CARE OF ELDERLY

PRESENTED BY;
ANKITA M PATEL
F.Y MSC NURSING
CMP COLLEGE OF NURSING
 INTRODUCTION

• A man's life is normally divided into five main

stages namely infancy, childhood, adolescence,
adulthood and old age. In each of these stages an
individual has to find himself in different situations
and face different problems. The old age is not
without problems. In old age physical strength
deteriorates, mental stability diminishes; money
power becomes bleak coupled with negligence
from the younger generation.
 DEFINITION

• Elderly is an individual over 65 years

old who have a functional
impairments
Elderly care, or simply eldercare, is the
fulfillment of the special needs and
requirements that are unique
to senior citizens. This broad term
encompasses such services as assisted
living, adult day care, long term
care, nursing homes (often referred to
as residential care), hospice care,
and home care
THE NORMAL AGING PROCESS
INTRODUCTION
• Aging is not merely the passage of time. It is
the manifestation of biological events that
occur over a span of time.
• It is important to recognize that people age
differently. The aging body does change. Some
systems slow down, while others lose their
"fine tuning."
• As a general rule, slight, gradual changes are
common, and most of these are not problems
to the person who experiences them. Sudden
and dramatic changes might indicate serious
health problems.
 Normal aging has four aspects:

• BIOLOGICAL ASPECT OF AGING

• PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF AGING
• SOCIOCULTURAL ASPECTS OF AGING
• SEXUAL ASPECTS OF AGEING
BIOLOGICAL ASPECT OF
AGING
• Individuals are unique in their psychological
and physical aging process. As the individual
ages, there is a quantitative loss of cells and
changes in many of enzymatic activities within
cells . Age related a change occurs at different
rate in different people.
NERVOUS SYSTEM

• Decreased speed of neural conduction

• Decreased number of brain cells
• Decrease in cell of the nerve fibers
• Decreased neurotransmitters
• Decline in memory for recent events
• Decreased rapid eye movement sleep
• Decreased cerebral circulation
• SENSORY CHANGES
Eye :
• Diminished ability to focus on close objects
• Decreased visual acuity
• The eye's external changes give evidence of advancing
age. These changes result from loss of orbital fat, loss
of elastic tissue and decreased muscle tone.
• The cornea flattens which reduces the refractory
power
• The retina of older individual becomes thinner because
of fewer neural cells and receives only 1/3rd of the
amount of light that of a younger person. Due to this
problem in reading, not able to see in dim light and
also have difficulty in colour perception.
• The lens of the eye loses its elasticity and increases in
density
Ear:
• Hearing problem
• Cerumen gland are reduced in number dry and
hard ear wax, along with itching.
• Degenerative changes occur in ossicles
contributing to hearing loss
• Presbycusis is the term used to describe hearing
loss associated with normal aging.
Taste and smell:
• Decreased ability to taste and smell
• Very rarely the capacity to smell diminishes;
• Taste perception and taste discrimination
decreases as the age advances
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
• Decreased elasticity
• Decreased secretion of natural oil and perspiration
• Thinning of skin
• Decreased heat regulation
• Decreased protection against trauma and solar
exposure
• The number of pressure and light touch sensors
decreases with age
• Immune, vascular and thermoregulatory responses
of the skin decrease with age.
• Loss of hair colour and thinning of pubic, axillary and
scalp hair.
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
• Decreased physical demands and activity of
heart.
• Slower heart rate and reduce cardiac output
• Decreased contractility
• Impaired coronary artery blood flow
• Less oxygen and blood supply to organ, so that
it affects the function of organ
• Decreased altered preload and after load
• Increased atherosclerotic plaques and blood
pressure
• Diminished ability to respond to stress.
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

• Respiratory muscles are atrophy and weaken

so reduced the ability of chest enlarge
• Short of breath
• Increased rigidity of thoracic cage, residual
lung volume
• Decreased gas exchange and diffusing capacity
• Decreased elasticity and vital capacity
• Decreased cough efficiency.
MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM

