this slide describes what is aging and changes that a body endure while getting old. and the social medical implications

1. AGING AND ITS SOCIAL
MEDICAL IMPLICATIONS

2. AGING
The process of becoming older, a
process that is genetically determined
and environmentally modulated.
Or
Aging is a sequential or progressive
change in an organism that leads to
increase risk of debility, disease and
death. Senescence consist of these
manifestations of the aging process.
Kinza
Musta

3. Who Are Elderly? Aging in Society?
 Gerontology is a field of science that seeks to
understand the process of aging and the
challenges encountered as seniors grow older.
 Gerontologist investigate age, aging, and the
aged. Gerontologists study what it is like to be
an older adult in a society and the ways that
aging affects members of a society.

4. SOCIAL GERONTOLOGY
 This refers to a specialized field of gerontology
that examines the social aspects of aging.
 Researchers focus on developing a board
understanding of the experiences of people at
specific ages, such as mental and physical
wellbeing, plus age specific concerns such as
the process of dying.
 Social gerontologists work as social
researchers, counselors, community
organizers, and service providers for older
adults.

5. Phases of Aging:
 The United states older adult population
can be divided into three life-stage
subgroups:
 The young-old (approximately 65-74)
 The middle-old (ages 75-85)
 The old-old (over age 85)

6. Frail Elder:
Frail elder is described in literature as the older
adults with problems in multiple domains or who
is vulnerable , fragile , and lacking resilience.
The FRIED definition of frail elderly includes the
following factors:
 Unintentional weight loss
 Self-reported exhaustion
 Slow walking speed
 Low physical activity
 Frail elders are generally older than 65 years and
present with deficiencies in at least 2 of the major
domains

7. Following are the major domains :
•Physical
•Cognitive
•Nutritive
•Sensory

8. Successful Aging:
The process of developing and maintaining the
functional ability that enables well-being in
older age.
People age in different ways and at different rates ,
although there is some consensus of opinion as to
normal aging and what may be termed as
successful aging.
 Exercise tolerance , strength , and balance
frequently experience a decline with age , yet
regular exercise has been shown to preserve
these functions overtime and , in some cases,
reverse the usual decline.

9. Aging Around The World:
■Aging in the population is moderate in outside
of East Asia and Europe such as Indonesia
and Egypt.
■But aging is rapidly increase in China , Japan ,
South Korea , Germany , United states of
America and many others.
■Research held by the University of Washington
according to get research in 2100 2.4 billion
are going to be over the age of 65 compared
with 1.7 billion under the age of 20.

10. ■PEW research centre:
They surveyed and got a result that at a time
when the global population of people ages 65
and older is expected to triple to 1.5 billion by
mid century , public opinion on whether the
growing number of older people is a problem
varies dramatically around the world .

12. ■Aging in Pakistan: Pakistan is one of the
country that potentially stands to benefit from
future demographic trends because Pakistan
centrally has large shares of children in their
populations .

13. Age Related Changes:
 Change in appearance : such as reduction in
height, loss of weight ,muscle loss ,loss of bone
mass.
 Changes in audience ,olfaction ,vision ,
pulmonary and immune functions
 Some aged-related changes also called
Farsightedness which may caused by the
continuous growth of eyes ,lenses and appears to
be universal of human aging.
 Number of pathologies increases with age
included 2 types of diabetes ,heart diseases
,cancer ,arthritis and kidney disease.

14. Sensory Changes:
 Hearing :
 loss of ability to hear the high frequency
sounds_
 Hearing can lead to social isolation
 Hearing aids can't address all types of hearing
loss.
 Vision :
 loss of ability to see items
 Size of pupil grows smaller with age
 Lens of eyes yellow making it more difficult to see
red and green colors
 Dry eyes are common

15.  Taste & Smell :
 Many older people often complain of food
being tasteless
 Sense of smell decreases
 4. Pain & Touch :
 With age skin is not sensitive as in youth
 Factors
 Loss of elasticity
 Reducer of layer

16. GI Tract
 _ Number of gastric cell decreased products of
HCL
 _ Constipation is more common in older adults
due to slowed circulation , reduced the thirst and
decrease tone in stomach & intestine
 _ Emotions play a significant role in appetite and
digestion
Muscle &Bones
 _ loss of elasticity of connective tissues can
cause pain
 _ Maintain bone health through diet exercise
&getting adequate rest

