AGING FAMILY

WHAT is an Aging Family

It a process where it starts from where two
individuals becomes a couple. With the
concept of development and child bearing,
the couple becomes a family.
Their off-springs then develop from
childhood to adolescence and adulthood
where they start their own life.
Then the parent of the child starts at the
beginning.
Reaching the retirement age of 65, the
individual is then counted on the old aged.
Most adults in their 60s, 70s, and 80s don’t
anticipate and prepare for their own growing
frailty and the loss of ability to function that,
to various degrees, usually accompanies
advancing age. A few imagine they’ll be like
the one out of twenty older adults who
remain relatively healthy, able-bodied and
sound of mind and who die peacefully in
their sleep at a relatively advanced age —
having enjoyed the preceding day in relative
good health.
 Well Older Person:
a dependent group or individual who
could not and should not work and who
need economic and social assistance
that the younger population is obliged
to provide
Changes in Aging
 PHYSICAL CHANGES

SKIN:
With age, the skin becomes less elastic
and more lined and wrinkled. Fingernail
growth also slows. The oil glands
gradually produce less oil, making the skin
drier than before. You can slow skin aging
by using moisturizer and protecting the
skin from the sun with sunscreen and sun-
protective clothing, such as a hat or cap.
Hair:
It's normal for hair to gradually thin on the
scalp, pubic area, and armpits. As hair
pigment cells decline in number, gray hair
growth increases.

Height:
By age 80, it's common to have lost as much
as 2 in. (5 cm) in height. This is often related
to normal changes in posture and
compression of joints, spinal bones, and
spinal discs.
Hearing:
Over time, changes in the ear make high-
frequency sounds harder to hear and changes
in tone and speech less clear. These changes
tend to speed up after age 55.

Sleep:
Changes in sleep and circadian
rhythm occur as you age. You will probably
sleep less at night, and you may not sleep
as deeply as you did when you were
younger. And it's more likely that you'll wake
up during the night and/or wake up earlier in
the morning.
Vision:
Most people in their 40s develop a need
for reading glasses as the lenses in
the eyes become less flexible (presbyopia).
It's also normal for night vision and visual
sharpness to decline. Also in the later
years, glare increasingly interferes with
clear vision. Vision changes can affect your
ability to drive safely.
PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGE
MUSCULOSKELETAL CHANGES
Beginning by around the fifth decade of life,
musculoskeletal changes may significantly
alter the posture, overall appearance, and/or
function of older adults.
Thinning of intervertebral disk can lead to
shortening of the trunk of the body, subtly
alter the alignment of vertebrae, and slowly
diminish height over time, potentially making
arms and legs appear longer by comparison.
 Musculoskeletal change (cont.)
Calcium is progressively leached or resorbed
from bones, frequently resulting in osteopenia
or osteoporosis, both much common in
women than men, which may increase the risk
for fracture.
At the same time, muscles and cartilage
atrophy and weaken, which may lead to
postural deviation such as increased thoracic
kyphosis, which can further decrease stature
and necessitate the adoption of a “chin-up”
posture to make eye contact with others.
Musculoskeletal change (cont.)

Loss of muscle mass(sarcopenia) results

primarily from disuse of skeletal muscle,
as frequently may occur with age-related
inactivity.
Muscle mass and strength may reduce by
30% to 50% between the ages of 30 and 80
years, with the main cause being reduced
numbers of muscle fibres.
INTEGUMENTARY CHANGES
Skin
Ultraviolet(UV) light from the sun is a
major cause of wrinkles because it
damages elastin, the fibers in the skin
that make it resilient.

Gravity also plays a role in wrinkles,

causing skin to sag, so does cigarette
smoking.
Aging skin become more delicate and
more easily damaged.

Collagen levels and subcutaneous fat

diminish, thinning the skin and
increasing the risk of tears and bruising.

Skin cells takes longer time to renew

themselves , so wound healing takes
longer than in younger people.
Dry skin is more common among older
people. Heating and air conditioning can
make the problem worse because they
remove moisture fro the air. Moisturizers
help relieve dryness, but they must be
applied often.

Skin Cancer is the most common form

of cancer in the United States. It may be
basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma,
which is highly curable and treatable.
And melanoma the 3rd type which is
dangerous.
Hair
Hair Changes in older adult vary
according to race, sex, and hormonal
influences. Dark hair turns gray or even
white and becomes thinner as melanin
production in hair follicles diminishes
and growth slows.

Texture of hair may also change with

age. Fine straight hair may become
coarser and somewhat curly.
Hair loss is more noticeable in men
and may begin well before age 40.

Although women may lose hair, it

occurs much later and more slowly.

