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Holistic Care of Older Adults: Understanding and Addressing Health Concerns

This chapter explores physiological, cognitive, and psychosocial changes in older adults. It covers functional ability, myths, aging theories, developmental tasks, community-based care, assessing needs, physiological, cognitive, and functional changes, and health promotion. The text emphasizes addressing ageism, understanding aging processes, and providing effective care.

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Holistic Care of Older Adults: Understanding and Addressing Health Concerns

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  1. Chapter 14Older AdultDenise Coffey MSN, RN

  2. Variability Among Older Adults • Physiological, cognitive, and psychosocial health • Levels of functional ability • Dependence vs. independence • Strengths and abilities

  3. Terminology

  4. Myth and Stereotypes • Older adults are: • Ill, disabled, and unattractive • Forgetful, confused, rigid, boring, unfriendly • Unable to learn and understand new information • Not interested in sex or sexual activities

  5. Nurses’ Attitudes Toward Older Adults Nurses need to recognize and address ageism by questioning prevailing negative attitudes and stereotypes and emphasizing what really happens during the aging process.

  6. Theories of Aging • Biological theories • Stochastic or nonstochastic • Psychosocial theories • Disengagement • Activity • Continuity

  7. Developmental Tasks for Older Adults • Linked to the concept of developmental tasks appropriate for stages in life • Loss of health, significant others, socialization, income, independence • Physiological, structural, and functional changes • Redefining relationships

  8. Community-Based and Institutional Health Care Services • Older adults are cared for in: • Private homes, apartments, retirement communities, adult day care centers, assisted living facilities, and nursing centers • Older adults need to help with decisions regarding which type of health care service is appropriate for them.

  9. Assessing the Needs of Older Adults • The interrelation between physical and psychosocial aspects of aging • Effects of disease and disability on functional status • Decreased efficiency of homeostatic mechanisms • Lack of standards for defining health/illness norms • Altered presentation and response to specific disease

  10. Physiological Changes • Older clients’ concept of health revolves around how the perceive their ability to function. • Not all physiological changes are pathological. • Nurses need to be cognizant of normal age-related changes.

  11. Functional Changes • Usually linked to illness or disease and degree of chronicity • The performance of ADLs is a sensitive indicator of health or illness.

  12. Cognitive Changes

  13. Psychosocial Changes • Retirement • Social isolation • Sexuality • Housing and environment • Death

  14. Addressing the Health Concerns of Older Adults • Three common causes of death: • Heart disease • Cancer • Cerebrovascular disease • Other causes include: • Lung disease, accidents, diabetes, kidney and liver disease • All of these conditions have preventive measures.

  15. Health Promotion and Maintenance: Physiological

  16. Health Promotion and Maintenance: Psychosocial Health Concerns

  17. Older Adults and the Acute Care Setting • Poses risks for adverse events: • Delirium • Dehydration • Malnutrition • Health care–acquired infections • Urinary incontinence • Falls

  18. Older Adults and Restorative Care • Continues the recovery from acute illness • Addresses chronic conditions that affect daily functioning • Aim of care • To regain or improve prior level of independence, ADLs

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