparable damage
It is never too late to start good lifestyle habits of diet, exercise
Myths about Aging
“The secret to successful aging is to choose your parents wisely”
Fact Heredity is a factor but environment
and behavior strongly influence how well an elderly person functions
Myths about Aging
“The elderly don’t pull their own weight”
Facts The belief that the elderly are
unproductive is changing
Myths about Aging
“Ageism is endemic to all societies”
Facts Many eastern cultures revere their
older adults
Myths about Aging
“In today’s society, families can no longer care for older adults”
Facts In the US, 70-80% of the in-home care
of older adults is provided by families
Myths about Aging
“Dementia is a normal part of aging”
Facts Dementia is a syndrome characterized by
pathologic changes in the brain Alzheimer’s Disease accounts for 50-70% of all
dementias
Statistical data compiled from