Development of the

Older Adults

65-75 years
75- older
Objectives
At the end of this presentation students will be able to:

1. Explain the characteristics of the Older adults.

2. Identify the different categories of elders as they range from 65 to 100
years of age.
3. Describe the demographic, socioeconomic, ethnicity and health
characteristics of elders in the U.S.
4. Describe ageism and its contribution to the development of negative
stereotypes about elders.
Objectives
At the end of this presentation students will be able to:
5. Compare and contrast gerontology and geriatrics.
6. Describe the physical, cognitive, moral, and psychosocial development of the
Older adults.
7. Discuss the health risks associated with the Older adults.
8. Discuss the health promotion strategies and nursing implications of the Older
adults.
Characteristics of Older Adults
Socioeconomic
Demographic
Women have longer life expectancy/Men more
Longer life spans
likely to remarry
Fastest growing age group is 85 years and over
Educational level gradually increasing
Lower incomes
Ethnicity
Most live in community settings
Number of minority elders increasing
Poverty level more likely when living alone
Elder Hispanic fastest growing subpopulation

Health
Chronic health problems and disabilities increase
73% rate health as good, very good, or excellent
20% report disability and most have chronic
disease
Attitudes towards Ageism
Ageism- Exists among some
professionals;
Negative stereotypes based on
myths and incorrect
information
Gerontology and Geriatrics
Gerontological Nurse Care-Settings
Historical development – became a
subspecialty in the 1980s
● Advanced practice in nursing
● Roles
● Provider of care
● Teacher
● Manager
● Advocate
● Research consumer
● National
● Gerontological
● Nursing Association
● Acute care facilities
● Intensive care units
● Emergency department
● Rehabilitation
● Long-term care facilities
● Assisted living
● Intermediate care
● Skilled care
● Alzheimer’s units
● Hospice
● Community
● Hospice
● Home health care
● Nurse-run clinics
● Adult day care
Biological Theories of Aging

Wear-and-tear
Endocrine
Free-radical
Genetic
Cross-linking
Immunological theories
Biological Theories of Aging
 Physiological Aging

Pulmonary Gastrointestinal Immunological

Urinary Cardiovascular Genital Endocrine

 Psychological Theories in Aging
Disengagement theory (Cumming and Henry)
Mutual withdrawal between elder and elder’s environment

Activity theory (Havighurst)

Best way to age is to stay physically and mentally active

Continuity theory (Atchley)

People maintain values, habits, and behaviors as they age
Developmental task of Older Adults
According to Erikson, the developmental task at this time is ego integrity versus despair.

Peck (1968) proposed the following three developmental tasks of the older adult in contrast to
Erikson’s task of ego integrity versus despair:

The conflict of Ego Integrity vs. Despair includes these three components:

1. Ego differentiation vs. work-role preoccupation: Finding ways to affirm self-worth outside
the work role.
2. Body transcendence vs. body preoccupation: Focusing on cognitive and social powers in
order to “transcend” physical limitations.
3. Ego transcendence vs. ego preoccupation: Accepting that life is finite by finding ways to
contribute to the welfare of future generations.
Additional Development Task

65-75 years 75 years-older

● Adjusting to decreasing physical strength ● Adjusting to living alone
and health ● Possibility of moving into a nursing
● Retirement
home
● Lower and fixed income
● One’s own death
● Death of parents, spouses and friends
● Safeguarding physical and mental health
● New relationships with adult children
●
● Remaining in touch with other family
Leisure time
● Slower physical and cognitive responses members
● Keeping active and involved ● Finding meaning in life
● Making satisfying living arrangements
Psychosocial changes (retirement)

Relocation
Maintaining independence and self-esteem
Facing death and grieving
Figure Many elders find creative outlets during retirement.
Moral Reasoning
Kohlberg Theory of Gilligan Theory of Moral Moral Reasoning Values
Moral Reasoning Reasoning and belief patterns
Influence of time period
Based on concepts of Focused on women
justice, objectivity, and Based theory on Foreign-born or first-
preservation of right connectedness to others generation citizens
Believed moral and the value of Cultural background
development complete in relationships Life experience
early adult years Gender
Does not decline with age Religion
Socioeconomic status
Cognitive Development
Perception – ability to interpret the environment

Cognitive agility – intelligence, problem solving, judgment, and creativity

Memory – perception and storage

● Sensory
● Short
● Recent
● Long term

Learning – need longer

Spiritual Development
● Can contemplate new religious and Benefits:
philosophical views Helps resolve issues related to
● Understanding ideas missed previously ● Meaning of life
or interpreted differently ● Adversity
● May derive sense of worth by sharing ● Good fortune
experiences or views ● May be an important coping resource
● Many take faith and religious practice ● May feel impoverished or despair if not
very seriously matured spiritually
● Display a high level of spirituality
● Importance of religion in youth
Health Related Issues and Promotion

Safety
Injuries Nutrition and exercise
Chronic disabling illnesses Elimination
Drug use and misuse Social interaction
Alcoholism
Dementia
Elder abuse
Review the scenario and then respond to the questions that follow.

Georgia is an 87 year old woman who lives by herself in the home where she and her husband raised their four
children. Lately she has been feeling increasingly anxious and 'jumpy'. It is
possible that it has something to do with living alone, although she has lived alone since her husband died four
years ago. Georgia is having some difficulty making ends meet on her fixed income. As an example, she knows that
her house needs major repairs, including a new roof, and she has no idea how she will be able to pay for these
repairs. Her children have been urging her to sell the house and move to a smaller place, perhaps an apartment or a
residence for independent seniors. However, she does not want to leave the neighborhood where she has lived for
45 years. Even though many of her friends in the area have died or moved away, she still feels at home there.
Georgia is an active member of a church in her neighborhood, but she is not sure how she will be able to get there,
as the city where she lives just announced that they are eliminating Sunday bus service by the end of the year. Some
of her friends with cars may be willing to take her, but she is hesitant to ask as she does not want to be seen as a
'burden'. In response to her growing feelings of anxiety, Georgia has made an appointment with her doctor. Maybe
he can prescribe some medication that will help her to feel calmer.