Review of the Aging

of Physiological
System

Presented by:
ROSELILY COQUILLA

Roselily Coquilla, RN
INTRODUCTION

Aging is a natural process.

According to World Health Organization, ageing is a course of

biological reality which starts at conception and ends with
death. It has its own dynamics, much beyond human control.

In this chapter, you understand the details of ageing processes

and associated physiological changes.

Roselily Coquilla, RN
 Nervous
System
Changes
Aging is associated with many
neurological disorders, as the
capacity of the brain to
transmit signals and
communicate reduces.
 Loss of brain function
 Multiple other
neurodegenerative
changes
 Cognition decline
 Memory Learning and
intelligence

Roselily Coquilla, RN
 Sensory
System
Changes
Changes on Special
Senses
Vision
Hearing
Taste Acuity
Smell
Touch

Roselily Coquilla, RN
Cardiovascular System Changes

Enlargement of heart chambers and coronary cells

increased thickening of heart walls, This enlargement and thickening causes a

especially in the left ventricle decline in ventricle e flexibility

Vascular Aging – arterial stiffness

Roselily Coquilla, RN
 Aging Of
Respiratory System

• Alveoli becomes flatter and shallower.

• Decrease in Lung elasticity – air trapping,
preventing the lungs from emptying
completely.
• Loss of rib cage elasticity and age-related
calcification of the cartilage - loss its ability
to expand during inhalation and contract
during exhalation

Roselily Coquilla, RN
Age –
Related COPD
Pathologies
of the
respiratory Pneumonia
System

Roselily Coquilla, RN
 Musculoskeletal
System Changes

Muscle wasting ( Sarcopaenia)

risk of fractures, frailty, loss of
independence, reduce physical
activity.
- toxins and chemical build up
- Hormonal Disorders

Roselily Coquilla, RN
 • Most affected by age are the upper tract ( pharynx and
Gastrointestinal esophagus) and colon.
• Reduce ability to chew and masticate
Tract Changes • Decreased in motor neuron responsible for sphincter
control - Constipation

Roselily Coquilla, RN
Changes in
the Urinary • Bladder become less elastic
• Weakening of bladder muscles and pelvic floor muscles.
System • In male, enlarged or inflamed prostate

Roselily Coquilla, RN
Changes in Integumentary
System
skin thins and becomes less elastic and more fragile,
and fatty tissue just below the skin decreases.

Decreased production of natural oils might make your

skin drier.

Wrinkles, age spots and small growths called skin tags

are more common.

bruise more easily

Roselily Coquilla, RN
Changes in Reproductive
System
Female

Menopause

Vagina becomes narrower and shorter.

Vaginal wall tend to become thin and weaken and loss elasticity.

Less vaginal discharge

Vaginal pH would shift into alkaline environment.

Roselily Coquilla, RN
Changes in Reproductive
System
. Andropause
Male
Testes, decrease in size and weight.

decline in sperm production.

Prostate gland become thinner

Penis begins to show fibrous changes in erectile tissue.

Less intense orgasm and ejaculation

Roselily Coquilla, RN
 • Older cells have exhausted their
ability to divide and to have
reached a state of replicative
senescence - decline in the
overall number of immune cells
Immune System available to ward off invading
Changes antigen.

Roselily Coquilla, RN
Assessment of
the Older Adult

Roselily Coquilla, RN
Assessment of the Older Adult

Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment

• Functional Assessment - identify an older adult’s ability to perform self-care, self-
maintenance, and physical activities, and plan appropriate nursing interventions.
 Activities of daily Living Tool ( ADL)
 Instrumental Activities of daily Living ( IADL)
 Advance Activities of Daily Living ( AADL)
 Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM)
 Physical Performance Test (PPT)
• Physical Assessment
 System Assessment
• Cognitive Assessment
 Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)
Roselily Coquilla, RN
Assessment of the Older Adult

Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment

• Psychological Assessment
 Quality of Life and successful aging.
 Geriatric Assessment Scale
• Social assessment
• Spiritual assessment
• Other assessment
 Overweight and obesity
• BMI
• Developing an individualized Care plan

Roselily Coquilla, RN
Medications and
Laboratory Values

Roselily Coquilla, RN
 • Demographics
Today, the geriatric population
Medications (persons 65) makes up about 13% of
the general population. That number

and is expected to increase to greater

than 20% by the year 2040.
One national survey of noninstitu-
Laboratory tionalized persons, published in 2002,
found that 40% of adults aged

Values greater than 65 years used 5 or more

different medications per week and
12% used 10 or more different
medications.

Roselily Coquilla, RN
 • The effect of Aging on drugs
How the person respond to drug.

Medications
- absorption
- distribution

and
- pharmacodynamics – what the
drug do when they are in the body.

Laboratory • Drug-related problem in the elderly

- adverse Drug reaction
Values - Food drug Interaction
- Polypharmacy

Roselily Coquilla, RN
Medications • Drug-related problem in the elderly
and - Inappropriate prescribing

Laboratory
- Compliance
• Potentially Inappropriate medications for
geriatric patients
Values

Roselily Coquilla, RN
 • Laboratory results for older adults may
differ from those of younger adults; that
is, the reference ranges or “normals” may
be different. ( Leaving tourniquet too
long)

Laboratory • Laboratory values and medication

administration go hand and hand.

Values - monitor compliance with

medication administration.
- check for the therapeutic and
toxic effect of medication in the blood.
- evaluate the body’s ability to
metabolize medication.
- Evaluate the need for medication
to treat condition.

Roselily Coquilla, RN
 Challenges
to successful • Right Drug
Medication • Right Amount

Regimens for • Right Route

• Right Times

the Older • Right Patient.

Adult
Roselily Coquilla, RN
Teaching Older
Adults

Roselily Coquilla, RN
 Nurse Teachings

MEDICATION EDUCATION ACCOMMODATION FUNDING

REVIEW

Roselily Coquilla, RN
Promoting
Independence
in Later Life

Roselily Coquilla, RN
Changes that Affect Independence in Later
Life
• Maintaining Independence
 Role changes transition
 Caregiving options
 Socialization
 Psychosocial and Spiritual Influences
 Goal Attainment
• Maximizing function
- preventing complications of existing disease.
• Fall Prevention
- value of rehabilitation
- use of and alternative restraints
-Financial Consideration
- Community resources

Roselily Coquilla, RN
Roselily Coquilla, RN