This document discusses aging and the elderly population. It notes that the worldwide population of those over age 60 will reach 2 billion by 2050. Aging is studied through gerontology and people are considered "elderly" from ages 60-85 and "very old" over age 85. Physically, aging can cause declines in vision, hearing, smell, taste and increased susceptibility to illness. Cognitive declines like memory loss may also occur. Socially, elderly tend to withdraw and reflect on their lives. Theories of aging include disengagement theory and activity theory. Issues facing the elderly include abuse, loneliness, poverty, health problems, and discrimination. Effects of aging include physical, psychological and social changes.

1. H. Deepani
RN, BN, Nursing Tutor
School of Nursing
Colombo
Sri Lanka

2. …..generally begins at the age of
60
People in this age group are called…
…..Senior Citizens

3. According to the World Health Organization….
…among those 13% are over
80 years old.
….there are almost
700 million people over the age 60
living in the world today.
…it is expected that by 2050
this number will be almost
2 billion and
the number of elderly will be
higher than the number of children

4.  Gerontology study of ageing process
 Young old age 55- 60
 Old age 60-85
 Very old (old-old) above 85
 Gerentophobia- fear of ageing

5. Changes in Elderly
Physical
visual and hearing problems
smell and taste losses
susceptibility to illnesses
Leading Cause of
Death
heart diseases
cancer
pneumonia

6. Physical theories of ageing
 Cross link theory
 Free radical theory
 Immunologic theory
 Wear and tear theory

7. Changes in elderly
Cognitive
decline in mental processes – may
experience memory lapses or
disorientation.

8. Social
because of their declining health and limited
mobility, most elderly have the tendency to
withdraw from the society – spending most of
their time looking back – reflecting on what they
have made out of their lives.
Social Theories of Aging
Disengagement Theory
Activity Theory
Social breakdown Reconstruction Theory

9. Social Theories of Aging
Disengagement Theory – as older adults slow
down, they gradually withdraw from the society.
Disengagement is a mutual activity in which the
elderly not only disengaged in the society, but the
society disengages from the older adult.
The elderly develops greater self-preoccupation
and decrease emotional ties with people and
reduced interest in social activities. Such social
withdrawal and increased self-absorption was
thought to increase life satisfaction among them.

10. Social Theories of Aging
Activity Theory– as opposed to the disengagement
theory, this theory argues that the more active and
involved the elderly are, the more likely that they are
satisfied with their lives.
It is therefore important to find substitute activities for
them after their retirement.

11. Social Theories of Aging
Social Breakdown -Reconstruction
Theory
This theory states that aging is promoted through
negative psychological functioning brought about by
the negative views of the society about elderly and
inadequate provision of services for them.
Social reconstruction can occur by changing the
society’s view of the elderly and by providing
adequate social services for them.

12. Society provides inadequate support services, and funds
for the elderly.
Society views elderly as
incompetent; obsolete
Society develops label for the
elderly: useless; ineffective; helpless
Elderly’s skills deteriorate
Elderly labels self as
incompetent

13. What Elderly wants?
Society provides support systems for the elderly: family
support; housing; health services; economics; nutrition
and social services.
Society views elderly as
competent; important
Society develops positive label for
the elderly: helpers; self-controlled;
wise; competent
Elderly’s skills improve
Elderly labels self as
competent

14. Issues Facing the Elderly
ABUSE
“Having someone else look
after aging parents is a
tough decision to make, and
is made even tougher by
fact that one of four nursing
homes has been blamed for
the death or serious injury
to a resident each year,
according to government
figures.”

15. Issues Facing the Elderly
ABUSE
•It can happen in the family
•It can happen in nursing homes
•Physical
•psychological (like verbal abuse)
• NEGLECT! When people who are suppose to care for
them ignore their needs and concerns
•Sexual
•Financial
•Self neglect

16. Issues Facing the Elderly
LONELINESS
•Death of a husband or wife and many friends.
•Children are busy with work and may not even come
to visit them. Grandchildren are busy with school.
•Physically weak elderly may feel that they are
burden so they try to stay away even if people are
around.
•Loneliness leads to depression – they feel alone and
unproductive.

17. Issues Facing the Elderly
POVERTY
•They cannot earn anymore and they do not have
money.
•May receive retirement pension but may not also be
enough because of their increasing medical needs.
•As such many even try to continue working even
after reaching the retirement age.

18. Issues Facing the Elderly
HEALTH
•diminished sensory and motor abilities
•tendency to acquire various illnesses such as heart
disease, Alzheimer's, cancer, etc.

19. Issues Facing the Elderly
DISCRIMINATION
•Job discrimination – employers
prefer younger applicants because
….inexperienced workers have cheaper salaries
…employers believe that the elders could only stay in
work for a short time because of their declining
physical condition
….elderly are thought of as slower and less capable.

20. Issues Facing the Elderly
DISCRIMINATION
•Social discrimination – maybe excluded from family
or community services because they are seen as
incapable.
Medical Discrimination - Some doctors treat them
without much care because they think they don’t
deserve such because they are already old.

21. Effects of ageing
a) Physical
1. Integumentary
 Less elastic and dry
 Loss of fat tissue-wrikling
 Thinning of hair
 Thickening of nails
 No new growth of skin cells

22. 2. Musculoskeletal
 Muscle atrophy
 Joint pain and stiffness
 Decrease in strength
 Gradual shortening of vertebrae
 Brittle bones
 Weight loss
 Slow overall mobility

23. 3. Neurologic
 Slow response to stimuli
 Decreased reflux actions
 Decreased blood flow to the brain
dizziness, memory loss
 Decreased temperature regulation
 Sleep disturbances
 Peripheral numbness

24. 4. Special senses
 Diminished vision
 Diminished hearing
 Decreased smell &taste
 Decreased cutaneous sense
 Loss of balance of the body

25. 5. Cardiovascular system
 Decreased cardiac output
 Decreased heart rate
 Atherosclerosis
 Fatigue due to less myocardial perfusion
 Risk of IHD
 Peripheral edema due to venous stasis

26. 6. Respiratory system
 Increased respiratory rate
 Decreased pulmonary elasticity
 Accumulation of secretion
 Chronic respiratory diseases

27. 7. Gastro intestinal system
Tooth decay
Decreased appetite
Decreased secretion of gastric juice &
enzymes
Decreased absorption of nutrients
Decreased peristalsis-Constipation
Dysphagia/regurgitation

28. 8. Urinary system
 Decreased UOP
 Fluid & electrolyte imbalances
 Frequencyuria due to decreased bladder capacity
 Incontinence
 UTI due to incomplete emptying
 Prostate enlargement in male

29. 9. Reproductive system
 Male
slow production of sperm
decreased libido
problems of erection
small & less firm sperm
 Female
menopause
sagging of breast
decreased libido
decreased vaginal secretions-dysparaunia
uterine prolapse

30. b) Psychosocial changes