universal

often progressive signs of physical deterioration

slide into chronic disease

any long-term illness that requires ongoing management

many age-related diseases are not fatal, just create ADL problems

difficulties with everyday tasks

(cooking, cleaning, driving, walking)

affects of 20% of older Americans

difficulties with essential self-care activities

(rising from chair, eating, toileting)

less than 10% of older Americans

the higher the SES, the healthier and longer lived people are

by 30s and 40s people show clear differences in the rate at which they age

(children show more signs of disease if mother does not have high school degree)

people in low-income groups more likely to:

have no health coverage

live in more dangerous neighborhoods

have chronic stressors in their lives

engage in unhealthy behaviors (smoking more likely in low SES)

eat less expensive, less healthy food

be unmarried

presbyopia - corrrected with glasses

cataracts - lens thickens and develops impurities, glasses and then outpatient surgery to replace lens

irreversible damage

deterioration of visual receptors in retina

can be slowed sometimes with laser surgery

irreversible damage

buildup of fluid in eye damages receptors and can lead to blindness

treatable with drops or laser surgery if detected early

irreversible damage

leakage from blood vessels on retina into eye

slowness is partly caused by slowed information processing

changes in structure connecting bones compound the slowing (osteoporosis)

interruptions in the blood flow to the brain due to a blockage or hemorrhage in a cerebral artery

blockages caused by clots or fatty substances

hemorrhages caused by ruptures of the artery

slow hand tremors, stiffness, difficulty moving due to a loss of neurons in their midbrain that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine

treated by medications that increase availability of dopamine

any illness that produces serious progressive, usually irreversible, cognitive decline

two main causes:

-Vascular Dementia - impairment of arteries in brain causing multiple small strokes

- Alzheimer's disease - tangles and plaques

in middle ages people died pretty quickly, dying was familiar and predictable

during 18th and 19th centuries, death moved farther away due to help of medicine

today 75% of deaths occur in people over age 65, deaths are hidden in hospitals and nursing homes

open communication

five stage:

-denial

-anger

-bargaining

-depression

-acceptance