• Decreased bone density

• Decreased muscle size and strength
• Decreased joint cartilage
• In aging, the increased parathyroid hormone,
decreased vitamin D and calcitonin also play role in
calcium loss in older people.
• In women, estrogen deficiency, calcium
malabsorption, lifestyle factors (calcium intake and
exercise) can result in bone loss.
• Aging brings decline in numbers of muscles resulting
in reduced muscle mass.
• The muscle strength also reduces especially due to
lack of exercise.
URINARY SYSTEM
• Decreased blood supply and loss of nephrons
• Less blood can filtered by the kidney
• Decreased bladder capacity, and concentrating
• Decreased diluting ability
• Increased prostate size
• Delayed sensation to void
• In female relaxed perineal muscles
• In men, BPH is associated with aging leads to urinary
incontinence (dribbling).
• Increasing age is also associated with an increase in
involuntary bladder contractions, a reduction in bladder
capacity and an increase in residual volume. These
contribute to development of incontinence in older adults.
• Weak pelvic muscles causes stress incontinence.
GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM
• Decreased salivary secretions, loss of teeth
• Lose of sense of smell and taste so decrease the
appetite and desire food
• Slowing of peristaltic action
• Altered nutrition, digestion and bowel function
• Weakening of lower esophageal sphincter
• Difficult to chew food because of loose teeth.
• Liver weight and size decreases with age
• There is decrease in number of hepatic cells and
as a result, a diminished capacity for metabolism
of drugs and hormones.
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

• Changes in women
• Decreased breast tissue
• Sexual dysfunction
• Decreased sexual desire
• Vaginal narrowing and decreased elasticity
• Decreased vaginal secretions
• Changes in men
• In male decreased size of penis and testes
• Erectile ability undergoes changes. Takes
longer time for erection, amount of semen is
reduced and the intensity of ejaculation is
lessened.
• It is not clear that whether the increase in
impotence is age related
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF AGING
Memory functioning
• Short term memory deteriorate with age, long
term memory does not show similar changes.
• A well educated and mentally active person does
not exhibit such changes in faster rate.
• The time required for memory scanning is longer
for both recent and remote recall among older
people.
• This can be attributed to social or health factors
(stress, fatigue, illness), but it can also occur with
certain physiological changes due to aging.
(decreased blood flow to the brain)
Intellectual functioning

• Fluid abilities or abilities involved in solving novel

problems, tend to decline from adult period to
old age.
• High degree of regularity in intellectual function
present on most of the old age people
• Intellectual abilities of older people do not
decline, but do become obsolete.
• Their formal educational experience is reflected
in their intelligence performance
Learning ability
• The ability to learn is not decline by age.
• The slowing of reaction time with age and
over arousal of central nervous system are
noted in old age. It may lead to lower level of
performance in tasks which requires high
efficiency.
• Ability to learn continue throughout the life,
although strongly influenced by personal
interests and preferences.
• Accuracy of performances diminishes.
Loss and grief
• By the time individuals reach 60-70 yrs of age , they
have experienced numerous losses, and mourning
has become a life long process.
• It is impossible for some of the older age people to
complete the grief process in response to one loss
before the other loss occurs.
• Because the Grief is cumulative, this can result in
bereavement over load.
• This can further predispose to depression.
Attachment to others
• The need for attachment is consistent through out
the life span
• Well being of senior citizens can be contributed
through socialization and companionship.
Dealing with death
• Death anxiety among the elderly is more of a
myth than reality
• The feeling of abandment, pain and loss may
leads to fear or anxiety in elderly
Psychiatric disorders
• The later life constitute a time of especially
high risk for emotional distress
• Dementia, depressive disorders, delirium,
sleep disorders etc are the most common
psychiatric illness seen among elderly.
SOCIOCULTURAL ASPECTS OF
AGING
• Old age brings many important socially
induced changes, some of those changes have
the
• potential for negative effect on both the
physical and mental well being of older
persons
• They want protection from hazards and
weariness of every day tasks
• They want to treated with respect and dignity
and also want to die with respect and dignity
• In developing countries and Asian countries
the aged are awarded a position of honor, that
place emphasize on family cohesiveness.
• In industrialized countries many negative
stereotyped perspectives on aging still
persisting, aged are always tires or sick, slow
and forgetful, isolated and lonely,
unproductive etc
• Emplacement is one of the area where the
aged faces discrimination. Although
compulsory retirements has been eliminated,
discrimination still persist in hiring and
promoting the aged employees.
• The status of elderly may improve with time
as the number of elder person increases world
wide
SEXUAL ASPECTS OF AGEING
Changes in female
• Menopause may begin anytime during the 40s or early 50s
• Gradual decline in the functioning of the ovaries and
subsequent reduction in the production of estrogen.
• The walls of the vagina become thin and inelastic and
vaginal lubrication decreases.
• Orgasmic uterine contractions become spastic.
• All these changes result in vaginal burning, pelvic aching,
irritability etc
• In some women these changes result in avoidance of
sexual intercourse
• These symptoms are more likely to occur with infrequent
intercourse of only one time a month or less
• Regular and more frequent sexual activity result in a
greater capacity for sexual performance
Changes in male
• Testosterone production decline gradually as the
age increases
• As a result of these hormonal changes the
erection takes place slowly and requires more
genital stimulation to achieve.
• The volume of ejaculate decreases and the force
of ejaculation lessens
• The testis become smaller, but most men
continue to produce viable sperm well in to old
age.
FACTOR AFFECTING AGING:
 Three types of factor that mainly
affect aging

