Aging Process

Aging Process

Ageing happens due to biological changes in the body over time. The changes decrease an individual’s mental and physical performance (Ferrucci et al., 2020). A decline in performance predisposes one to ill health and even death. Ageing is also associated with social and economic changes. For instance, moving into nursing homes for better care, retirement, and separation from family and friends. General ageing characteristics include having white or grey hair, general body weakness, and easy fatigability. Consistently, in the respiratory system, ageing can be characterized by difficulty breathing, coughing, or respiratory tract infections. This occurs due to loss of lung elasticity or constriction of airways. Chest pain, anaemia, and high or low blood pressure characterize changes in the circulatory system.

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Aging also affects the musculoskeletal system. This is characterized by a change in posture, weak or brittle bones, joint pains, muscle aches, and decreased muscle bulk, power, tone, and flexibility. All these changes cause an overall decrease in height and a change in gait and speed of movement. Furthermore, weak and brittle bones predispose to fractures. Loss of muscle bulk and power reduces the strength of an individual. Another system affected by ageing is the nervous system. Nerve cells are lost, leading to memory loss, thought disturbance, and failure to execute simple tasks. The renal system is also affected and can cause urinary incontinence.

Characteristics of the ageing process can lead to elder abuse. Poor memory, medical conditions, and inability to properly care for themselves make them dependent on others (Storey, 2020). People taking care of them can physically or emotionally abuse them. They can even neglect them. Other caregivers financially exploit the ageing. This occurs probably due to poor memory or separation from members of society who can give them sound advice.

When examining a geriatric patient, a nurse should consider the patient’s past and current medical history. The nurse should do a thorough physical examination. All body systems must be examined even though they are not part of the presenting complaint. These aspects may not be as important when examining a middle-aged adult since they are more vibrant. Proper management of geriatric patients improves their quality of life.

References

Ferrucci, L., Gonzalez‐Freire, M., Fabbri, E., Simonsick, E., Tanaka, T., Moore, Z., … & de Cabo, R. (2020). Measuring biological ageing in humans: A quest. Aging cell, 19(2), e13080. https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.13080

Storey, J. E. (2020). Risk factors for elder abuse and neglect: A review of the literature. Aggression and violent behavior, 50, 101339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2019.101339

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Describe the characteristics of the ageing process. Explain how some of the characteristics may lead to elder abuse (memory issues, vulnerability, etc.).

Aging Process

Discuss the types of considerations a nurse must be mindful of while performing a health assessment on a geriatric patient as compared to a middle-aged adult.