18. Changes in Skin
 To most people ; condition of skin ,hair and connective
tissues represent the indicator of age_
 Muscles of face capable of movement , smile
,laughter, frown and surprise are all recorded .
 By age of 40; most people bear typical lines of their
expressions.
Cardiopulmonary System
 In the absence of diseases ; the heart tends to
maintain its size
 Heart valves tend to increase in thickness with age
 Bp increase with age

19. Respiratory System
 Airway and tissue become less elastic and
more rigid with age
 Power of respiratory & abdominal muscles
become reduced
Skeletomuscular System
 _ At the age of 65 :
arthritis and allied bones ,muscles
conditions are most common disorders

20. Arthritis
 Inflammation and degenerative change in joint
 OSTEOARTHRITIS;
 gradual wearing away of joint cartilage that results in
exposure of rough underlying bone ends
 Can damage internal ligament
 Weight bearing joint
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS;
 A chronic , systematic and inflammatory disease of
connective tissue
 2-3 times more common among women May occur at
age most common onset between 20 & 50

21. Urinary System
 Bladder of elderly person has a capacity of
less than young person and contain more
urine
 Micturation reflex is delayed; usually activated
when bladder is half full.

22. Common Health Problems Of
Older Adults
Following are the common health problems that
older adults usually face:
 •Osteoarthritis
 •Cardiovascular disease
 •Diabetes
 •Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

23. OSTEOARTHRITIS:
Is also known as degenerative disease.
Commonly occur in older person and is
characterized by chronic degeneration of
cartilage of joints.
RISK FACTORS
 Age : OA rise after age 50 in men & age 40 in
women
 Obesity : Is a common cause of OA
 Injury : Injuries develop osteoarthritis.

24. Symptoms:
 Pain
 Stiffness of joint
 Loss of flexibility
 Grating sensation
 Bone spur
 Swelling

25. Cardiovascular Diseases:
Group of disorder of heart and blood vessels including
hypertension (high BP) coronary heart disorder (heart attack)
TYPES:
 Coronary heart disease
 Stroke
 Peripheral arterial disorder
CAUSES:
 HTN
 Smoking
 Diabetes
 Obesity
 Family history of CVD

26. Diabetes:
Chronic disease by elevated levels of blood glucose.
Risk factors:
 Obesity
 Family history
 High BP
 Gestational diabetes
Symptoms :
 Increased thirst
 Increased hunger
 Increased urination
 Feel tired
 Weight loss

27. COPD
(chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders)
Chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes
obstructed airflow from lungs.
Causes:
 Smoking
 Asthma
 Occupational exposure to dust and chemicals
Symptoms:
 Breathing difficulty
 Mucus production
 Cough

28. Mistreatment and Abuse:
 Mistreatment :Treating a person badly , cruelty
and unfairly , Improper treatment.
 Abuse :Treat with cruelty or violence , regularly
and repeatedly.
CAUSES OF ABUSE:
 Economic inequality
 Poverty and unemployment
 Lack of social safety

29. TYPES OF ABUSE:
 Physical abuse
 Emotional abuse
 Sexual abuse
EFFECTS OF ABUSE:
 Physical injury
 Disabling injury
 Long lasting depression and anxiety

30. Fall Prevention in Elderly
People:
FACTORS:
Intrinsic factors:
Which includes:
 Decreased sensory control
 Balance control
 Balance control*
 MSK impairments
Extrinsic factors
Which includes:
 Environmental factors
 Equipment

31. Causes Of Fall:
 Location of fall
 Activity prior to fall
 Loss of consciousness
 Use of walking aid like cane
 Environmental factors like slippery floor, rug
● What a PT does in this regard??
He/ she determines if the risk factors are modifiable or
not??
If yes, Those factors causing fall in elderly must b altered
according to need
 Hindrance in between walk must be eliminated
 Reduced distance between bed room and rest room
 Room arrangements are also considered in this regard

