4. BROAD OBJECTIVE
By the end of this presentation, students must
acquire knowledge on how to manage special
groups in the community.
5. Specific objectives
• Define the following terms; geriatrics,
gerontology, aging and senescence
• Describe some theories related to aging
• Describe the physiology changes that take place
during the aging process
• Describe the effects of aging on an individual,
family and the community
• Discuss the level of prevention in relation to aging
• Role of the community health nurse in delivery of
care to elders
6. Introduction
Aging is the normal process characterized by
intrinsic cellular and tissue changes that can
be influenced by extrinsic factors
• Care of the elderly is the social responsibility
and the nation as the elderly population gets
larger and larger
7. Definition of terms
Geriatrics – this is the study of old age. It includes
the physiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and
management of the diseases of the elderly.
Gerontology – the study of the aging process.
Includes biologic, psychologic, sociologic
sciences.
geriatrics is also included in gerontology.
Aging – a normal process of the time related
changes that begin from birth and continues
throughout life.
8. Senescence- the irreversible, gradual process of
body deterioration into loss of function of the
aging person. This is natural and not due to
external factors
9. Theories related to aging
WEAR AND TEAR THEORY
• Proposed that the cumulative damage to vital
irreplaceable body parts leads to the death of
cells , tissues, organs and finally the whole
body. Cumulative DNA damage leads to
decline in cell function.
10. • The problem with theory is that there is no
research model that give credible support at
this time.
11. 2. FREE RADIAL THEORY
• It proposes that there is a progressive
accumulation of high oxygen energy species
that progressively and irreversibly damages
cellular components such as membranes and
the genetic apparatus. The accumulation
damage leads to aging.
• There is some research evidence to support
this theory.
12. 3. GENETIC THEORY
• Genetic factors are important determinants of
aging, however the exact mechanism is
unknown. For instance , the life expectancy of
identical twins is more similar than in fraternal
twins or other sibling with the same two
parents.
13. 4. POLYGENIC THEORY
• This is the theory that most researchers are
starting to accept as the reason for changes
related to aging
• In this theory , the powerful influence of the
both genetic apparatus and the environments
impact on the cells of the body add up to
direct aging and life expectancy.
14. • This theory basically embraces all the above
theories and give evidence to all this factors
playing a role in aging
15. PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES
ASSOCIATED WITH AGING
• Pulmonary function, liver function, cardiac
output, kidney function diminish by the age of 70
• Decrease in skeletal muscle mass due to low
blood output
• Change in body composition due to decrease in
lean mass and an increase in body fat percentage
• Decrease in sexual activities due to decrease in
hormones, diminished vaginal lubricant, decline
in erection and ejaculatory function, decreased
sexual organ sensitivity.
16. EFFECTS OF AGING
ON INDIVIDUAL
• Fear of death
• Isolation
• Sexual dysfunction
• Immobility
• Depression
• Lowered self esteem
18. • They bring conflict in the family
• Economy dwindles
ON COMMUNITY
• Un productive
• Know most of traditional medicine
• Helps to solve problems and give advice
• Difficult for them to adapt new technologies
they always refer to backwards things
19. LEVELS OF PREVENTION IN RELATION
TO AGING
• 1. PRIMARY PREVENTION
OBJECTIVES
• To prevent geriatric problems caused by
inability to adapt to the aging process.
INTERVENTIONS
• Education: to bring awareness to individual
and community
20. • Counselling on health promotion activities
such as advise the client to eat balanced diet.
• Encourage support systems for the elderly
• Encourage participation in community
activities
• Mobilize communities to establish support
progression
21. cont
• Motivates government to contribute towards
the welfare of the elderly
• Discourage bad habits such as alcoholism and
smoking which puts elderly at risk of
infections such as hepatitis and cancer
22. SECONDARY PREVENTION
• OBJECTIVES
• To diagnose and treat early problems of the
aged
• Provide treatment of acute problems such as
renal failure in order to prevent chronicity of
the problem
• Encourage regular checkups for early
detection of ploblems e.g breast examination
24. TERTIARY PREVENTION
• OBJECTIVES
• To rehabilitate the elderly
• Refer them to community health nurses who
will provide care to them in collabration with
family members and community groups
• Follow up or home visiting to see if they are
progressing
25. ROLES OF A COMMUNITY NURSE IN
DELIVERY OF CARE TO ELDERS
Community nurses do the following :
1. EDUCATOR AND COUNSELOR
They focus on three levels of prevention:
- They inform health promotion strategies e.g
– maintaining an active life style
– belonging to a social network
– Feeling independent, useful and valued
– Having good nutrition
– Believing in God
26. 1. Primary prevention
2. Secondary prevention(screening)
3. Tertiary prevention
Wellness
• It is not merely the absence of disease or
illness. It includes physical, emotional,
mental and spiritual.
27. 2. CASE MANAGER
Nurses work with clients with special needs.
Case management is the process in which
services are organized and coordinated to
meet patients needs and to use scarce
resources effectively.
• They are crucial in preventing and resolving
confusion that can arise when patients have
multiple members on there health care teams.
28. • They ensure that needed services are used
and care plans are modified to reflect
changes.
• They ensure that effective case management
has a broad knowledge base on nursing roles,
formal resources and informal community
support networks and an innate ability for
integration of all three.
29. 1.GERIATRIC NURSING
They care for the elderly, focusing on the
development and implementation of
treatment plan for chronic illnesses.
