Myths and misconception about aging a nursing care management

Gives a brief description of myth and misconception about aging

1. MYTHS OF AGINGMYTHS OF AGING
An Introduction to theAn Introduction to the
MacArthur Foundation StudyMacArthur Foundation Study
of Successful Agingof Successful Aging

2. Background: Gerontology in Background: Gerontology in
the Mid-1980’sthe Mid-1980’s

“…“…persistent preoccupation with persistent preoccupation with
disability, disease, & chronological disability, disease, & chronological
age”age”

“…“…a serious underestimation of the a serious underestimation of the
effects of lifestyle & other psychosocial effects of lifestyle & other psychosocial
factors on well-being of older factors on well-being of older
persons”.persons”.

3. The Project:The Project:

“…“…a long-term research program to a long-term research program to
gather the knowledge needed to gather the knowledge needed to
improve older Americans’ physical & improve older Americans’ physical &
mental abilities”.mental abilities”.

16 Scientists--Interdisciplinary16 Scientists--Interdisciplinary

Emphasis: the positive aspects of Emphasis: the positive aspects of
agingaging

4. The Study:The Study:

Over $10 million in supportOver $10 million in support

Sub-projects:Sub-projects:
–Studies of over 1000 high-functioning older Studies of over 1000 high-functioning older
people for 8 yearspeople for 8 years
–Studies of hundreds of pairs of Swedish Studies of hundreds of pairs of Swedish
twins (genes vs lifestyle)twins (genes vs lifestyle)
–lab-based studies of OA response to stresslab-based studies of OA response to stress
–studies of brain aging in humans & animalsstudies of brain aging in humans & animals

5. Aging in America: We ARE Aging in America: We ARE
Getting Older--WHY?Getting Older--WHY?

Reduction in infant mortality & Reduction in infant mortality &
childhood death rates in 19th & early childhood death rates in 19th & early
20th Centuries20th Centuries

Decline in death rates among middle-Decline in death rates among middle-
age and olderage and older
–People are taking better care of themselvesPeople are taking better care of themselves
–Science & medicine are taking better care Science & medicine are taking better care
of them as wellof them as well

6. How Long Can We Live?How Long Can We Live?

Centenarians:Centenarians:
–Rare in 1900Rare in 1900
–1982--32,0001982--32,000
–1998--61,0001998--61,000
–Mid-21st Century--600,000Mid-21st Century--600,000

7. How Long Can We Live?How Long Can We Live?

““In almost every species, the oldest age In almost every species, the oldest age
observed is approximately six times the observed is approximately six times the
length of time from birth to maturity. length of time from birth to maturity.
In the human case, this argues for a In the human case, this argues for a
span of 108 or 120 years…”span of 108 or 120 years…”

““On the other hand, many scientists On the other hand, many scientists
now feel that it is unlikely that there is now feel that it is unlikely that there is
any fixed life span limit”.any fixed life span limit”.

8. Undeniable Trends With Undeniable Trends With
Astonishing ImplicationsAstonishing Implications

The reshaping of the “age pyramid” to The reshaping of the “age pyramid” to
a “slightly lopsided square pillar” (pp. a “slightly lopsided square pillar” (pp.
8-9, Rowe & Kahn)8-9, Rowe & Kahn)

“…“…the emergence of a striking the emergence of a striking
preponderance of women”.preponderance of women”.

Today’s OA’s: More education; greater Today’s OA’s: More education; greater
access to health care; improved access to health care; improved
sanitary conditionssanitary conditions

9. On to the Myths...On to the Myths...

““The topic of aging is durably encapsulated The topic of aging is durably encapsulated
in a layer of myths in our society..a in a layer of myths in our society..a
confusing blend of truth and fancy”.confusing blend of truth and fancy”.

“…“…the elderly are depicted as a figurative the elderly are depicted as a figurative
ball and chain holding back an otherwise ball and chain holding back an otherwise
spry collective society”.spry collective society”.

““Gerontologists…have been as much a part Gerontologists…have been as much a part
of the problem as the solution”.of the problem as the solution”.

10. MYTH #1: MYTH #1:
To Be Old Is To Be SickTo Be Old Is To Be Sick

Shift in patterns of illness in OA’s:Shift in patterns of illness in OA’s:

From:From:

acute, infectious illness-->chronic acute, infectious illness-->chronic
illnessillness

11. Most Common AilmentsMost Common Ailments

Arthritis-- ~50%Arthritis-- ~50%

Hypertension/Heart Disease--~1/3Hypertension/Heart Disease--~1/3

Diabetes--11%Diabetes--11%

Disorders Affecting CommunicationDisorders Affecting Communication
–Hearing impairment--32%Hearing impairment--32%
–Cataracts--17%Cataracts--17%
–Macular degeneration--9%Macular degeneration--9%

12. Comparison of OA’s Comparison of OA’s
1960/19901960/1990

Dramatic Reductions:Dramatic Reductions:
–Hi BPHi BP
–Hi CholesterolHi Cholesterol
–SmokingSmoking
–# of Diseases present# of Diseases present
–Lost teeth due to dental diseaseLost teeth due to dental disease

13. 
Life expectancy has increasedLife expectancy has increased

Data support the “Compression of Data support the “Compression of
Morbidity” Theory.Morbidity” Theory.

