Prepared by:
Caroline V.San Diego
“years are being added to our lives,
life is not being added to our years:
the extra years are being added at
the very end of our lives and are of
poor quality”
1.Explain the different ways in which older adults
have been viewed throughout history.
2. Track historical landmarks and impact in the
development of gerontological nursing in practice
of the nursing profession as a specialty.
} a. Demographics Aging
} b. Longevity and sex difference
} c. Roles of the Gerontological Nurse
3. Identify the major theories of aging.
} Lifeexpectancy- the average
number of years that a person can
be expected to live
} Average life expectancy - 47 years
(2004)
◦ Figure had increased to 77.8 years
} What’s the IMPLICATION of
this increasing life
expectancy?
} Young Old - 60-74
} Middle Old - 75-84
} Old Old - 85 & older
} Presently: 12.8% of
population
} 2030: will increase
to 20% of
population
Source of data: U.S. Census Bureau, State Interim Projections by Age and Sex: 2004-2030,
2005.
} In 2005, 13% of the U.S. pop. was over age 60
◦ 18.3 million aged 65–74
◦ 12.9 million aged 75–84
◦ 4.7% aged 85 or older
} This number is estimated to increase:
◦ To 20 million in 2010 (6.8% of total),
◦ To 33 million in 2030 (9.2%), and
◦ To almost 50 million in 2050 (11.6%)
(National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS], 2006).
} By mid-21st century, old people will outnumber
young for the first time in history
} The greatest increases will be in developing
countries
◦ Asian countries have less time to prepare
for aging -because aging is occurring more
rapidly than economic growth.
Adequate healthcare services for the elderly may
simply be beyond the reach of many Asian countries
They may not be able to afford a large dependent
elderly population.
They might not have the necessary institutions &
financial systems in place (e.g., efficient and well-
managed pension and healthcare programs)
(“The Future of Population in Asia: Asia's Aging Population”; Sidney B. Westley and
Andrew Mason; January 2005)
} Improved sanitation
} Advances in medical care
} Implementation of preventive health
services
} In 1900s, deaths were due to
infectious diseases and acute
illnesses
} Older population now faced with
new challenge
◦ Chronic disease
◦ Health care funding
} The ave. 75y/o has 3 chronic dses. &
uses 5 rx meds.
} 95% of health care expenditures for
older Americans are for chronic
diseases
} Changes in fertility rates
◦ Baby boom after WWII (1946 – 1964)
3.5 children per household
◦ Older population will explode between
2010 to 2030 when baby boomers reach
age 65
} Women comprise 55% of the older
population
} Women have a longer life
expectancy
◦ The average life expectancy of
women in the United States is 81
years
◦ The average life expectancy of men
in the United States is 75.2 years
} Male
exposure to risk factors
may account for the differences
} Increases in female exposures
to risk factors will reduce
difference in life expectancy
20% of adults 65y/o & above report a
chronic disability.
Chronic disease - major cause of disability;
Heart disease, The 3 leading causes
of
Cancer, and death in people 65y/o
Stroke & above in the U.S.
Alzheimer’s disease - 5th
DM - 6th
(NCHS,2006)
According to Global Age Watch Index published by
“Help Age”, the number of older people in the
Philippines is increasingly rapidly. In fact, it is growing
faster that growth in the total population. Consider that
in 2000, there were an estimated 4.6 million senior
citizens (defined by law in the Philippines as an
individual who is 60 years old or older). This
represented about 6% of the total population.
Percentage has been increasing to grow to 6.5 million
older people making up about 6.9% of the total
population in ten years. The National Statistics Office
(NSO) projects that by 2030, older people will make
up around 11.5% of the total population.
} The average life expectancy was
66 years in males and 73 years in
females. Older women
compromised 53.8% of population
aged 60 plus. By 2050, we expect
our elderly to rise to 23,633,000
(15.3% of total population).
} To promote positive
lifelong health
behaviours among all
populations
◦ because the impact of
unhealthy behaviours and
choices = CHRONIC
DISEASE.
} Defines our practice
} In gerontological nursing they must be
comprehensive yet consider individual
differences
} A good GERONTOLOGICAL THEORY:
◦ Integrates knowledge,
◦ Tells how and why phenomena are related,
◦ Leads to prediction, and
◦ Provides process and understanding
◦ In addition, it must be holistic & take into
account all that impacts on a person
throughout a lifetime of aging
} Cultural, spiritual, regional, socioeconomic,
educational, environmental factors, and
health status impact the older adults
perceptions and choices about their health
care needs
} Limited work has been done to identify
nursing-specific aging theories
} Aging is a distinct discipline that requires
aging theories that have an interdisciplinary
perspective
