Biology of Aging/Bio-Gerontology

John K. Lloyd, PhDAssociate Professor of Biology

Division of Natural SciencesCollege of Arts and Sciences

Aurora University

My Favorite Things

Malox and nose drops and needles for knitting, Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings, Bundles of magazines tied up in string, These are a few of my favorite things.

Cadillacs, cataracts, hearing aids, glasses, Polident, Fixodent, false teeth in glasses, Pacemakers, golf carts, and porches with swings, These are a few of my favorite things.

When the pipes leak,When the bones creak,When the knees go bad,I simply remember my favorite things,And then I don’t feel so bad.

Hot tea and crumpets, and corn pads for bunions,No spicy hot food, or food cooked with onions,Bathrobes and heating pads, hot meals they bring,These are a few of my favorite things.

Back pains, confused brains, and no fear of sinnin’, Thin bones and fractures, and hair that is thinnin’, More of the pleasures advancing age brings, When we remember our favorite things.

When the joints ache, when the hips break, When the eyes grow dim, I simply remember the great life I’ve had, And then I don’t feel…………….so bad!

Old Age is HeckBy the late Lester J. Ebel

When you are young and really spry

You could kick your feet as high as the sky

Now you walk slow, one step at a time

Make sure no hill is there to climb

The body gets stiff

You get cramps in your legs

Corns on your feet as big as hen’s eggs

Gas in your stomach; elimination poor

Take ‘Ex Lax’ at night, but then you’re not sure

Your ‘get up and go’ has already went

You huff and puff as you shuffle your feet

So if the new year finds you feeling quite well

Old age is only as bad as you feel

The best things in life may still lie ahead

Stand tall for life is not over

For all is not said

Statistics

The number of people in the U.S. who are 85 years old and older will quadruple by 2030.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000

Americans, on average, are living longer. Life expectancy at birth has increased from about 47 in the early 1900’s to around 76. One in 26 baby boomers is expected to make it to 100.

Source: “The Pulse,” Fall 2003, Dreyer Medical Clinic

© 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers

Long-Term Care: Personnel Needs

If recent rates of chronic disability and health care use continue, consumer demands will more than double by 2020

Requirements for personnel specifically prepared to serve older people will greatly exceed the current supply

Healthcare practitioners will routinely serve older people in the future as part of their regular duties

This care will make up approximately ⅓ to ⅔ of the workload of physicians and other healthcare personnel

© 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers

Potential Healthcare Needs

Chronic diseases will require continuing services from physicians and other healthcare personnel

Mental impairments have serious impact on the functioning of many elderly

Dental needs among the elderly are often serious, especially since Medicare does not include dental care

Most debilitating conditions producing functional impairment among the healthy elderly are dementia, stroke, and hip fractures

Most common causes of disability in the old-old group (85 and older) are arthritis, heart and circulatory disorders, and dementia

© 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers

Personnel Needs: Education & Training

Greatly expanded federally funded training programs are required to prepare personnel to provide services in homes, hospices, nursing homes, and other community settings

Provide responsive care to older persons, greater emphasis on the special needs and conditions of older persons should be included in the education of all health and human service personnel

Education should include skill in the priority services for high-risk groups as well as knowledge of cultural differences

Bio-Gerontology, a Service Learning Opportunity

Students especially interested in the health professions should have exposure to the geriatric population. Individuals are living longer and the “baby boomers” are quickly approaching the “golden years.” As an individual ages so does the need for healthcare. Aging, which leads to gradual changes in body composition, involves structural and functional losses at the cellular, tissue, and organ system levels. Chronic medical conditions such as hypertension, arthritis, coronary heart disease and stroke have been associated with the aging process. Health care providers need to distinguish patho-physiological conditions from “normal aging” of the human body. Service-learning allows students to take what they have learned from the classroom and apply it to a service project in the community. Students have the opportunity to interact and observe elders in a local long-term care facility weekly and also organize a group beach party with various games for the residents. As individuals grow older, companionship becomes more important, so the student’s visitations are highly appreciated. “Human bonding” (making close friendships) are definitely taking place. Students keep a journal of their interactions with the residents, conduct research on their resident’s medical conditions, and give a presentation of their findings and reflections of their interactions.

Student Outcomes with Service Learning

Students will: Apply academic, social, and personal skills to

improve the community. Make decisions that have real, not hypothetical,

results. Grow as individuals, gain respect for peers, and

increase civic participation. Experience success no matter what their ability

level. Gain a deeper understanding of themselves,

their community, and society. Develop as leaders who take initiative, solve

problems, work as a team, and demonstrate their abilities while and through helping others.