OA’s PERCEPTION of self-healthOA’s PERCEPTION of self-health

14. MYTH #2MYTH #2
You Can’t Teach an Old Dog You Can’t Teach an Old Dog
New TricksNew Tricks

“…“…the less people are challenged, the less the less people are challenged, the less
they can perform. But research shows they can perform. But research shows
that older people can, and do, learn new that older people can, and do, learn new
things--and they learn them well”.things--and they learn them well”.

The pace is different; the conditions are The pace is different; the conditions are
different. Schools & work organizations different. Schools & work organizations
haven’t yet adapted to these differences.haven’t yet adapted to these differences.

15. Key Features Predicting Key Features Predicting
Strong Mental FX in OAStrong Mental FX in OA

Regular Physical ActivityRegular Physical Activity

Strong Social Support SystemStrong Social Support System

Belief in one’s ability to handle what Belief in one’s ability to handle what
life has to offerlife has to offer

*All 3 can be initiated or increased in *All 3 can be initiated or increased in
later life.later life.

16. For Learning New Skills in For Learning New Skills in
OA:OA:

Work at one’s own paceWork at one’s own pace

Have opportunities to practiceHave opportunities to practice

Avoid embarrassment of not being Avoid embarrassment of not being
able to “keep up” with younger able to “keep up” with younger
counterpartscounterparts

17. MYTH #3MYTH #3
The Horse is Out of the BarnThe Horse is Out of the Barn

““There’s no point in stopping now--There’s no point in stopping now--
the damage is already done”.the damage is already done”.

““Nature is remarkably forgiving”.Nature is remarkably forgiving”.

18. 
Cigarette smoking: Cigarette smoking:

The good effects of quitting smoking The good effects of quitting smoking
hold regardless of age, the number hold regardless of age, the number
of years one smokes, or how heavy of years one smokes, or how heavy
the smoking habitthe smoking habit

19. 
Syndrome XSyndrome X

A cluster of risk factors together raise A cluster of risk factors together raise
the risk of heart attack & premature the risk of heart attack & premature
deathdeath
–High blood sugar and insulin levelsHigh blood sugar and insulin levels
–High blood pressureHigh blood pressure
–High “bad cholesterol” & triglyceridesHigh “bad cholesterol” & triglycerides

20. 
High blood pressureHigh blood pressure

Drug treatments for high BP reduces Drug treatments for high BP reduces
risk of stroke (>1/3) and risk of heart risk of stroke (>1/3) and risk of heart
attacks (>1/4)attacks (>1/4)

21. 
ExerciseExercise
–Increases physical fitness, muscle size, & Increases physical fitness, muscle size, &
strengthstrength
–Resistance exercises enhance bone Resistance exercises enhance bone
strengthstrength
–Improves balanceImproves balance
–Mental “exercise” helps promote physical Mental “exercise” helps promote physical
abilityability

22. MYTH #4MYTH #4
The Secret is Choose Your The Secret is Choose Your
Parents WiselyParents Wisely

The Swedish Twins Study showed that The Swedish Twins Study showed that
only about 30 percent of physical only about 30 percent of physical
aging can be blamed on the genes and aging can be blamed on the genes and
about half of the changes in mental about half of the changes in mental
function in aging are genetic.function in aging are genetic.

““We are, in large part, responsible for We are, in large part, responsible for
our own old age”.our own old age”.

23. MYTH #5MYTH #5
The lights may be on, but The lights may be on, but
the voltage is low.the voltage is low.

Sexuality in Old AgeSexuality in Old Age
–Sexual activity Sexual activity does does tend to decrease in tend to decrease in
old ageold age
–Tremendous individual differencesTremendous individual differences
–Decline in testosterone highly variable Decline in testosterone highly variable
and only loosely linked with sexual and only loosely linked with sexual
performanceperformance
–The Kinsey report: a 50’s eye-openerThe Kinsey report: a 50’s eye-opener

24. MYTH #6MYTH #6
OA’s don’t pull their own OA’s don’t pull their own
weightweight

Older people are burdens rather than Older people are burdens rather than
contributors to societycontributors to society

Unjust because:Unjust because:
–Performance measures are wrongPerformance measures are wrong
–The playing field is not levelThe playing field is not level
–Millions are ready, willing and able to Millions are ready, willing and able to
increase their productivityincrease their productivity

25. 
Wrong MeasuresWrong Measures
–Only paid work counts as productiveOnly paid work counts as productive

26. 
Uneven playing fieldUneven playing field
–Older people aren’t given an equal Older people aren’t given an equal
chance for paid employmentchance for paid employment
–Down-sizing, mergers, etc. affect older Down-sizing, mergers, etc. affect older
people disproportionatelypeople disproportionately
–It’s simple: Agism at work in the It’s simple: Agism at work in the
workplaceworkplace

27. But the Real Truth is:But the Real Truth is:

Many are Ready, Willing, and AbleMany are Ready, Willing, and Able

YEP!YEP!