Body hair on both men and women

is also thinner and sparser with age.
Nails

Fingernails and toenails tends to harden

and thicken with age and may develop
vertical striations in the nail plate.

Yellowish or dark nails may also

indicate a fungal infection
 BODY COMPOSITION
Changes over time. Weight and fat mass
increase during middle age and continue to
about age 74 years.
After age 74, seniors generally lose weight,
stature, fat-free mass, and body cell mass.
Decreased body cell mass results in decreased
total body potassium. Low potassium level over
time can result to confusion, fatigue,
cardiovascular dysrhythmias, kidney damage
and other serious, life-threatening effects
 CARDIOVASCULAR
CHANGES
Includes a slight decrease in maximal heart
rate and a decrease in stroke volume during
maximal exercise.
These change results to reduce cardiac
output of total amount of blood pumped out of
the heart.
Illness, excitement, activity or stress causes
rapid heart rate which older person takes
longer time to return on baseline level than
younger person.
 RENAL CHANGES
The Kidneys are two major organs that
regulate red blood cell production, blood
pressure, fluid volume intake and output,
and electrolyte balance throughout the
body.
Kidneys filter waste products from the
blood, which is excreted in the urine.
In a young adult, each kidney
contains more than a million
nephrons, through which the body’s
entire blood supply circulates
approximately 12 times an hour.
The number of nephrons decreases
with age, and by age 70, a person
may have only 1/3 or 1/2 as many
nephrons.
 UROLOGIC CHANGES
Closely related to changes in renal system.
Age related loss of muscle tone and decreased
contractibility of the bladder can cause
excessive urination at night and increased
frequency of urination.
– It can also cause urinary retention, thereby
increasing the risk for bacterial growth and
infection.
Age related urinary incontinence is common in
older people, particularly among the frail
elderly.
 Four principal types of
INCONTINENCE
Urge incontinence – generally caused by
uninhibited bladder contraction that leads to
leakage of urine.
Stress incontinence – urinary loss related to
laughing, standing, coughing, or lifting heavy
objects.
Overflow incontinence – related to detrusor
under-activity, which may be caused by sacral
lower motor nerve dysfunction.
Functional incontinence – occurs when patient
has either physical or psychological factors that
impair the ability to get to the toilet.
 RESPIRATORY CHANGES
Includes loss of elasticity in the lungs and
stiffening of the chest wall.
This changes reduce ventilatory reserves and
decrease the older adult’s exercise tolerance.
Aging impairs immune function, increasing
asymptomatic low-grade inflammation and the
risk of infection. Thus elevates the risk for
pneumonia.
Older person are also at risk for respiratory
depression.
 ENDOCRINE CHANGES
Deceased secretion and plasma levels of
triiodothyrosine(T3), especially in men.
Increasingly common hypothyroidism
Decreased secretion of thyroid –stimulating
hormone. (TSH)
Decreased responsiveness of plasma TSH
concentration to thyrotropin-releasing
hormone (TRH).
Androgen and estrogen secretions diminish
with aging.
 ENDOCRINE CHANGES
Declining estrogen level results in atrophy of
the ovaries, uterus, and vaginal tissue in older
women, which may make sexual intercourse
painful.
Older men may develop firmer testes and
hypertrophy of the prostate gland.
Libido continues in both women and men.
Although sexual activity occur less often, it
still can remain satisfying.
 ENDOCRINE CHANGES
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is defined by
the inability to achieve and sustain a
sufficient erection for sexual intercourse.

The incidence of ED increases with age,

but many options for treatment are
available.
 GASTRONTESTINAL
CHANGES
Begins in middle age and continue throughout
life, affecting not only nutritional intake but also
quality of life.
Gastrointestinal function starts in the mouth and
aging takes its toll in the teeth, gums, and
salivary glands.
Years of use of wear down tooth enamel and
dentin, increasing the risk of cavities
Periodontal (GUM) disease leads to tooth loss
and the need for dentures or dental implants.
 GASTRONTESTINAL
CHANGES
Gastric motility and volume decreases with age

Nutrients such as proteins, fats, minerals, and

carbohydrates are absorbed slowly, the effects of
these change can be offset by small frequent
meals rather than “Three Square Meals a Day”.

Liver decrease in size and weight but function

remains within normal range.
 BIOLOGICAL CHANGES
Chronic diseases.
Most older persons have at least one chronic
condition and many have multiple conditions.
In 2007-2009, the most frequently occurring
conditions among older persons in the world
were uncontrolled hypertension (34%),
diagnosed arthritis (50%), and heart disease
(32%).
Falls
Old age spells risk for injury from falls that might not
cause injury to a younger person. Every year, about
one-third of those 65 years old and over half of those
80 years old fall. Falls are the leading cause of injury
and death for old people.