Genetic and
environmental Life style Disease
factor
Genetic and Environmental Factors
• The aging process depends on a combination of
both genetic and environmental factors.
Recognizing that every individual has his or her
own unique genetic makeup and environment,
which interact with each other, that is why the
aging process can occur at such different rates in
different people.
• Environmental stress associated with exposure
to excessive heat and light trigger the activity of
aging genes.
Life style:
• However, many environmental conditions, such
as the quality of health care that you receive,
have a substantial effect on aging. A healthy
lifestyle is an especially important factor in
healthy aging and longevity .
• Behaviors of a Healthy Lifestyle
– Not smoking
– Drinking alcohol in moderation
– Exercising
– Getting adequate rest
– Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables
– Coping with stress
– Having a positive outlook
• Aging process in men is mainly brought about
by over consumption of alcohol and heavy
smoking. Lack of exercise, inadequate rest or
sleep, mental stress show symptoms of early
aging.
• Other factors like regular consumption of
excessive spicy food and caffeine renders an
old look. Sloth and sluggish lifestyle makes
one feel old.
Disease
• Aging and disease are related in subtle and
complex ways. Several conditions that were
once thought to be part of normal aging have
now been shown to be due to disease
processes that can be influenced by lifestyle.
For example, heart and blood vessel diseases
are more common in people who eat a lot of
meat and fat. Similarly, cataract formation in
the eye largely depends on the amount of
exposure to direct sunlight.
• Osteoporosis and arthritis are the main factors
governing aging process in women.
• The toxins produced in Parkinson's disease
degenerate the neurons that hinders the
memory of brain.
• In Alzheimer’s disease, a substance known as
amyloid is produced that destroys the brain
cells. All these interferes with the normal
aging process.
THEORIES OF AGING:-
• Biological theories
• Non-biological theories
- Disengagement Theory
- Activity Theory
- Selectivity Theory
- Continuity Theory
 Biological theories:
• At present, the biological basis of ageing is
unknown. Most scientists agree that substantial
variability exists in the rates of ageing across
different species, and that this to a large extent is
genetically based. In model organisms and
laboratory settings, researchers have been able to
demonstrate that selected alterations in specific
genes can extend lifespan (quite substantially in
nematodes, less so in fruit flies, and less again in
mice) Even in the relatively simple and short-lived
organisms, the mechanism of ageing remain to be
elucidated.
 Non-biological theories
1. Disengagement Theory
• This is the idea that separation of older people
from active roles in society is normal and
appropriate, and benefits both society and older
individuals.
• There are research data suggesting that the
elderly who do become detached from society as
those were initially reclusive individuals, and
such disengagement is not purely a response to
ageing.
2. Activity Theory
• In contrast to disengagement theory, this theory
implies that the more active elderly people are,
the more likely they are to be satisfied with life.
The view that elderly adults should maintain well-
being by keeping active has had a considerable
history
• However, this theory may be just as inappropriate
as disengagement for some people as the current
paradigm on the psychology of ageing is that
both disengagement theory and activity theory
may be optimal for certain people in old age,
depending on both circumstances and personality
traits of the individual concerned
3. Selectivity Theory
• Mediates between Activity and
Disengagement Theory, which suggests that it
may benefit older people to become more
active in some aspects of their lives, more
disengaged in others.
4. Continuity Theory
• The view that in ageing people are inclined to
maintain, as much as they can, the same habits,
personalities, and styles of life that they have
developed in earlier years. Continuity theory is
Atchley's theory that individuals, in later life,
make adaptations to enable them to gain a sense
of continuity between the past and the present,
and the theory implies that this sense of
continuity helps to contribute to well-being in
later life
HEALTH PROBLEMS IN OLD
AGE/ COMMON HEALTH
PROBLEMS IN ELDERLY
Mental health problems among
older adults
• Multiple social, psychological, and biological
factors determine the level of mental health of a
person at any point of time. As well as the typical
life stressors common to all people, many older
adults lose their ability to live independently
because of limited mobility, chronic pain, frailty
or other mental or physical problems, and
require some form of long-term care. In addition,
older people are more likely to experience events
such as bereavement, a drop in socioeconomic
status with retirement, or a disability. All of these
factors can result in isolation, loss of
independence, loneliness and psychological
distress in older people.
 Dementia
• Dementia is a syndrome in which there is
deterioration in memory, thinking, behaviour
and the ability to perform everyday activities.
It mainly affects older people, although it is
not a normal part of ageing.
• It is estimated that 47.5 million people
worldwide are living with dementia. The total
number of people with dementia is projected
to increase to 75.6 million in 2030 and 135.5
million in 2050, with majority of sufferers
living in low- and middle-income countries.
• Depression
• Depression can cause great suffering and
leads to impaired functioning in daily life.
Unipolar depression occurs in 7% of the
general elderly population and it accounts for
5.7% of YLDs among over 60 year olds.
Depression is both under diagnosed and
undertreated in primary care settings.
Symptoms of depression in older adults are
often overlooked and untreated because they
coincide with other problems encountered by
older adults.
• Abuse:

