Research on Aging

Learning Resources

Please read and view (where applicable) the following Learning Resources before you complete this week's assignments.

Readings

Course Text: Experiencing the Lifespan

Chapter 14, "The Physical Challenges of Old Age" (pp. 423 - 451)
Chapter 15, "Death and Dying" (pp. 452 - 477)

Optional Resource

Web Site: MedlinePlus: A Service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics.html

This Web site includes information on the definition, etiology, treatment, and current research of diseases in the United States.

Application: Research on Aging

There are many specialized topics related to aging. Most revolve around health issues. As people age, they have more health problems, need more health care, and are better able to thrive with more social support.

In the United States, social support has been a role filled by families. Health care is not equal, because not everyone has the same financial access to health care. However, the U.S. has excellent scientific research supported by universities, private organizations, and the government. This creates a dichotomy—the difference between what is known and what can be delivered. A lot is known, but the ability to use that knowledge for the healthy and positive aging of everyone is limited.

What do you want to know most about aging? You will get the chance to explore a topic or situation of your choosing.

For this Application Assignment, you will research a topic/situation from the following list: widowhood, prospects of dying, dementia, Alzheimer's, nursing-home care, hospice, palliative care, and euthanasia.

To prepare for this assignment:

Choose one topic/situation related to aging from the list above, one that has personal meaning for you; that is, one that either you or someone you know is experiencing or is likely to experience.
Review text material related to that topic/situation from Chapter 14 and/or Chapter 15 in the course text, Experiencing the Lifespan.
Locate and review one resource from the Walden Library or the Internet that enhances your understanding of the topic/situation.
Think about how your text reading and research findings apply to the topic/situation you have selected and to you or the person you have in mind for this assignment.
Consider how quality of life in old age, as it relates to the topic/situation and as it relates to you or the person you selected, might be improved based on your reading and research.

The assignment (1–2 pages):

Briefly describe the topic/situation you selected, the person you have in mind (whether it is yourself or someone you know), and the reason you selected the topic/situation and the person.
Synthesize the critical information about this topic/situation - information that would best inform those facing the challenges posed by the situation; that is, the person who would experience it, as well as the family/caregivers of that person.
Apply what you learned by predicting a potential outcome for you or the person you selected and the situation.
Suggest what might be done to improve quality of life for you or the person you selected.

Note: Be sure to protect the identity of any persons you describe.

Support your Application Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are asked to provide a reference list only for those resources not included in the Learning Resources for this course.

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Psychology: Aging

(Course Instructor)

(University Affiliation)

(Student’s Name)

Dementia

When people get older, they face a progressive loss of mental judgement due to damage to the brain cells. This is common with very old people, a situation referred to as dementia. According to (WebMD, 2015), with good palliative care, the condition can be diagnosed by offering support and care to those suffering from the condition in order to help them manage the condition.

Brief Description of the Individual Suffering from the Condition

My neighbor moved in with his mother a few years ago, however, he said it is not working well. He says that she experiences compulsive eating problems, strange eating habits, overreacting, stealing food from her children’s plates and lying about doing so. In addition, he says that her mother has strange behaviors like picking things from the floor of the house or car mat and eating them. She ignores simple rules like wearing clothes when indoors and she is often found naked. She does not like to shower and spends most of her time sleeping, whether it is day or night.

Information That Would Be Of Help to Her or Her Caregivers

With best palliative care, dementia can be managed. However, those who are tasked with taking care of such individuals should have prior knowledge on how to manage the condition. In most cases, dementia is associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, recognizing the symptoms of the diseases is the key to managing the condition (Sollitto, 2010). However, there are other conditions that can cause dementia, for example vitamin deficiencies and thyroid problems, which are often reversible.

Dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease has no major treatment; however, some drugs that can stop the disease temporarily. The other non-drug treatment methods include identification of the source of anger. The old people are often faced with distress and this is often responsible for their anger. It is also advisable to keep calm and engage the work of a home nurse. In order to deal with bad behavior, one can take time and explain to them how their behavior makes one to feel. Finally, most of the causes of behaviors like those of not showering or changing clothes are associated with lose of sense of smell. In such circumstances, it is advisable to seek a medical attention.

Application

With good palliative care, the mother to my neighbor will see her condition managed well and it will lead to greater happiness and sense of unity among the family members.

What Might be Done to Improve the Quality of Life

In order to improve the quality of life for both the neighbor and her mother, there is need to enhance education on the causes and possible ways of managing dementia. In doing so, he will understand that dementia is a stage in life and that it is not a burden but can be managed. The education on the condition will provide possible

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