Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Older Adult Concept Map - Coggle Diagram
Older Adult Concept Map
Endocrine
Common Age Related Changes
ACTH secretion decreases
Thyroid gland atrophies and activity decreases
Chronic Conditions:
Hyperthyroidism
Overactivity of thyroid gland causing increased production of thyroid hormones altering homeostasis in the body
Acute Condition: Thyrotoxicosis
High levels of thyroid hormones which can be life threatening by raising heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure
Hypothyroidism
Underactive thyroid gland that lacks productive of hormones needed for homeostatic function
Insufficient release of insulin and reduced tissue sensitivity to circulating insulin
Chronic condition: Type II Diabetes
Impairment of the body's regulation and use of glucose often resulting in insulin tolerance
Diminished adrenal function
Volume of pituitary gland decreases
Integument
Common Age Related Changes
Decreased ability to detect and regulate temperature
Nails become thick and brittle
Thin skin
Acute Condition: Pressure ulcers
Parts of the skin on the body that are broken down from constant pressure leaving open wounds that become necrotic without treatment
Dry skin
Chronic Conditions: Eczema
Inflammatory condition causing itchiness, dryness, blisters, and skin infections
Loss of elastin
Chronic Conditions: Dermatitis
Inflammation of the skin caused by rash, sore, blisters, infection (bacterial or viral)
Acute Condition: Hives
Skin rash caused my irritants that forms raised bumps all over the body exhibiting signs of infection or intolerance to something serious
Keratinocytes become smaller and regeneration slows
Respiratory
Common Age Related Changes
Increased residual capacity and reduced vital capacity
Chronic Condition: Asthma
Reversible airflow obstruction and wheezing due to variety of stimulants
Calcification of costal cartilage, trachea and rib cage are more rigid
Reduction of cough and laryngeal reflexes
Chronic Conditions: COPD
Bronchitis
Sputum with cough production daily
Acute Condition: Lung Abscess
Pus filled cavity around the lung rurrounded by inflammed tissue
Acute Condition: ARDS
Fluid buildup in alveolar sac reducing effective gas exchange
Emphysema
Reduced gas exchange surface area
Acute Condition: Pneumonia
Lung infection of alveolar sacs altering gas exchange often resulting in excess CO2 and not enough O2
Cardiovascular
Common Age Related Changes
Oxygen used less efficiently
Valves become thick and rigid
Chronic Condition: Peripheral Vascular Disease
Arterial
Build up of fatty deposits in the arteries
Acute Condition: Thromboembolism
Thrombus built up in the veins breaking off and traveling somewhere in the body to get stuck and cause a blockage
Venous
Buildup of fatty deposits in the veins
Heart muscle loses efficiency and contractile strength
Reduced cardiac output with physiologic stress
Chronic Condition: Heart Failure
Right sided
inability of the right ventricle to pump blood out to the lungs
Left sided
Inability of the left ventricle to pump blood to the periphery
Congestive
Heart does not pump blood efficiently to the body or lungs
Blood vessels have reduced elasticity
Chronic Condition: Hypertension
Elevation of blood pressure due to force against blood in arterial walls
Acute Condition: Pulmonary Embolism
Embolis lodged within the lungs causing a blockage that can be life threatening
Aorta becomes more dilated
GI
Common Age Related Changes
Atrophy of the small and large intestines
Chronic Condition: Constipation
Poor diet or lack of enough liquid causing hard, difficult to pass and unfrequent stools
Chronic Condition: Hiatal Hernia
Herniation of esophagogastric junction and portion of stomach is in the chest
Less acute taste sensation
Decreased esophageal motility
Chronic Condition: Dysphagia
Incidence of swallowing difficulties
Risk for aspiration, indigestion, and constipation
Chronic Condition: Fecal Impaction
Severe constipation resulting in stool build up in the colon becoming hard and very difficult to pass normally
Acute Condition: Appendicitis
