REPLY WOMEN

REPLY TO THE TWO DOWN BELOW

Older Women II

One of the most obvious characteristics that one observes in a group of elderly women is the vast individual differences that are present. Some individuals seem "old" at 60. Physically they may appear older than their age, and they may move, respond, and think more slowly than their peers. In the same group of people, however, you may see an individual in her 90s who looks and acts 20 years younger. Gerontologists and health psychology professionals are interested in why these immense differences exist in the elderly population.

In this Discussion, consider these issues and think about what might be considered important information for women on the active end of the aging spectrum to know about normal physical and mental changes associated with aging. As a health psychology professional, you have been asked to give a talk to a group of older women, Seniors on the Go, on physical and mental changes that are normal and abnormal over the age of 80.

With these thoughts in mind: Post by Day 4 a description of at least three physical or mental health issues you think would be most important to address with the Seniors-on-the-Go group. Explain why you picked these issues. Defend your arguments with citations and references from the current literature. Cite your references using APA format.

Reply 1

The prevalence of cognitive and physical deficiencies among older women increases significantly with age with approximately one out of every seven Americans older than 70 suffering from dementia or mobility limitations (Colenda et al., 2010). Age-related cognitive decline (ARCD) is defined as "a pattern of deterioration in cognitive functions that gradually impairs the ability to think, reason, concentrate, and remember (Drag & Bieliauskas, 2010). ARCD has been identified as a major threat for older adults with profound effects on independence, social engagement, and overall quality of life. To address this problem, interventions such as exercise has been examined to determine the potential for neurocognitive and physical changes in older women. A 60-minute exercise routine twice a week has shown improvements in levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor plasma levels (Vaughn et al., 2014).

Fall-related injuries are also a recognized health problem in older women. In a study of 307 older women aged 75 and above, 155 women (50.5%) fell one or more times over the course of one year with risk factors for falling being recognized as the presence of rheumatic disorders and poor balance (Bergland & Wyller, 2004). Effective fall reduction programs should include a comprehensive fall risk assessment; research suggests that by identifying risk factors, fall-related injuries can be significantly reduced (Pengpid & Peltzer, 2018). Other research suggests that women with Type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of falls than their counterparts (Patel et al., 2008; Schwartz et al., 2002)

A third physical issue that has the potential to promote osteoporosis or poor bone density with the propensity to fall, is vitamin D levels. Low levels of vitamin D can also lead to cognitive impairments in older adults. Westernised and urban communities have a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiencies due to lack of exposure to sunlight and consistent use of sun-blocking agents. Vitamin D is well-known for being invaluable to the older population due to its role in bone and muscle development yet it also plays a role in fighting against bacterial and viral infections (Boucher, 2012). All three of these potential physical and mental health impairments can be managed through specific interventions when regulated by a physician or through alternative medicines.

REPLY 2

Addressing health issues with seniors is important because it educates seniors about the health risks that he or she may be more susceptible to due to ageing. As individuals get older, they become even more at risk for both physical and mental health implications, however, there are some illnesses that women are more at risk than men of acquiring. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, women, particularly older women, are at an increased risk for osteoporosis attributed to the fact that women have smaller, thinner bones than men and a decrease in estrogen production after menopause. Roberto (1993) states that there are things that older women can do to decrease their risk of developing and/or slowing the progression of the osteoporosis such as hormone replacement therapies, nutrition, and exercise. Eating more fruits and veggies, lifting weights to strengthen bones, and limit smoking and alcohol intake have been proven to decrease the risk of osteoporosis development and/or progression. 

Risk for depression is higher in women because women are traditionally the “care-givers” in families and need solace from this role (Danello, 1987). Additionally, Danello (1987) state that many women live alone and with disparities, which can also contribute to mental health issues such as depression. 

Incontinence is another health issue that older adults are at risk for, however, it is most common in women (Danello, 1987). Bardsley (2014) states that women are more at risk for urinary incontinence because the muscles responsible for continence weakens over time, however, exercising the pelvic floor can help to decrease that risk.  Ghetti (2017) state that physical exercise is an important factor in mitigating a variety of health issues in women such as obesity, muscle weakness, dysfunctional movement patterns, and lastly, urinary incontinence. 

There are many different issues that should be addressed for aging women, however, what seems to be a common tenant to reducing health risks are diet, exercise, and socialization. As a health psychologist providing information for aging women, I would inform them of their increased risks for health implications because of being female. Additionally, promoting exercise, socialization, and a healthy diet are key components that not only address the health issues that I mentioned earlier, but other health issues such as obesity, cognition, and mobility. Evans and Cyr-Campbell (1997) state that although aging causes many changes for the body and mind, research has shown that some illnesses can be avoided or progression lessened through various programs geared toward healthy diet, exercise, and socialization.