Term
|
Definition
| the branch of clinical medicine specializing in problems of the elderly |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the study of the aging process |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the branch of clinical medicine specializing in psychopathology of the elderly population |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| All elderly individuals are sick, depressed, obsessed with death, senile,& incapable of change. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The mentally healthy older person possesses a sense of ego integrity & self-acceptance that will help in adapting to the ambiguities of the future with a sense of security & optimism. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Each have specific needs & abilities, rather than as a stereotypical group. Variables such as attitude, mental health, physical health, & degree of independence strongly infuence how an individual perceives himself or herself. One is considered "old" must be self-determined. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Attempt to explain the physical process of aging, including molecular & cellular changes in the major organ systems & the body's ability to function adequtely & resist disease. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Aging is an involutaryily inherited process that operates over time to alter cellular or tissue structures. Life span & longevity changess are predetermined. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The body wears out on a scheduled basis. Free radicals, accumulate & cause damage to important biological structures.These free radicals cause DNA damage, cross-linkage of collogen, & the accumulation of age pigments. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| According to this theory, factors in the environment (industrial carcinogens, sunlight, trauma,& infection) bring about changes in the aging process. These factors are known to accelerate aging. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Age-related decline in the immune system. Their ability to defend against foreign organisms decreases, resulting in susceptibility to disesases such as cancer & infection. Also, the body's autoimmune respons, leading to the development of autoimmune diseases. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A slowing of the secretion of certain hormones that have an impact on reactions regulated by the nervous system. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Evidence supports that personality characteristics in old age are hightly correlated with early life characteristics. |
|
|
Term
Personalities of Older Men
Mature men |
|
Definition
| They are considered well-balanced persons who maintain close personal relationships. They accept both the strengths & weaknesses of their age, finding little to regret about retirement & apporoaching most problems in a relaxed manner. This is characteristic of a healthy, adjusted individual. |
|
|
Term
Personalities of Older Men
"Rocking chair" personalities |
|
Definition
| Passive dependent individuals who are content to lean on others for support, to disengage, & to let most of life's activities. This is characteristic of a healthy, adjusted individual. |
|
|
Term
Personalities of Older Men
Armored men |
|
Definition
| They have well-intergrated defense mechanisms. Rigid & stable, they present a strong silent front & often rely on activity as an expression of their independence. This is characteristic of a healthy, adjusted individual. |
|
|
Term
Peronalities of Older Men
Angry men |
|
Definition
| They are bitter about life, themselves, & other people. Aggressiveness & suspicion is common. They have always shown some instability in work & their personal lives, & now feel extremely threatened by old age. This is the less successful ager. |
|
|
Term
Personalities of Older Men
Self-haters |
|
Definition
| They are similar to angry men, except that most of their animosity is turned inward on themselves.Seeing themselves as failures & being old only depresses them. This is the less successful ager. |
|
|
Term
| Developmental Task Theory |
|
Definition
| Erikson's interity vs despair: being able to see one's life as having been lived with intergrity. In the absence of of achieving that sense of having lived well, the older adult is at risk for becoming preoccupied with feeling of regret or dispair. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The process of withdrawal by older adults from societal roles & responsibilities. For many healthy & productive older individuals, the prospect of a slower pace & fewer responsibilities is undesirable. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| It is dircet opposite to the disengagement theory. The maintenance of activities & social integration is important to most poeple as a basis for deriving & sustaining satisfaction, self-esteem, & health. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| This emphasizes the individual's previously established coping abilities & personal character traits as a basis for predicting how the person will adjust to the changes of aging. Basic lifesyle characteristics are likely to remain stable in old age. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Seems to deteriorate with age, maybe due to poorer sorting strategies. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Does not show similar changes as short-term memory. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| When the individual experiences a sequence of losses. The individual is unable complete the grieving process before another loss occurs. This is a predisposing factor to depression in the elderly. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| This need is consistant w/the activity theory showing the importance of social intergration w/successful adaptation in later life. |
|
|
Term
| Maintenance of Self-Identity |
|
Definition
| Elderly have a strong need for & remarkable capability of retaining a persistent self-concept when faced w/many changes that contribute to instability in later life. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Anxiety R/T death in a myth. What is feared is abandonment, pain & confusion. The desire of the elderly is to talk to someone, to show their life's meaning is not shattered merely because they are about to die. |
|
|
Term
| Psychiatric Disorders in Later Life |
|
Definition
Dementia, delirium, depressive disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety, & sleep disorders are some.
*Elederly are at high risk for emotional distress. |
|
|
Term
| Factors that Contribute to Abuse |
|
Definition
1.Longer life-highest risk >75yrs of age.
2.Dependency-the most common precondition in domestic abuse.
3.Stress-acute stress caused by overwhelming caregiving responsibilities.
4.Learned violence-children who have witnessed abuseive & violent parents are more likely to be abusive adults. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Health care workers are responsible for reporting any susupicions of elder abuse. |
|
|
Term
| The group at highest risk for suicide within the eldery |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| A predictor of suicide in older adults |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Common psycosocial changes associated w/the aging include: |
|
Definition
1.Prolonged & exaggerated grief, resulting in depression.
2.Physical changes, resulting in disturbed body image.
3.Changes in status, resulting in loss of self-worth. |
|
|
Term
| Common psychosocial nurisng diagnosis |
|
Definition
Disturbed thought process
Dysfunctional grieving
Risk for suicide
Powerlessness
Low self-esteem, Fear, Social isolation, & Risk for trauma |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Thinking about the past & reflecting on it, which pormotes better mental health in old age. May be done in a group or one to one session. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Differs from reminiscence in that it is more guided or directed cognitive process that constructs a history or story in an autobiographical way. |
|
|
Term
True/False
Intellectual functioning does not decline w/age, but length of time required for learning increases. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
True/False
The elderly population represents a low percentage of individuals who commit suicide. |
|
Definition
| False, the elderly respresent a disporportionately high percentage. |
|
|
Term
| The greatest concern when using MAOI's, which is concidered a medical emergency. |
|
Definition
Hypertensive crisis
s/s:pounding H/A, a choking sensation, palpitations, & a feeling of dread. Marked HTN occurs, sometimes with a stiff neck. |
|
|
Term
| Foods to avoid while taking MAOI's |
|
Definition
| All aged, smoked, pickled, fermented, & foods. |
|
|
Term
| The initial signs of lithium toxicity |
|
Definition
| ataxia, blurred vision, severe diarrhea, persistant n/v, & tinnitis. |
|
|
Term
| A mood stabalizer used to treat Bipolar |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Theraputic level for Lithium |
|
Definition
1.0-1.5mEq/L
Maintenance therapy 0.6-1.2mEq/L |
|
|
Term
| A class of antidepressant medication that is contraindicated in cases of severe heart disease & untreated narrow-angle glaucoma. |
|
Definition
| TCA's (tricyclic antidepressants) |
|
|
Term
True/False
A feeling of sadness/downheartness is common among healthy people & considered to be a normal response to everyday disappointments in life. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| An alteration in mood that is expressed by feeling of sadness, despair, & pessimism. A loss of interest in usual activities, somatic symptoms may be evident, & changes in appetite/sleep are common. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| An alteration in mood that is expressed by feeling of elation, inflated self-esteem, grandiosity, hyperactivity, agitation, & accelerated thinking & speaking. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| The two major mood disorders. |
|
Definition
| Depressive disorders & Bipolar disorders |
|
|
Term
| A somewhat milder degree of a manic episode, & not severe enough to cause impairment in social or occupational functioning. It does not include psychotic features. |
|
Definition
|
|
