The changes in lifestyle and improvements in healthcare have made it possible for people to live longer than their ancestors. In fact, it is estimated that in 2030, 1 out of five men and women in the United States will reach the age of 65.
While it's a good thing to reach that age or even past that age, caring for the elderly patients pose a challenge for healthcare providers.
Aging and the Changes that Come with It
Aging is a complex process that involves different changes. A common misconception with the aging process is that it is merely affected by one's chronological age. However, several studies revealed that there are factors that can affect it including lifestyle and exposure to certain elements in the environment like radiation.
There are several changes that come with aging. While not all of these changes are true to everyone who age, they are typically experienced by the majority of the population:
Skin
As a person ages, his/her skin starts to lose its elasticity and he/she starts to see lines/wrinkles on his/her face and even body. The oil glands are also affected during the aging process that the skin of the elderly patients are prone to drying. Aside from that, gray hair starts to grow in number as the hair pigment starts to decline.
Hearing
As the age advances, it becomes harder to listen to high frequency sounds. Hearing loss is also becoming more common.
Vision
The aging process also affects vision. The lens of the eyes become less flexible, requiring the need for eyeglasses for many geriatric patients; night vision as well as visual sharpness also decline.
Bones
The bones become less dense and strong so fracture is a common complaint among elderly patients. Osteoporosis, a medical condition characterized by bone brittleness and weakness, is also becoming common especially among women.
Nervous System
As the person ages, the weight of his/her brain, size of its network, and the blood flow decreases. This makes it more common among elderly to forget things especially recent memories.
Cardiovascular System
The heart becomes less efficient as the person's age increases. It has to work harder than it did during a person's younger years. These changes often result to heart enlargement and high blood pressure.
These changes couple with the declining energy of the elderly patients make it more complicated for healthcare providers to treat the diseases or respond to emergency care that involve geriatric patients. This is why it's critically important to consult someone who specializes in the care for elderly when addressing medical concerns of the geriatric group.
