Aspects of aging that affect our…Health

Socia l Emot iona l Wel lbe ing

Reproduct ive Heal th and Sexual i ty

“Our we as old as we look or as old as we feel”

OUR LATER YEARSCHAPTER

1. How can we make the adaption needed to

maximize good health and maintain Independence

and Quality of Life?

2. How much medical intervention are we

comfortable with in our later years? (60-80 yrs.)

Breast Exams

Vaginal Exams

Preventative Health

3. How does sex and sexual pleasures fit into our

lives in our later years?

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT???

Aging has become feminized

Women live longer

Fitness becomes a problem as we age

65 and older 12% live in poverty

Our bodies in context

Most cultures value and honor older people

*In the United States they idealize the young and discriminate against older adults.

THE NEW OLD AGE

Advertisements play on and exaggerate a women’s fear and

anxieties about the natural changes in their body as they age

Pharmaceutical – Hormone

replacement & cologin

Plastic Surgery – Botox & Laser

Treatment

Cosmetics – Oil of Olay & Clinique

“Self acceptance as we age can be hard won but…invaluable” pg

550

ADVERTISEMENTS

Maintaining Connections

Set new goals as relationships change

Evaluate or assess our love and relationships

Change in gestational hierarchy in familyNo matter how we define relationships, social connections have positive effect on ones health

Dealing with Loss

During our older years we experience the death of more friends and loved ones

RELATIONSHIPS

65 and older – 42% of women are widowed

65 and older – 14% of men are widowed

65 and older – 45% of women l ive alone

65 and older – 19% of men l ive alone

GOING AT IT ALONE

We all age dif ferently

some women have developed disabilities from

an early age

More women develop disabilities in midlife or

older

AGING AND HEALTH

The key word is prevention

Prevention is doing what we can to take care of ourselves so as

to avoid or ease the chronic conditions associated with later life

Healthy habits include no nicotine and excessive alcohol and as

much exercise and nutritious eating as possible.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES: TAKING CARE OF

OURSELVES

There are many factors beyond our control

such as…

Occupational Health Hazard

High Blood Pressure

Diabetes

Ethnicity

“Strive to make changes that are within out

power”

PREVENTIVE MEASURES: TAKING CARE OF

OURSELVES CONTINUED

Start and or continue to exercise

Engage your mind

Get to bed – you need sleep just like young adults

Schedule checkups which can now be paid for by the 2010

health care reform act

BASIC PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

Hearth Disease

Osteoporosis

Diabetes

Arthritis

Forms of Cancer

Urinary incontinence… everyone’s favorite topic

You can visit www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease for more

information about chronic diseases

COMMON CHRONIC DISEASES

By the age of 60 a women has undergone regular screenings for

Cervical Cancer

or

Breast Cancer

Longevity is a recent phenomenon in women

so…

There is not a lot of data on screening for women over 85. It is important to maintain

Vaginal Health

Mamograms – every year for women age 50-74

Pap screenings – 65 and older should discuss with their health care provider

Bone screenings should be done at 65 and every 2 years following

GUIDELINES FOR SEXUAL AND

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE

The Sex Continuum

Our society views older women as “drugged up”

and sexless.

Sexuality unlike, fertility, can continue throughout your life

Many women enjoy sex more in the middle and later stages of

their lives due to appreciating their body and sexuality more

fully

Adjustments, disruptions or feeling less sexual can also result

from chronic or acute illness or surgery

SEXUALITY

2010 Har vard Medical School Spec ia l Heal th Repor t Sexual i ty in Mid l i fe and Beyond

Poss ible A ge Related Sexual Changes for Women:

Phys ical Changes: Low estrogen

Decreased blood flow to genitals

Thinning of vaginal l ining

Muscle tone

Desire – Decreased l ibido, fewer sexual thoughts

Arousal – Reduced vaginal lubricants, less blood and congestion

Orgasm – Delayed or absent

Resolution – body returns rapidly to a non-aroused state

“Only 22% of women discuss sex with a physician after 50”

PHYSICAL CHANGES THAT AFFECT SEXUALITY

Declining Health

Body Changes

Chronic Illness

Medication

Health Benefits to Sexual Activity

Expand Energy

Burns Calories – Brain release endorphins

Reduced Stress

Sleep Better

Delay or minimize incontinence by working pelvis

Delay Pain – Orgasm can reduce pain

PRACTICAL APPROACH TO AGE RELATED

SEXUAL CHANGES

Women experience a shift in levels of desire throughout their

lives

Reasons for less sexual desire include:

