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CH.24 Adulthood
Middle and Older Adulthood
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Ageism | attitudes that stereotype the older adult on the basis of chronologic age |
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) | type of dementia in which discrete patches of brain tissue degenerate; this devastating disease eventually affects all body functions |
Cascade iatrogenesis | downward spiral or sequence of adverse events often triggered by a medical or surgical intervention during the hospitalization of an older adult |
Delirium | a temporary state of confusion |
Dementia | organic impairment of intellectual functioning, gradually leading to interference with social or occupational functioning, memory, and often personality integration |
Elder Abuse | failure to act by a caregiver or another person in a relationship involving an expectation of trust that causes or creates a risk of harm to an older adult; includes physical abuse, sexual abuse/contact, emotional/psychological abuse, neglect |
Functional Health | level of health defined by one’s ability to carry out usual and desired daily activities |
Gerontologic Nursing | nursing specialty concerned with the care of the older adult |
Gerontology | study of all aspects of the aging process and their consequences |
Gerotranscendence | transformation of an older adult’s view of reality from a rational, social, individually focused, materialistic perspective to a more transcendent vision manifested by maturity, wisdom, spirituality, and a decreased emphasis on superficial relationships |
Life review | universal phenomenon identified by Butler as a review of one’s life through one’s recollections |
Middle Adulthood | realization that the halfway point in life has been reached and youthful goals may not have been achieved |
Older Adult | refers to adults over age of 65 |
Polypharmacy | the use of many medications at the same time |
Reminiscence | period in a chronic illness when the disease is present, but the person does not experience symptoms of the disease |
Sarcopenia | loss of muscle mass that frequently occurs in older adults as part of the natural aging process |
Social Isolation | sense of aloneness because of decreasing relationships with others, resulting from attitudinal, geographic, financial, or illness-related factors |
Structural Racism | a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capabilities and the racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race; racial prejudice or discrimination |
Sundowning Syndrome | describes a phenomenon when a person habitually becomes confused or disoriented with darkness |