Define:
geriatric
Age greater than 65 years.
Define:
bereavement
Sadness over the loss of friends and loved ones.
Common changes over time.
respiratory system
- Decrease in lung elasticity
- Decrease in size of muscles
- Decrease lung compliance
- Decrease in reserve capacity
- More prone to infections
- Alveoli decreases
- Curvatures of the spine
Common changes over time.
cardiovascular system
- Arteriosclerosis: Stiffening of vessel walls; increase in blood pressure.
- Aortic Sclerosis: Aortic valve thickens due to fibrosis and calcification.
- Aortic Stenosis: Aortic valve does not open fully, decreasing blood flow from the heart.
- A-fib and A-flutter: Common due to the wear of the SA node.
Common changes over time.
nervous system
- Cognitive Decline: Decline in mental function, memory, and thought.
- Sensory Decline: Decrease in ability to hear and see.
- Cataracts: Cloudy changes in the eyes due to hardening of the lens.
- Glaucoma: Increased intraocular pressure that damages the optic nerve.
- Presbycusis: Progressive hearing loss, difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds, and distinguishing between sound and background noise.
- Meniere’s Disease: Characterized by vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus.
- Proprioception: Impaired sense of body position.
Common changes over time.
digestive system
- Decrease in taste buds.
- Increase in heartburn: Lower esophageal sphincter becomes more relaxed.
- Slowing of peristalsis: Causes constipation.
- Hepatic enzymes decrease in liver: Makes medications harder to metabolize.
Common changes over time.
urinary system
- Smaller effective filtering surface
- Kidneys respond slowly to sodium deficiency
- Prone to hyponatremia
- Prone to hyperkalemia
Common changes over time.
homeostatic changes
- Thirst mechanism becomes depressed
- Hunger decreases
- Pain sensory becomes depressed
- Decrease in temperature
Common changes over time.
musculoskeletal system
- Decrease in bone mass
- Joints lose flexibility
- Muscle mass decreases
What is the GEMS diamond assessment of geriatric patients?
- Geriatric- be respectful
- Environmental- assess the home, temps, surroundings
- Medical- review history and medications
- Social- evaluate daily living activities, social, and support system
Define:
delirium
Disorganized thoughts, inattention, memory loss, disorientation, hallucinations, delusion.
Otherwise known as “Acute brain syndrome”.
Define:
dementia
Progressive loss of:
- Cognitive function
- Impairments of memory
- Visual perception
- Cognitive skills
Define:
Alzheimer’s disease
A form of dementia that affects the cognitive ability over time.
Define:
Parkinson’s disease
A neurological disorder with two or more symptoms.
- Resting tremor
- Slowness of movement
- Rigidity
- Stiffness of extremities or trunk
Define:
biliary disease
Liver impairment that includes:
- Cirrhosis
- Hepatitis
- Gallstones or biliary obstruction
What is the cause of Peptic Ulcer Disease?
(PUD)
Chronic use of NSAIDS.
Fill in the blanks:
The most common hospital-acquired infection to cause sepsis in geriatrics is ______ ______ ______.
UTI
urinary tract infection
Define:
incontinence
Loss of bladder or rectal sphincter control.
Define
polypharmacy
Multiple drugs taken daily.
What causes a pressure ulcer?
Pressure is applied to body tissue, leading to a lack of perfusion, which causes necrosis.
Define:
rheumatoid arthritis
A long term autoimmune disorder classified by inflammation of the joints.
Define:
Osteoporosis
Decrease in bone mass.
Define:
Post Fall Syndrome
Geriatric patients lose confidence and have anxiety about future falls.
What are the extrinsic causes of falls?
tripping or slipping