Overwork and anxiety

Loss of newness

Abuse

Gradual changes/accommodations

Not being attracted

LOSS OF DESIRE

Viagra and other erectile dysfunction medications exist for men

Navigating Health Care

In the twenty -first century medical care there is a great

shortage of

doctors, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, dentists and other

health care professionals trained in caring for older adults

PLEASURING OTHERS AND YOURSELF

Predictions in the near future…

2007 = 1 geriatrician for every 2,546 older adults

2030 = 1 geriatrician for every 4,254 older adults

2007 = 1 geriatric psychiatrist for every 11,372 older

adults

2030 = 1 geriatric psychiatrist for every 20,195 older

adults

THE INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE

Providers without adequate training may treat older women inaccurately

They may not fully treat chronic illness

Misdiagnosis or fail to manage reversible conditions

Over proscribe medications

People over the age of 65 take 34% of medications

Prescriptions are based on a yearly basis in the US

They are only 13% of the US population

WRONG DIAGNOSIS, WRONG TREATMENT

Be proactive … Plan Ahead

Look into retirement

Health Care

Long-term Care

Housing

Activities

Your Community Can Help

PLANNING AHEAD

Retirement and Social Security

Planning ahead is critical in dealing with gaps in your earning

during employment years

Raising children

Taking care of older parents

Housing

As you get older you may…

Move to a smaller home

Get a roommate

Moving to a retirement home

Receive elder services in your own house

PLANNING AHEAD CONTINUED

Household help and Long Term Care

Long term care services are very expensive

Community Living Assistance Services and Support Act (Class Act) 2010 Health Reform Law

Voluntary Long-Term Care insurance program for senior and disabled people to

pay no medical services and support

Contribute for 5 years – A benefit on average of $50 a day

MORE PLANNING AHEAD

Power of Attorney – A trusting person has the authority to act on

your behalf in financial and legal matters if unable to take

action yourself

Health Care Proxy Document – A person you trust authority to

make medical testing and treatment decisions

Medical Advance Directive or Living Will – Describes the medical

treatment one wishes to receive or refuse… and under what

conditions

HEALTH AND LEGAL DECISION

Sometimes medical science, not the concern of a women’s life

quality, shapes the advice we receive about death and dying

Talk to a health care provider about your wishes

You need to manage your own healthcare

Compassionate end-of-life care that addresses you

emotional, spiritual and practical needs is essential, regardless

of the type of treatment or care chosen

END OF LIFE CARE

66% of caregivers are women

41% work full time

13% work part time

The economic value of caregivers unpaid contributions is estimated at $375 billion

Care givers have high rates of

Depression

Chronic Diseases

Infections

Exhaustion

This is compared to non-caregivers of the same age

CAREGIVER

Family Caregiver Alliance (caregive.org)

Information services and advocacy for caregivers

National Alliance for Caregivers (caregiving.org)

Non-profit coalition of national organizations focused as family caregivers

Roselynn Carter Institute of Caregiving ( roselynncarter.org)

Established local and state partnerships that build quality long-term and home based services

Share the Care (sharethecare.org)

creative models in which neighborhoods help families

RESPITE AND RESOURCES

Women need to accept help without feeling deminished

Helpers need to provide choices when possible

Living Full: Building Community, Continuing Advocacy

“From the bottom of my heart: Life gets greater and more

surprising after 40, 50, 60 and yes 70 .”

-Gloria Steinem-

One must have a sense of purpose and enthusiasm for life

ACCEPTING CARE WHEN WE NEED IT

You need fulfil lment during later years

Why do you need fulfillment…

Less time left

Clarified priorities

More knowledge of what matters

Dr. Gene Cohen, geriatric psychiatrist was convinced older

people have untapped wells of creativity and skills

“Chocolate for the aging brain”

ACCEPTING CARE WHEN WE NEED IT

CONTINUED

Older women’s wisdom and skills are much needed by younger

generations

We must work toward building a society that celebrates and

supports the elderly

INTERGENERATIONAL LIVING

Older women need to build on the strength they have in numbers by creating and supporting programs that meet older women’s needs

Such as…

Long-Term Care

Health Care

Work-Family Balance

Retirement security

Everyone will age

Women need to continue to tell their stories of being mothers, sisters, daughters, caregivers, workers and push their local, state and national governments to provide services for their older years!

WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE CHANGE