Things to Do While Visiting a Senior Citizen

Make a special scrapbook of your time together Work on a craft project together Do crossword and/or jigsaw puzzles together Subscribe to your elder’s hometown newspaper and bring it along Bring things related to the season or upcoming holiday to do and talk about Plant and take care of an indoor window garden together Building a bird feeder or house to hang outside their window and next bird watch Listen to music together and play “name that tune” Play card, table, or board games together-favorites and new ones Bring a favorite recipe book to explore or to plan a meal from together Watch television together and talk about the programs you’ve seen Read a chapter of a novel or several poems each time you visit Ask your elder to share memories of how the community has changed Sit and hold your senior’s hand and lend a good listening ear Give your friend a hug as you arrive and each time you say goodbye

Student Reflections

Guidelines for Reflections

How has this experience change your outlook on the elderly and working in the health care field with an aging baby boomer population?

What was your project (activity) that you did with your resident and how did it influence their day?

After watching the film, “Tuesdays with Morrie” any similarities with your relationship with your resident?

How would you improve the living conditions (quality of life) in a long-term care facility?

As you interacted with your resident, any physiological systems aging or demonstrating pathological symptoms?

Any suggestions to improve the experience with a resident at a long-term care facility?

I had a blast carving the pumpkins and watching the elderly try to figure out our word games. I think that the residents at Provena loved us being there. The smiles on their faces showed that they were having a good time. I think that they had fun in all of our activities whether it was from carving pumpkins to introducing who we were or maybe it was the judging of the pumpkins. This experience has definitely changed my outlook not only for the healthcare system but also for the elderly. I seem to have more respect for the elderly and I personally want to make sure that they receive the best healthcare that they can have.

After visiting the Provena Mercy Center Long-Term Care Facility, I learned so much about the elderly and how lucky I am that I could spend my time with them. To see the smiles on their faces and the laughter while we were doing our activities made me feel wonderful. Upon arriving at Provena, I thought that this would just be another school function that I have to go to and I am not going to like it. I thought that if I had been to one long-term care facility before then I’ve been to them all. I was wrong because this was a fantastic experience.

In all honesty, I can say that I really never had a “passion” for the elderly (maybe that is just because my passion is for children). I don’t know if I want to use “frightened” for the word to describe how I felt about nursing homes and old age, but maybe in a way that is the perfect word to use. Although I find anatomy and physiology fascinating, biological aging never really fascinated me, until I met Beluluah. And I wish I could take back my negative feelings and lack of support and empathy that I once had for the elderly. After spending a semester at Elmwood, I began to realize that a nursing home really can be a positive change in one’s life.

Easter Egg Decoration

At first, I thought that going to the nursing home and seeing all of the poor people with dementia was sad. However, as I continued to visit, I became more cheerful. I realized that feeling sad and sorry for them wouldn’t help them (or me, for that matter) feel any better. I thought that I might have made some of the residents happier if only for a few minutes.

Overall, this experience has been like no other. I learned not only about Judy but other elderly as well. I also learned that our healthcare system is not very perfect after all. There is a lot lacking and there needs to be something done. The realization that I may not be as healthy as I thought may affect me in the future. I don’t want to have all of these diseases that some of the elders had. I do not want to take 8 pills a day. I also do not want to suffer more than I might have to, but in order to do that I must change. For the most part I have, because of this class.

This clinical experience really has changed my outlook on the healthcare system and the elderly. As I mentioned before, I was somewhat scared of nursing homes and long term care facilities because of the death and sadness that surrounds them. Visiting Elmwood each week has showed me that there is nothing to be afraid of. There are a lot of people in long term care facilities who need help and rely on the care and compassion of other people.

As you go through life, act in such a way as to not deprive others of happiness.

Avoid giving sorrow to your fellow man,

but to the contrary, see that you give him joy as often as you can.

SIOUX PROVERB

My Neighbor, Floyd, who Defines Healthy Aging

Self-sufficient Accomplishes all daily tasks of living (meals, laundry, and

personal needs) Drives his car Articulated and knowledgeable in conversations Active in the community (church, Visiting Nurses

Association’s Hospice, and Aurora University) His secrets of the fountain of youth are genes, having a

positive outlook on life, eating the right foods, and performing physical exercise.

Photos of Floyd