Inflammation of the appendix due to infection or blockage within the GI tract
Renal
Common Age Related Changes
Decline of renal blood flow and glomerular filtration
Chronic Condition: Renal Calculi
Formation of crystals in supersaturated urine adhering to urothelium causing the growth and formation of stones
Acute Condition: UTI
Infection in any part of the urinary system which can cause pain and sometimes confusion
Actue Condition: Glomerulonephritis
Inflammation of the filter within kidneys causing fluid to not be properly filtered in the body and build up to toxic levels
Reduced bladder capacity
Chronic Condition: Bladder Cancer
Chronic inflammation in the bladder causing invasion or metastasis of tissue
Urinary frequency, urgency, and nocturia
Chronic Condition: Incontinence
Inability to sense or control urination from bladder
Musculoskeletal
Common Age Related Changes
Decreased bone mineral and mass
Chronic Condition: Pathological Fracture
Break in bone caused by underlying disease
Acute Condition: Osteomyelitis
Inflammation of bone or bone marrow due to infection
Chronic Condition: Osteoporosis
Osteoclastic bone resorption not compensated by osteoblastic bone formation
Thinning disks and shortening vertebrae
Reduced muscle mass, strength, and movement
Diminished calcium absorption
Nervous
Common Age Related Changes
Decline in weight and blood flow to brain
Acute Condition: TIA
Temporary or intermittent reduction in cerebral perfusion
Acute Condition: Aneurysm
Ballooning of a blood vessel in the brain that can burst and be life threatening
Reduction in neurons, nerve fibers, and cerebral blood flow
Chronic Condition: Dementia
Damage or loss of nerve cells in brain altering mental status such as memory
Chronic Condition: Delirium
External factor such as infection or medication alters mental status
Chronic Condition: Alzheimer's
Breakdown of amyloid precursor protein causing decline of mental status and cognitive awareness over time
Chronic Condition: Parkinson's
Neuro degeneration of dopamine resulting in tremors, weak gait, facial droop, possible cognitive impairment
Slower response to change in balance
Hypothalamus less effective in temperature regulation
Changes in sleep patterns with frequent awakening
Sensory
Common Age Related Changes
Reduction of tactile sensation
Reduced ability to sense pressure, discomfort, change in temperature
Narrowing of visual field
Chronic Condition: Macular Degeneration
Damage or breakdown of the macula leading to loss of central vision
Acute Condition: Blindness
Total loss of vision
Pupil size reduction and less reactive to light
Depth perception distortion
Chronic Condition: Cataracts
Clouding of lens and loss of transparency
Acute Condition: Corneal Ulcer
Inflammation of cornea accompanied by a loss of substance
Decline in visual acuity
Chronic Condition: Glaucoma
Damage to the optic nerve from an above normal intraocular pressure
Acute Condition: Detached Retina
Forward displacement or retina
Progressive loss of hearing
Alteration in equilibrium
Decreased saliva
Atrophy of tongue
Reproductive
Common Age Related Changes
Vulva atrophies
Vaginal epithelium thins
Chronic Condition: Perineal Herniation
Protrusion into the perineum of pelvic or abdominal contents
Acute Condition: HIV/AIDS
Virus attacking the body's immune system in which is destroys white blood cells which are supposed to defend against infection
Cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes atrophy
Chronic Condition: Menopause
Loss of ovarian sensitivity to gonadatropin stimulation - absence of a period
Seminal vesicle develop thinner epitehlium
Ejaculation fluid contains less sperm
Chronic Condition: Andropause
Testosterone levels decline in men
Enlargement of prostate gland
Chronic Condition: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Enlargement of prostate inhibiting bladder outlet
Chronic Condition: Erectile Dysfunction
Unable to attain or maintain erection of penis for sexual intercourse
Immune System
Common Age Related Changes
Inflammatory defenses decline
T-cell activity declines
Cell-mediated immunity declines
Inflammation presents atypically