Psychology and Dentistry: Mental Health Aspects of Patient Care by William Ayer Jr

Author:William Ayer Jr. [Ayer Jr., William]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9781135794835
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Published: 2012-12-06T05:00:00+00:00

AGING

In the past century, changes in the mortality rate of children, nutrition, and advances in medicine have enabled people to live longer lives. The elderly also tend to be healthy longer and to have higher educational levels than in the past. These conditions bring with them demands for better health care, insurance coverage, and suitable social activities. These demands are frequently at odds with the stereotypes many health care providers have of the elderly. As the elderly population has increased, they have become more politically active to ensure a satisfactory and fulfilling old age.

Demographics of Aging

By the year 2030, approximately 22 percent of the population will be made up of persons sixty-five and older (American Association of Retired Persons, 1995). It is also expected that minority groups will make up one-fourth of the elderly population by then. These estimates will have dramatic implications for the health care delivery system, although they are beyond the scope of the present discussion.

Stages of Aging

Several stages are recognized by convention: at about sixty-five, an individual is presumed to be old. Advanced old age occurs at about seventy-five years, and late old age is considered to start in the eighties. If one lives long enough, a great chance exists that the individual will become senile (although it must be pointed out that some individuals become senile much sooner). With advanced age come the prospects of losing spouses and friends and of becoming dependent on others for care.

Other Changes Associated with Age

Changes in eating occur with age. The task of eating may become increasingly difficult with advancing age because of dental neglect; decline in the sense of taste; decreased salivary flow; and xerostomia (because of medications the individual may be taking). A decline may occur in the efficiency of the esophageal muscles, thus increasing the time it takes food to get to the stomach. This can result in food lodging in the esophagus, thus causing choking.

Most elderly persons experience declines in visual acuity and require brighter lighting in order to avoid colliding with objects or falling. The elderly tend to lose peripheral vision and may also suffer when the light is too bright (glare). The ability to see clearly objects at a distance declines with age along with the ability to see colors. The elderly may not see steps. Frequently they misread medication labels.

Everyone begins to experience hearing loss, with some beginning quite early in life. With age, it becomes more difficult to hear high frequencies. Eventually, this loss includes the low frequencies as well. With increased hearing loss, conversation may become difficult, eventually causing the elderly to feel extremely isolated. Talking also becomes more strained for other parties in the conversation who may begin to attribute the communication problems to mental deficits or paranoia.

With increasing age, declines occur in mobility. These changes are due to decreased muscle strength; muscle atrophy; changes in postural alignment; impaired balance and gait; increase in the threshold for vibration sensation; and the decreased speed of movement (Bonder and Wagner, 2001).

Such

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.