1 the Aging Population

Unit 1:
The Aging
Population
Caesar G. Balatero, RN,

NCM 114: Care of Older Adults
MN
Intended Learning Outcomes
(ILO)
At the end of the unit, you are expected to:
1 viewed throughout history.

Explain the different ways in which older adults have been
2 Describe the characteristics of today’s older population.

3 of death of the older population.
Identify the leading chronic conditions and the leading causes
4 Discuss nursing care of the older adults.

5 Appreciate the implications of an aging population.
6 Describe the characteristics of the Baby Boomers.
1
Overview
of Aging
Overview of
Aging
Aging, the normal process of time-
related change, begins with birth
and
continues throughout life.
As the older adult population

increases, the number of people
who live to a very old age is also
dramatically increasing.

Myths and Misconceptions
• “Families forget their older relatives.”
• “Most people become senile in old
age.”
• “Social Security provides every older
person with a decent retirement
income.”
• “A majority of older people reside in
nursing homes.”
• “Medicare covers all health care-
related costs for older people.”

2
Views of Older
Adult through
History
Views of Older Adults Through History
● In the time of Confucius, there was a direct
correlation between a person’s age and the
degree of respect to which he or she was
entitled.
● The early Egyptians dreaded growing old and

experimented with a variety of potions and
schemes to maintain their youth.
● Opinions were divided among the early

Greeks. Plato promoted older adults as
society’s best leaders, whereas Aristotle
denied older people any role in governmental
matters.
● In the Roman Empire, the sick and aged were
customarily the first to be killed.
● In the Bible is God’s concern for the well-being

of the family and desire for people to respect
elders (Honor your father and your mother …
Exodus 20:12).
● Medieval times gave rise to strong feelings

regarding the superiority of youth; these
feelings were expressed in uprisings of sons
against fathers.

● Although England developed Poor Laws in the
early 17th century that provided care for the
destitute and enabled older persons without
family resources to have some modest safety
net, many of the gains were lost during the
Industrial Revolution. No labor laws protected
persons of advanced age; those unable to meet
the demands of industrial work settings were
placed at the mercy of their offspring or forced
to beg on the streets for sustenance.
● In the Philippines, Republic Act 7432 or the

Seniors Citizen’s Act in 1992, later Republic
Act 9994 (Expanded Senior Citizens Act of
2010), later Republic Act 11916 (2022).
3
Characteristi
c of the
Older Adult
Population
Characteristic of the Older Adult Population
Older adults are generally defined as
individuals aged 65 years and older.
At one time, all persons over 65 years of
age were grouped together under the
category of “old.” Now it is recognized that
much diversity exists among different age
groups in late life and older individuals can
be further categorized as follows:
 Youngest-old: 65 to 74 years
 Middle-old: 75 to 84 years
 Oldest-old: 85+
Chronological age – the years a person
has lived since birth
Functional age – term used by

gerontologists to describe physical,
psychological, and social function;
Perceived age – another term that is used

to describe how people estimate a person’s
age based on appearance.
Age identity – how people feel or perceive

their own age
● Life expectancy—the average number of
years that a person can expect to live—varies
by gender and race, with women living longer
than men and White women having the longest
life expectancy.
● Life expectancy has risen dramatically in the

past 100 years. In 1900, average life
expectancy was 47 years and by 2009, that
figure had increased to 78.8 years. In 2016, life
expectancy decreased by 0.2% to 78.6% (Xu,
Murphy, Kochanek, et el., 2018).
● The older adult population is becoming more

diverse, reflecting changing demographics.
4
Health
Status of
the Older
Adults
Health Status of the Older
Adults
● Most older adults have at least one chronic
illness, and many have multiple health
conditions.
● Chronic conditions, many of which are

preventable or treatable, are the major cause
of disability and pain among older adults.
(multiple = comorbidity)
● Many chronic conditions commonly found

among older people can be managed, limited,
and even prevented.
● Nurses need to promote positive lifelong health

behaviors, because the impact of unhealthy
behaviors
NCM 114: Care and choices can result in chronic
of Older Adults
Health Status of the Older
Adults

5
Nursing
Care of the
Older Adults
Nursing Care of the Older
● Adults
Gerontology, the study of the aging process,
is a multidisciplinary field that draws from the
biologic, psychologic, and sociologic sciences.
● Geriatrics is the practice (medical or nursing)

that focuses on the physiology, pathology,
diagnosis, and management of the disorders
and diseases of older adults.
● Gerontologic/geriatric nursing is the field of

nursing that specializes in the care of older
adults, provided in acute care, skilled and
assisted living, the community, and home
settings.
● Adults
Nurses who are certified in geriatric nursing
have specialized knowledge of the acute and
chronic challenges specific to older adults.
● The use of advanced practice nurses who

have been educated in geriatric nursing
concepts has proved to be very effective when
dealing with the complex care needs of an
older patient.
● When best practices are used and current

scientific knowledge applied to clinical
problems, there is significantly less
deterioration in the overall health of aging
patients (ANA, 2010). Caesar G. Balatero, RN,
● Adults
Functional assessment is a common
framework for assessing older adults.
● Assessing the functional consequences of aging

and proposing practical interventions helps to
maintain and improve the health of older adults
(Miller, 2019).
● The goal is to help older adults sustain

maximum functional level and dignity despite
physical, social, and psychological losses. Early
intervention can prevent complications of many
health problems and help maximize the quality
of life.
6
Implications
of an Aging
Population
Implications of an Aging Population
● The growing number of persons older than 65
years impacts health and social service
agencies and health care providers—including
gerontological nurses—that serve this group.
● As the older adult population grows, these

agencies and providers must anticipate future
needs of services and payment for these
services.
● Baby boomers—those born between 1946

and 1964—who will be the next wave of senior
citizens.