32. National Institute Of Aging:
Offers advices for preventing fall and fractures
on its Web site
http://wwwniapublications.org
And a list of number of suggestions for
preventing fall.
Interventions:
 Identification of individual risk factors contributing
to fall
 Identification of environmental factors
 Use of proper medications and supplements like
osteoporosis is the most common issue among
elderly population

33.  Improving physical mobility through exercise
programs, gait training,.
 Use of walking aids
 Educating the patient's family about risk
factors and continence promotion and toilet
programs

34. Assessment Of Physical
Activity:
Physical activity refers to all movement
including during leisure time, for transport to
get to and from places, or as part of a person's
work. Both moderate- and vigorous-
intensity physical activity improve health.
Current Techniques to Measure Physical
Activity:
 Accelerometers
 Pedometers
 Calorimeter

35. Exercise Programs:
Before initiating an exercise program , older
adults should be screened for possible signs
and symptoms that need medical attention.
The fitness levels of older adults vary
considerably based on the physical activity
and general health of older adults , one needs
to assess cardio respiratory functions ,
muscular strength ,
Endurance ,flexibility and body composition.

36. Functional Fitness:
The physical capacity of a the individual to
meet ordinary and unexpected demands of
daily life safely and effectively.
Following are the functional test that are
performed to measure functional fitness.
 Continuous scale physical functional
Performance Test (CS-PFP)
 Physical Performance test (PPT)
 The Senior Fitness test

37. Social Implications of Aging:
 A pattern of life changes that occur as one grows
older
 Refers to a persons habits & roles relative to
social expectations
 Increase population of older people means that
there is an increased demand of health & social
care
Social implication & Social issues affecting
elderly:
 Old age accompanied by role change or often role
loss
 Many people can expect transformation in
occupation, family or community roles &
sometimes number of many different roles
declines..

38. Social and psychological problems
of seniors:
LONLINESS:
 New York Times , 25th March 2009 quoted , Loneliness leads to poorer
physical & mental health.
 Negative & unpleasant feeling
( Tiwari Indian psychiatric)
Loneliness is reported to be more dangerous than smoking.
Factors cause loneliness
 unpleasant experience
 discrepancy b/w level of his/her needs & social contacts
 Migration of people.
 Personality factors
 Mental distress
 Low self esteem
 poor coping strategies

39. Interventions:
 Keeping self busy
 Feeling sharing
 Helping others
 Joining of groups of self interest
 Collecting good thought
 Staying in contact with family & friends

40. Social isolation:
Aging basically a state in which individual lacks
a sense of,
 Belonging socially
 Engagement with others
 Social contacts
 Quality & Fulfilling of relationship
Intervention
 Make groups or friends ,meet regularly
(Weekly)
 Educational & Social activities

41. Retirement and Mental Health:
There are many studies in 1995,2002 & 2003 to
support the indication that
Retirement and mental health are positively
associated with social implications of aging
 Retirement cause mental & physical health
disorders
 Increase difficulties associated with mobility &
Daily activities
 Increase illness conditions declines mental health
 Increase probability of suffering financial
problems

42.  Frustration with ongoing medical problems &
Increase numbers of medication
 Increased probability of having at least one
diagnosed condition & Taking a drug for such
condition
 Increased probability of suffering from clinical
depression
 Inability to manage DLA independently
 Difficulty in coping And accepting physical
change of aging
 Feeling inadequate from inability to
continues to work

44. Medical Implications of Aging
The good news is that with the age comes dignity &
Greater understanding of life and human conditions
But some health care or medical issues are also
 Inter-Relate with the procedure of aging.
 Multiple Pathology
 Hearing loss
 Dementia
 HTN
 BP
 Heart disease & many more

45. Strategies to promote successful
Aging
•Exercise Regularly
• Don't smoke
• Get enough sleep
• Avoid chronic stress
• Maintain healthy weight
• Eat healthy diet
On the Basis of SOCIOLOGY following
are the strategies to promote Successful
AGING:

46. Social Support:
 Refers various sources of help
 Resources to obtained social relationship with
family , friends and other care providers
Types of social support:
 Emotional support
 Instrumental support , helps with activities of daily
living
 Financial support
 Appraisal support , help with decision making
strategies
 Helping elderly to identify meaningful ways to
stay involved in different activities to stay healthy