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Medicine LibreTexts

41.6: Summary

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activity theory
a theory on aging that suggests that the more active and involved an older person is, the happier they will be
age stratification theory
a theory suggesting that members of society might be stratified by age, just as they are stratified by race, class, and gender
ageism
prejudice and stereotype based on a person’s chronological age
Alzheimer disease
a progressive disorder and general loss of cognitive function that presents with memory loss, behavior changes, and personality changes
chronic grief
normal grief reaction that does not subside and continues over a very long period of time
complicated grief
a state of grief that is prolonged, delayed, or exaggerated in which individuals have trouble coping and progressing through the normal grief process
comprehensive geriatric assessment
a detailed assessment that includes many health indices including ADLs, IADLs, mental health, fall risk, pain, polypharmacy, nutrition, sensory issues, dentition, and advanced care preferences
delayed grief
normal grief reaction that is suppressed or postponed by the survivor consciously or unconsciously to avoid the pain of the loss
delirium
an acute but reversible condition characterized by confusion and disorientation secondary to a physical illness
dementia
alteration and progressive loss of brain function resulting in cognitive decline
disengagement theory
a theory suggesting that withdrawing from society and social relationships is a natural part of aging
elder abuse
all direct actions and neglectful actions by a caregiver that cause harm or risk of harm to an older adult
exaggerated grief
an intense reaction to grief that may include nightmares, delinquent behaviors, phobias, and thoughts of suicide
functional foods
foods that serve a useful purpose for the body in addition to energy intake
functional health
an individual’s ability to complete necessary daily tasks
geriatric nursing
specialized branch of nursing dedicated to the comprehensive care of older adults
hopelessness
a severe psychological state involving a deep sense of failure or despair
loneliness
a subjective feeling of distress related to being alone or separated from other people
masked grief
grief that occurs when the survivor is unaware of behaviors that interfere with normal functioning due to the loss
mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
forgetfulness, short-term memory loss, and thinking impairment
older adult
adults 65 years of age or older
physical changes
relating to outward expressions of changes in the body
polypharmacy
the use of multiple medications simultaneously to treat one or more medical disorders
psychosocial development theory
a theory that emphasizes the social nature of human development from infancy through older adulthood
referral
the act of forwarding records, coordinating care, and arranging appointments with specialty healthcare services
respite
refers to a short period of rest or relief, typically provided to caregivers who are responsible for the continuous care of individuals with special needs, disabilities, or chronic illnesses
role reversal
a situation in which a child takes on the role of a caregiver and a parent may take on the role of a dependent
social isolation
an objective physical separation from other people that causes distress

This page titled 41.6: Summary is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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