Baby Boomers
● Most have children, but this generation’s low
birth rate means that they will have fewer
biologic children available to assist them in old
age.
● They are better educated than preceding

generations with slightly more than half having
attended or graduated from college.
● Their household incomes tend to be

higher than other groups, partly due to two
incomes (three out of four baby boomer women
are in the labor force), and most own their own
homes.
Baby Boomers
● They favor a more casual dress code than
do previous generations of older adults.
● They are enamored with “high-tech”

products, are likely to own a computer, and
spend several hours online daily
● Their leisure time is scarcer than other

adults, and they are more likely to report
feeling stressed at the end of the day
● As inventors of the fitness movement, they

exercise more frequently than do other
adults.
Baby Boomers
Assumptions
● They are informed consumers of health
care and desire a highly active role in their
care.
● They are most likely not going to be satisfied

with the conditions of today’s nursing homes
● Their blended families may need special

assistance because of the potential caregiving
demands of several sets of stepparents and
step-grandparents.

Baby Boomers
Communication Tip
● Many baby boomers want to be informed
health care consumers and are comfortable
communicating via e-mail and text messages.
● They may prefer electronic appointment
reminders and reports from diagnostic tests
rather than telephone calls, and they
appreciate links to fact sheets about their
conditions and treatments.
● However, some members of this generation are
not tech savvy and prefer traditional
communication means, so it is important to ask
about preferred style of communication during
the assessment.
7
The Impact
of Aging
Population in
the
Workplace
Aging Population in the Workplace
● Older workers have been found to be more
reliable, loyal, and satisfied.
● They often are found to be more beneficial to

employers due to the flexibility in the hours
they are willing to work.
● Older workers, as compared to workers of all

other ages, have been found to have the
highest rate of fatal injuries.

Aging Population in the Workplace
Nurse’s Role
● evaluate the ability of older workers to

perform specific jobs
● ensure capabilities are matched to job

requirements
● promote ergo-friendly work environment
● Counsel older employees on the importance

of self-care
● provide education related to health and

safety. Caesar G. Balatero, RN,
Practice Realities
You are in the break room of a hospital unit where several of the nurses are eating the
birthday cake of Nurse Clark who is celebrating her 66th birthday. “I’m so glad to have
coworkers like you and work that gives me a sense of purpose,” Nurse Clark commented
as she thanked everyone and left the room.
Nurse Blake in a low voice commented to the person sitting next to her, “I just don’t get it.
I’m half her age and this job drains me, so you know it’s got to be taking its toll on her.
Plus, we often get stuck doing the heavy work that she can’t do.”
“I know she doesn’t have the physical capabilities that some others may,” says Nurse
Edwards, “but she sure is a storehouse of information and the patients love her.”
“Yes, but that isn’t helping my back when I have to pick up the slack for her,” responds
Nurse Blake.
What are the challenges of having different generations in the workplace?

Should allowances be made for older workers, and if so, what can be done to
support
NCM 114: these?
Care of Older Adults
Thank
You!

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Unit 1:

Caesar G. Balatero, RN,

1 viewed throughout history.

2 Describe the characteristics of today’s older population.

4 Discuss nursing care of the older adults.

As the older adult population

Caesar G. Balatero, RN,

Caesar G. Balatero, RN,

● The early Egyptians dreaded growing old and

● Opinions were divided among the early

● In the Bible is God’s concern for the well-being

● Medieval times gave rise to strong feelings

Caesar G. Balatero, RN,

● In the Philippines, Republic Act 7432 or the

Functional age – term used by

Perceived age – another term that is used

Age identity – how people feel or perceive

● Life expectancy has risen dramatically in the

● The older adult population is becoming more

● Chronic conditions, many of which are

● Many chronic conditions commonly found

● Nurses need to promote positive lifelong health

Caesar G. Balatero, RN,

● Geriatrics is the practice (medical or nursing)

● Gerontologic/geriatric nursing is the field of

● The use of advanced practice nurses who

● When best practices are used and current

● Assessing the functional consequences of aging

● The goal is to help older adults sustain

● As the older adult population grows, these

● Baby boomers—those born between 1946

Caesar G. Balatero, RN,

● They are better educated than preceding

● Their household incomes tend to be

● They are enamored with “high-tech”

● Their leisure time is scarcer than other

● As inventors of the fitness movement, they

● They are most likely not going to be satisfied

● Their blended families may need special

Caesar G. Balatero, RN,

● They often are found to be more beneficial to

● Older workers, as compared to workers of all

Caesar G. Balatero, RN,

● evaluate the ability of older workers to

● ensure capabilities are matched to job

● promote ergo-friendly work environment

● Counsel older employees on the importance

● provide education related to health and

What are the challenges of having different generations in the workplace?

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