INTRODUCTION TO

CARE OF OLDER
ADULTS
ALICE JOY M. AQUINO
Lesson 1. Introduction to Care of the Older
Adults
Learning Objectives
∙ Define basic terminologies related to care of ∙ Relate the ANA standards for gerontological

older adults nursing to quality of care for older adults.

Describe core competencies in geriatric
∙ Express own perception about the aging
nursing.
process and care of older adults
∙ Compare various settings in which nurses care
∙ Identify the subfields and classification of for older adults
aging ∙ Describe the roles of the gerontological nurse.

∙ Explain the concepts of aging ∙ Discuss the scope of practice in

gerontological nursing.
Introduction
► As a nursing student, you may have ► You are encouraged to examine your own
preconceived ideas about caring for older thoughts, values, feelings, and attitudes
adults. Such ideas are influenced by your about aging and the elderly. The elderly
observations of family members, friends, have unique life situations and deal with
neighbors, the media, and your own physical changes as they age, it is
experience and relationship with your essential that nurses be prepared to
grandparents or the aging of your own parents provide quality care to this group of
individuals.
Subfields of gerontology Definition of terms
► includes geriatrics, social gerontology, ► GERONTOLOGY: a study of aging
geropsychology, geropharmaceutics, financial and/or the aged. This includes the
gerontology, gerontological nursing, and biopsychosocial aspects of aging.
gerontological rehabilitation nursing
► GERIATRICS: the branch of medicine
dealing with illness and care of the aged
► GERONTOLOGICAL NURSING: A
specialty within the Nursing practice
where the clients/patients/residents are
older persons.
Definition of terms
► MIDDLE OLD: persons whose age range from ► GEROPSYCHOLOGY: refers to
75–84 years. specialists in psychiatry whose
► OLD-OLD: a person whose age is 85 years and knowledge, expertise, and practice are
over; sometimes called the oldest old, the very with the older population.
old, or the frail elderly. ► GEROPHARMACEUTICS: also called
► YOUNG OLD: persons whose age is 60–74. geropharmacology, is a unique branch in
which pharmacists obtain special training
► SOCIAL GERONTOLOGY is concerned mainly in geriatrics.
with the social aspects of aging versus the
biological or psychological. ► FINANCIAL GERONTOLOGY: is
another emerging subfield that combines
► GERONTOLOGICAL NURSING. It involves
knowledge of financial planning and
nurses advocating for the health of older persons
services with a special expertise in the
at all levels of prevention and rehabilitation
needs of older adults.
CLASSIFICATION OF AGING

Objectively, Subjectively
► aging is a universal process that begins at ► ,aging is marked by changes in behavior
birth and is specified by the chronological age and self-perception and reaction to
criterion biological changes. Functionally, aging
refers to the capabilities of the individual
a. Young Old (60 – 74 years),
to function in society.
b. Middle old (75-84 years),
c. Old-old (above 85 years).
CONCEPTS OF AGING
C. Psychologic Aging
A. Chronologic Aging D. Social Aging
B. Biologic aging
► The actual amount of time a person has ► − The psychological changes,
been alive. In other words, the number of involving mental functioning and
days, months, or years a person has been alive personality that occur as human age.
Psychological ageing may be seen as a
► Biologic/Senescence/Physiologic Aging
continuous struggle for identity, i.e. for a
► − The physical changes that “slow us sense of coherence or capacity to respond
down” as humans get into the middle and to stressful situations.
older years. The gradual deterioration of − Changes
function characteristics. For example: arteries in a person’s role and relationships,
might clog up, or problems with the lungs within the networks of relatives and
might make it more difficult for us to breathe. friends and in formal organizations such
This aging is also known as physiologic aging. as the workplace and houses of worship.
E. Cognitive Aging Roles of the
Gerontological Nurse
► −Age-related impairments in reasoning, ► Provider of Care
memory, and processing speed can arise
the gerontological nurse gives direct, hands-
during adulthood and progress into the elder
on care to older adults in a variety of settings.
years. Cognitive aging is concerned with the
basic processes of learning and memory as the nurse should be educated about the
well as with the complex higher-order common disease processes seen in the older
processes of language and intellectual population.
competence or executive functioning. This includes knowledge of risk factors
signs and symptoms, usual medical
treatment, nursing care through evidence-
based practice,and rehabilitation if applicable
Roles of gerontological nurse

Teacher Manager
► Gerontological nurses focus their teaching on ► Gerontological nurses act as managers
modifiable risk factors. Many diseases of during everyday care as they balance the
aging can be prevented through lifestyle concerns of the patient, family, nursing,
modifications and the rest of the interdisciplinary team.
Nurse managers need to develop skills in
► such as a healthy diet, smoking cessation,
staff coordination, time management,
appropriate weight maintenance, increased
assertiveness, communication, and
physical activity, and stress management
organization.
Advocate Research Consumer
► being an advocate does not mean making ► aware of current research literature,
decisions for older adults, but empowering continuing to read and put into practice
them, helping them remain independent and the results of reliable and valid studies.
retain dignity, even in difficult situations.
► Using evidence-based practice,
► nurse acts on behalf of older adults to promote gerontological nurses can improve the
their best interests and strengthen their quality of patient care in all settings.
autonomy and decision making.
► active involvement at the political level or
helping to explain medical or nursing
procedures to family members on a unit level.
Competencies Necessary for Nurses to Provide HighQuality
Care to Older Adults and Their Families

► Recognize one’s own and others’ attitudes, ► Analyze the effectiveness of community
values, and expectations about aging and their resources in assisting older adults and
impact on care of older adults and their their families to retain personal goals,
families. maximize function, maintain
► Adopt the concept of individualized care as independence, and live in the least
the standard of practice with older adults. restrictive environment.
► Communicate effectively, respectfully, and ► Assess family knowledge of skills
compassionately with older adults and their necessary to deliver care to older adults.
families. ► Adapt technical skills to meet the
► Recognize that sensation and perception in functional, physical, cognitive,
older adults are mediated by functional, psychological, social, and endurance
physical, cognitive, psychological, and social capacities of older adults.
changes common in old age.
► Incorporate into daily practice valid and ► Establish and follow standards of care to
reliable tools to assess the functional, physical, recognize and report elder mistreatment.
cognitive, psychological, social, and spiritual
► Apply evidence-based standards to
status of older adults.
screen, immunize, and promote healthy
► Assess older adults’ living environment with activities in older adults.
special awareness of the functional, physical,
► Recognize and manage geriatric
cognitive, psychological, and social changes
syndromes common to older adults.
common in old age.
► Recognize the complex interaction of
acute and chronic co-morbid conditions
common to older adults
► Individualize care and prevent morbidity ► Use technology to enhance older adults’
and mortality associated with the use of function, independence, and safety. 17.
physical and chemical restraints in older Facilitate communication as older adults
adults. transition across and between home,
hospital, and nursing home, with a
► Prevent or reduce common risk factors
particular focus on the use of technology.
that contribute to functional decline,
18. Assist older adults, families, and
impaired quality of life, and excess
caregivers to understand and balance
disability in older adults.
“everyday” autonomy and safety
decisions. 19. Apply ethical and legal
principles to the complex issues that arise
in care of older adults.
► Appreciate the influence of attitudes, roles,
language, culture, race, religion, gender, and
lifestyle on how families and assistive personnel
provide long-term care to older adults
► Evaluate differing international models of
geriatric care.
► Analyze the impact of an aging society on the
health care system.
► Evaluate the influence of payer systems on
access, availability, and affordability of health
care for older adults