• Elder abuse is a general term used to describe

certain types of harm to older adults. Other
terms commonly used include: "elder
mistreatment", "senior abuse", "abuse in later
life", "abuse of older adults", "abuse of older
women", and "abuse of older men".
 TYPES
PHYSICAL

NEGLECT EMOTIONAL

SEXUAL FINANCIAL
• Physical abuse: (hitting, slapping, burning, pushing,
restraining or giving too much medication or the wrong
medication)
• Psychological abuse: (shouting, swearing, frightening,
blaming, ignoring or humiliating a person)
• Financial abuse: (the illegal or unauthorized use of a
person’s property, money, pension book or other
valuables)
• Sexual abuse: (forcing a person to take part in any sexual
activity without his or her consent - this can occur in any
relationship)
• Neglect: (where a person is deprived of food, heat,
clothing or comfort or essential medication)
• An older person may either suffer from only one form of
abuse, or different types of abuses at the same time
Physical health problems among
older adults:
Common health problems:
• Hypertension
• Ischemic heart disease
• Heart failure
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Varicose veins
• Stroke attack
Nursing intervention:
• Exercise regularly, pace activities
• Avoid smoking
• Eat a low fat, low salt diet
• Weight control
• Check blood pressure regularly
• Participate in stress reduction activities
• Regular medication
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Common health problems
• Chronic pneumonia
• Obstructive pulmonary disease
• Dyspnoea
• Breathlessness
Nursing intervention
• Deep breathing exercise regularly
• Avoid smoking
• Take adequate fluids
• Prevent pulmonary infections
• Avoid crowds during cold and flu season
• Wash hands frequently
NEUROLOGIC BEHAVIORAL:
Common health problems:
• Parkinsonism-characterized by tremor, rigidity,
slowness of movement
• Alzheimer disease- loss of short term memory,
deterioration in behavior and slowness of
thought
• Dementia- it is a chronic or persistent disorder of
behavior and higher intellectual function due to
organic brain disease.
• Depression, anxiety
• Sleep disturbance
Nursing intervention:
• Advice for hospitalization and encourage
visitors
• Teach fall prevention technique
• Environmental safety like sufficient light,
proper chairs for seating, elevated toilet seats
• Encourage slow rising from a resting position
• Reduce the risk of falls
GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM:
Common health problems:
• Problem with speech, chewing and
swallowing
• Constipation
• Colon gas and fecal impaction
• Diarrhea
• Gastro esophageal reflux or hernia
• Fecal incontinence, prolapsed rectum
• Dysphagia, anorexia
Nursing intervention:
• Use ice chips
• Mouth wash, brush, massage gums daily
• Eat small quantity, frequent meals
• Eat high fiber, low fat diet, limit laxatives
• Toilet regularly
• Drink adequate fluid
• For appetite serve food attractively and
different types of foods
URINARY SYSTEM
Common health problems:
• Renal insufficiency
• Urinary incontinence
• Urinary tract infection
• Enlarged prostate
• Sexual dysfunction
Nursing intervention:
• Regular supervision is necessary
• Ready access to toilet
• Drink adequate fluids
• Avoid bladder irritants e.g. alcohol,
caffeine
• Practice pelvic floor muscle exercise
• Maintain perineal hygiene
• Skin should be clean and dry. Apply
cream
• Clean underclothes
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM:
Common health problems:
• Female- breast cancer, cervical
cancer
• Painful intercourse
• Vaginal bleeding, vaginal itching
and irritation
• Male- prostate cancer
• Delayed erection
Nursing intervention:
• Health and sexual counseling
• Advice about personal hygiene
MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM:
Common health problems:
• Paget’s disease
• Osteoporosis
• Osteomalacia
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Spondilosis
• Complaints of back pain and joint pain
• Stiffness of joints
• Fractures
• Foot pathology gait disturbance
Nursing intervention:
• Exercise regularly
• Eat high calcium diet
• Limit phosphorus intake
• Hormones and calcium supplements may be
prescribed
SPECIAL SENSE: VISION AND
HEARING:
Common health problems:

