1. Common Health Problems of Older Adults
Chapter 3
Common Health Problems of Older Adults

2. Subgroups of Late Adulthood
Young old—ages 65 to 74 years
Middle old—ages 75 to 84 years
Old old—ages 85 to 99 years
Elite old—ages 100 years and older

3. Common Health Issues and Concerns
Nutrition
Mobility
Stress and loss
Safety
Drug use and misuse
Mental health/behavioral health
Elder neglect and abuse

4. Nutrition Causes of older adult malnutrition:
Inflation, reduced income, and lack of transportation
Inappropriate or unbalanced foods
Trouble carrying heavy bags or packages
Loneliness
Diminished sense of taste and smell
Tooth loss and poorly fitting dentures

5. Mobility

6. Benefits of Regular Exercise
Decreased risk for falls
Increased mobility
Increased sleep
Reduced or maintained weight
Improved well-being and self-esteem
Fewer depression symptoms
Improved longevity
Reduced risk for DM and CAD

7. Frequent Sources of Stress
Rapid environmental changes
Changes in lifestyle
Acute or chronic illness
Loss of significant others
Financial hardships
Relocation stress syndrome

8. Accidents
Fallophobia—a fear of falling, which causes one to avoid leaving home
Factors that increase accident likelihood:
Presbyopia
Reduced sense of touch
Decreased reaction time
Peripheral neuropathy
Arthritis

9. Fall Prevention and Safety
Home modification
Exercise
Tai chi

10. Driving Safety
Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of injury-related death in the young-old population, those between 65 and 74 years of age.
Adult driver safety:
Attend driving refresher classes.
Avoid high-risk driving conditions.
Be aware of prescription side effects.

11. Drug Use and Misuse Polypharmacy
May not be able to tolerate standard dosage of drugs
Physiologic changes from aging can affect absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs from the body
“Start low and go slow” policy

12. Self-Administration of Drugs

13. Mental Health/Behavioral Health
Clinically competent—person is legally competent and can make clinical decisions
Decisional capacity—individual’s ability to identify problems, recognize options, make decisions, and provide the rationale supporting the decisions

14. Depression
Mood disorder that can have cognitive, affective, and physical manifestations
Primary depression
Secondary or situational depression
Geriatric Depression Scale used for assessment
Treatment generally includes drug therapy and psychotherapy

15. Geriatric Depression Scale

16. Dementia
Syndrome that involves a slowly progressive cognitive decline, sometimes referred to as chronic confusion
Global impairment of intellectual function that is generally chronic and progressive
Alzheimer’s disease

17. Delirium Acute state of confusion
Usually short-term and reversible within 3 weeks or less
Often seen among older adults in a setting with which they are unfamiliar
Can include physical manifestations of change

18. Elder Neglect and Abuse
Neglect—failure to provide basic needs
Physical abuse—use of physical force that results in bodily injury
Financial abuse—mismanagement or misuse of property or resources
Emotional abuse—intentional use of threats, humiliation, intimidation, and isolation

19. Health Care Issues in Hospitals
Sleep disorders
Problems with eating and feeding
Incontinence
Confusion
Falling
Skin breakdown

20. Restraints Reduction of use in nursing homes and hospitals
Chemical restraints
Physical restraints used when chemical restraints and warnings fail