The document discusses age-specific considerations in healthcare for 7 age groups: neonates, toddlers, preschoolers, school age children, adolescents, young adults, middle adults, and older adults. Key points include that neonates are small and vulnerable, toddlers are dependent and stressed without caregivers, preschoolers are developing independence but still fearful, and school age children may not voice needs but want participation. Adolescents experience physical and psychological changes, while young and middle adults focus on careers and families. Older adults have increased health risks and slowed reflexes. Understanding differences across age groups is important for quality care.
2. Introduction
Regardless of one’s role in the healthcare setting,
understanding age-specific issues is essential to providing
quality patient care and ensuring patient satisfaction. The age
groups are:
Neonates Adolescents
Toddlers Young Adults
Preschoolers Middle Adults
School age Older Adults
3. The Neonate
Neonates are 1/3 the length, 1/9th the BSA, and 1/21st the weight
of an adult
Difficulty breathing is one of the most common complications and
emergencies associated with this population
They experience the world through their senses
o see, hear, smell, taste, touch
They respond well to
o Rocking, cuddling, cooing, smiling
Care must also be given to parents or caregivers because they
are often stressed when a child is in the hospital or ill.
4. Toddlers (1-3 years)
Become upset and stressed if
separated from their primary caregiver
Difficult to understand because of
developing communication skills
Dependent
o Beginning to develop sense of
self
5. Preschoolers (3-6 year)
Begin to develop more independence and
improved communication skills
Fearful of disfigurement and pain
Understand simple explanations, but take
things literally
Primary caregiver should be with them as
much as possible
Need plenty of opportunities to play
6. School age (6-12 years)
May not voice their needs or complain of pain
May fear repercussions from complaints
Becoming increasingly independent and responsible for their own
care and actions
Explain things clearly and thoroughly
Allow them to participate is decision-making
Parental involvement, presence important
Also contact with friends
Greater sense of self; focuses on “fitting in
7. Adolescence (12-20 years)
Period of transition from childhood to adulthood
Many physical as well as psychological changes
Physically, looks and responds like an adult
Psychologically, behaves like children
Behavior fluctuates from dependence to independence, idealism
to realism, confidence to uncertainty
Important to respect the need for privacy and involve in planning
and decision-making
8. Young adults (21-45 years)
A time when individuals are generally basically healthy
Trying to establish relationships and careers, start
families, may be caring for aging parents
May be shopping for healthcare services
Concerned with cost and employment issues
May need social service referral to help balance family
responsibilities during hospitalization/recovery
9. Middle adults (45-65 years)
More established-financially, personally
Time when many common health problems such as heart
disease, diabetes, and cancers begin to occur
Physiological and psychological conditions more accurately
determined by how the person acts and feels than by his or her
age
Encourage regular checkups and preventive exams; monitor
health risks; update immunizations
10. Older adults (65+ years)
Age more appropriately defined not by chronology, but by
function
More prone to developing health problems
Reflexes are slowed, sensations diminished
Care should reflect respect for physical,
psychological changes
Slow speech down and speak clearly
Sense of smell/taste diminished - honor special meal requests
whenever possible