• Visual impairment
• Hearing impairment
• Diminished smell or taste
Nursing intervention:
• Wear eye glasses or sun glasses
• Use adequate indoor lighting with area light and
night light
• Use magnifier for reading
• Use large lettering to label medication
• Avoid night driving
• Advice for hearing examination
• Allow the individual more time to adjust to the
environment
• Use gestures and object to help with verbal
communication
• Speak slowly and clearly
DERMATOLOGIC:
Common health problems :
• Pressure sores
• Herpes zoster
• Dermatitis
• Pruritus
• bone structure is prominent
Nursing Intervention:
• Avoid solar exposure
• Cloth dress appropriately for
temperature
• Maintain a safe indoor temperature
• Bath only 1-2 times weekly
• Excessive use of soap should be
avoided
• Apply cream for lubricate skin
HEALTH PROMOTION IN
ELDERLY
• Introduction :
• Health maintenance and health promotion is
very important. In health care of elderly
following points are included:
• Exercise and activity:
• Nutrition and diet:
• Stress management:
• Self care and responsibility :
• Community services:
• Exercise and activity:
• Balance between exercise and activity is most
important for elder person as it decrease risk
of many health issues. Exercise also improve
nutrition and reduce stress. In addition it
decrease risk of hypertension or maintain
blood pressure in hypertensive elder person. It
increase oxygen saturation and increase lungs
capacity. Elder person should do exercise on
regular basis as tolerated. They should do light
exercise like walking and slow running.
• Nutrition and diet:
• Maintenance of nutritional status in elder persons are also
important because with increase in age digestive capacity
diminish. The nutrition should be well balance that has
higher amount of calcium, iron and other essential
nutrients. Following things should be considered by elder
person regarding diet
• Meal time should be kept simple and calm.
• Food is cut in to small pieces to prevent choking.
• Liquids food may be easier to swallow.
• Temperature of the food should be checked to prevent
burns.
• Encourage for good mouth care.
• Avoid alcohol.
• Review all prescription and over the counter medication
with patient and evaluate nutritional status.
• Stress management:
• By the time individuals reach 60-70 yrs of age ,
they have experienced numerous losses, and
stress has become a life long process. In
addition hormonal changes also cause stress
among elderly. So stress management is
essential for them. Long term stress cause
hypertension, stroke and heart disease.
Explain older person about stress
management techniques like yoga, exercise
meditation etc.
• Self care and responsibility:
• Older person also need to learn about self care
and responsibility. So following instruction can be
given to them about self care:
• Monitor blood pressure and blood sugar
regularly.
• Diet control and balance diet.
• Stop alcohol consumption and smoking
• Get vision and hearing checked periodically.
• Advice to take proper rest and sleep.
• Exercise regularly.
• Community services:
• Many community supports exist that help the
older person maintain independence. Informal
sources of help, such as family, friends, the
mail carrier, church members, and neighbors,
can all keep an informal watch. Area Agencies
on Aging perform many community services,
including telephone reassurance, friendly
visitors, home repair services, and home-
delivered meals. Homemaker and chore
services can be obtained at an hourly rate
through these agencies or through local
community nursing services.
• Most commonly used services are as follow:
• Group counseling centre
• Adult day centre
• Rehabilitation centre
• Hospice care
• Ambulatory care centre
What is role of family member in
care of elderly?