Sleep trouble
holds a chronic prevalence of over 50% in old age
and results in daytime sleepiness. In a study of 9,000
persons with a mean age of 74, only 12% reported no
sleep complaints. By age 65, deep sleep goes down
to about 5%.
Voice
In old age, vocal cords weaken and vibrate
more slowly. This results in a weakened,
breathy voice that is sometimes called an “old
person’s voice.
Mobility impairment or loss
“Impairment in mobility affects 14% of those
between 65 and 74, but half of those over
85. Loss of mobility is common old people.
This inability to get around has serious “social,
psychological, and physical consequences”.
 SOCIAL CHANGES
Young people moving into adulthood take on new
roles and responsibilities as their lives expand, but
an opposite arc can be observed in old age
RETIREMENT
Up until the late 19th century, people worked about
60 hours a week and did so until they were
physically incapable of continuing.
The retirement age was initially set at age 70 in the
year 1889.
Changed to age 65 at the year 1971
In Erik H. Ericksons view of socialization,
old age is under the phase of integrity over
despair, where they may have to confront
regrets, such as being disappointed in their
children’s lives or perhaps their own.
They may have to accept that they will never
reach any certain career goals.
They must come to terms with what their
career success has cost them, such as time
with their family or declining personal health.
 PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES:
Depression
Although the prevalence of depression is lower in older
adults, it can occur for the first time in later life.
It is likely to occur following some stressful life event
such as a loss of a close person or a change in role; but
can occur without apparent reason.
Some people have a tendency to become depressed
throughout their life and this can continue in old age.
Risk factors for the development of depression include:
female gender, social isolation, widowhood, physical ill
health, disability, chronic pain, recent bereavement, a
family history of depression, and a past history of
depression.
Ageism
Ageism is discrimination or unfair treatment
based on a person’s age.
It impacts on someone’s confidence, job
prospects, financial situation and quality of life.
Having a treatment of fragility from other
individuals, old age are harmed through their
feelings due to that old aged become more
sensitive.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a healthy human response that is adaptive in
certain situations, where it helps one to anticipate,
prepare for and react to threatening events.
The symptoms of anxiety are multi-dimensional and
include cognitive, behavioural, and physiological
changes.
When anxiety symptoms reach the point where the
person feels as though they are losing control of their
mind or body, this is described as a panic attack.
Despite anxiety being one of the most common mental
health concerns experienced by older people, it is
usually unrecognised by clinicians, which could be due
to the fact that anxious older people mostly present with
physical complaints, and often anxiety is concomitant
with depression.
Dementia
Dementia is the collective name given to a group
of disorders characterised by symptoms of
memory loss, deteriorating ability to think and
learn, and personality changes.
Demented behaviour can include wandering,
physical aggression, verbal outbursts, depression,
and psychosis.
They may also result from trauma or infection, and
are usually first noticed by the spouse or children.
The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s
Disease.
Challenging behaviours
Challenging or disruptive behaviour is defined
by its effect on others in the immediate
environment rather than by the behaviour itself.
Behaviours that present a challenge include
inappropriate vocalising, wandering, verbal or
physical aggression, and repetitive questions.
Nursing homes often house the most severely
cognitively impaired persons, but challenging
behaviours also occur at home or in hostel
settings.
 EMOTIONAL CHANGES
Fear of crime
In old age, especially among the frail,
sometimes weighs more heavily than
concerns about finances or health and
restricts what they do. The fear persists in
spite of the fact that old people are victims of
crime less often than younger people.
Mental disorders
Afflict about 15% of people aged 60+ according
to estimates by the World Health
Organization. Another survey taken in 15
countries reported that mental disorders of
adults interfered with their daily activities more
than physical problems.
Caution
This antipathy toward "risk-taking" stems from
the fact that old people have less to gain and
more to lose by taking risks than younger
people.
Depressed mood.
Old age is a risk factor for depression caused
by prejudice. When people are prejudiced
against the elderly and then become old
themselves, their anti-elderly prejudice turns
inward, causing depression. “People with more
negative age stereotypes will likely have higher
rates of depression as they get older.” Old age
depression results in the over-65 population
having the highest suicide rate.
Reduced mental and cognitive ability

afflicts old age. Memory loss is common in old age

due to the decrease in speed of information being
encoded, stored, and retrieved.

It takes more time to learn new information.

Its prevalence increases in old age from about 10% at

age 65 to about 50% over age 85.

Alzheimer's disease accounts for 50 to 80 percent of

dementia cases.