Key Terms
- 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