© 2010 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved. Aging: A Vital Process Chapter 22

© 2010 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved. Aging The process of becoming older, a process that is genetically determined by t profoundly affected by one’s environment. 2

© 2010 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved. Generating Vitality As You Age Physical and mental change occur gradually, over a lifetime. What Happens as you age? ▫ Characteristics associated with aging are not due to aging at all.  Result of neglect and abuse of our bodies and minds 3

© 2010 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved. Table 22.1 Americans Who Rate Their Health as Fair or Poor,

© 2010 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved. Life-Enhancing measures: Age- Proofing Challenge your mind ▫ Older adults who stay mentally active have a lower risk of developing dementia  Reading  Doing puzzles  Learning language  Studying music Develop Physical Fitness ▫ Enhances both psychological and physical health Eat Wisely ▫ Eating a varied diet full of nutrient-rich foods ▫ Follow the recommendations in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans 5

© 2010 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved. Life-Enhancing measures: Age- Proofing Maintain a Healthy Weight A program that expends more calories through exercise, cutting calorie intake, or a combination of both. Control Drinking and Overdependence on Medications Don’t Smoke Schedule Physical Examinations to Detect Treatable Diseases Recognize and Reduce Stress 6

© 2010 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved. Dealing With The Changes Of Aging Planning for Social Changes ▫ Retirement ▫ Important relationships ▫ Developing satisfying interests outside work ▫ Saving for an adequate retirement income Changing Roles and Relationships Increased Leisure Time The Economics of Retirement 7

© 2010 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved. Adapting to Physical Changes Hearing Loss Vision Changes ▫ Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)  Slow disintegration of the macula (tissue at the center of the retina) ▫ Presbyopia ▫ Cataracts Arthritis ▫ 100 different types of arthritis  Osteoarthritis is the most common Menopause ▫ Usually occurs during a woman’s forties or fifties ▫ Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Osteoporosis 8

© 2010 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved. Handling Psychological and Mental Changes Dementia ▫ Brain deterioration in elderly individuals ▫ Affects 7% of people under the age of 80 ▫ Two types of dementia 1.Alzheimer’s disease a.By changed in brain nerve cells 2.Multi-infarct dementia a.Series of small strokes or changes in the brain’s blood supply that destroy brain tissue 9

© 2010 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved. Handling Psychological and Mental Changes Grief ▫ Dealing with grief and morning ▫ Aging is associated with loss Depression ▫ Unresolved grief can lead to depression, a common problem in older adults 10

© 2010 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved. Aging And Life Expectancy Life expectancy ▫ Average length of time we can expect to live. ▫ 2006 – Life expectancy for the total population was 78.1 years  Average life expectancy of white Americans is 78.5 years  Average life expectancy of black Americans is 73.6 years ▫ Maximum Life span – years 11

© 2010 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved. Life In An Aging America America’s Aging Minority ▫ People 65 and over are a large minority  Over 37.3 million people  About 12% of the total population in 2006  Expected to double by

© 2010 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved. Figure 22.2 A Statistical Look At Older Americans 13

© 2010 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved. Table 22.3 Percentage of Older Americans with Chronic Conditions,

© 2010 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved. Family and Community Resources for Older Adults 66% of noninstitutionalized older Americans live with a spouse or family member. 30% live alone Only 4% live in institutional setting Over the age of 85, about 15% live in a nursing home. 15

© 2010 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved. Family and Community Resources for Older Adults Family Involvement in Caregiving ▫ Medical power of attorney Other Living and Care Options Community Resources ▫ Senior citizens’ centers or adult day-care centers ▫ Homemaker services ▫ Visiting nurses ▫ Household services ▫ Friendly visitor or daily telephone reassurance services ▫ Home food delivery ▫ Adult day hospital care ▫ Low-cost legal aid ▫ Transportation services ▫ Case management Transportation 16

© 2010 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved. Family and Community Resources for Older Adults Governmental Aid and Policies ▫ Food stamps ▫ Housing subsides ▫ Social Security ▫ Medicare  Two parts of funding  Payroll deduction by FICA tax  Monthly premiums paid by people who choose to enroll  Pays about 30% of the medical costs of older Americans ▫ Medicaid ▫ Changing the Public’s Idea of Aging 17

© 2010 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 22 18