As one ages, many physical changes can occur. For some individuals, these changes have a minimal effect on their quality of life. For others, discomfort and disease can accompany the aging process. We will highlight a few of the more common changes and make some suggestions for addressing problems that might arise.
[Hearing][Vision][Musculo-Skeletal Disease][Cardiovascular System]
[Gastro-intestinal System][Central Nervous System]
[Annotated Selected Readings][Selected Resources]
[Return to ITC][Institute for Human Development]
Hearing loss becomes more prominent as one grows old. of those aged 65 to 74 years, 30 percent suffer some hearing loss. This prevalence increases to 50 percent for those 75 years and older. High sounds are affected as are consonant sounds (e.g., "z","q","s","t"). There is often tinnitus (ringing in the ear) present. Persons with Down syndrome may more frequently experience hearing loss than the general public.
While some physical changes occur and diseases of the eye are more common, many persons have good eyesight even into old age. Some common eye complaints are:
Colors at the lower end of the spectrum (e.g., blue and violet) are difficult to see.
Farsightedness (difficulty in seeing close-up) gradually affects people over 40 years of age.
"Floaters," or specks or tiny spots appear in the field of vision.
There are several eye diseases that are more prevalent in the older persons:
| Cataracts: The lens becomes opaque and clouded with resulting poorer vision. |
| Glaucoma: Fluid accumulation in the eye can produce blindness. |
| Macular Degeneration: The central vision is lost. |
| Other retina diseases include:Retinopathy (failure of small blood vessels of the eye) and retinal detachment (separation of the inner and outer layers of the retina). |
There are many skeletal changes that occur after the age of 40. Women, in particular, experience an acceleration of bone loss due to a lack of estrogen. In addition, there is a decrease in the amount of fluid that prevents bones from rubbing together. By the age of 65, there is hardly a person who does not exhibit some form of joint disease. Muscles also show deterioration with age. When coupled with the body's loss of potassium, physical labor may be a more arduous task.
Several diseases of the musculoskeletal system are more prevalent in old age.
Persons with developmental disabilities especially cerebral palsy, may suffer reduced mobility at a younger age than the general population. Metabolic disorders, sometimes found in persons with developmental disabilities, can produce musculoskeletal deterioration.
Some management strategies to assist in maintaining good bone and muscle structures and relieve pain are:
A good resource on assistive devices for those with arthritis is "The Gadget Book" published by the American Amoclation for Retired Persons (AARP). MRP produces several exceptional manuals that address successful strategies for coping with and adapting environment.
For more information regarding MRP products, contact:
AARP
Consumer Products Department
1909 K Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20049
The heart can be affected by age. Hypertension, a condition associated with both heart disease and stroke, is more prevalent in older persons. Fatty build up in veins and arteries together with hardening of blood vessels can add to potential for heart disease. Individuals with Down syndrome sometimes have concomitant heart defects which are exacerbated by age.
Some ways to prevent heart disease are:
Many older persons have complaints related to the gastrointestinal system. The sensations of smell and taste diminish. Older persons may also experience difficulty in swallowing, which can be caused by esophagus lining thickening or decreased production of saliva.
Gastric juices also diminish in quantity which can result in indigestion or ulcers.
Constipation can be aggravated by some medications (e.g., antacids, diuretics). Constipation can aggravate diverticulosis, pouches in the intestine. Hemorrhoids are also more common in older persons. It is important to consult a physician if rectal bleeding is present.
Since extractions were a common practice in the 1930's and 1940's, dental care can be a great problem for older persons with developmental disabilities. Some individuals (e.g., those with cerebral palsy) may have had lifelong eating problems. These problems can become worse with age-related esophageal changes.
Some suggestions for good health practice are:
Brain size, due to loss of neurons, atrophy or reduced blood flow, decreases with age. Between neurons, "plaques" form that produce a slowing of information transfer in the brain. An EEG reading of an older person's alpha waves resembles that of individuals with organic problems. There is a general slowing in movement and reaction time. Sleep is more interrupted in older persons and results in more awakening during the night.
A serious illness that affects older persons is Parkinson's disease. There is a shakiness in the extremities. Three prominent symptoms include:
Some ways to minimize these aging effects are:
Annotated Selected Readings
Gambert, S., Uebeskind, 8., & Cameron, D. (1987). Lifelong preventive health care for elderly persons with disabilities. The Journal of the Association of Persons with Severe Handicaps, 12(4), 292-296
This article describes preventive health care procedures for older persons with developmental disabilities. Dietary recommendations are made. Specific medical evaluations and interventions are suggested with timetables for medical examinations. There is an excellent description of dental care and ways to minimize dental problems. An exercise program is also presented. This is an excellent article for care providers who serve older persons with developmental disabilities.
Huber, A. (1985). Nutrition, aging and developmental disabilities. In M. Janicki & H. Wisniewski (Eds.), Aging and developmental disabilities: Issues and approaches.Baltimore: Paul Brookes
The focus of this article is on the nutritional aspects of aging. Changes that occur throughout the gastrointestinal system are described. Ways to assess nutritional needs are presented. An extensive section examines the topic of planning nutritious diets for older persons.
Help yourself to good health. A booklet presented in the public interest by the National Institute on Aging and by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging, Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.
The booklet is a compilation of fact sheets, the Age Page, published by the National Institute on Aging. These sheets otter practical advice on health promotion to older persons, their families, and those who work with and care for older persons.
Kultgen, P., Rinck, C., & Pfannenstiel, D. (1986). Training Guide for Aging Specialists.
This guide provides basic information on aging in general and aging related to developmental disabilities for direct care providers. it describes age-related physical, cognitive, emotional and social changes as they occur among the general population of older persons. Separate sections describe how these changes apply to older persons with developmental disabilities. Available from University of Missouri-Kansas City, University Affiliated Program, 2220 Holmes St., Kansas City, MO 64108 (816) 235-1770. ($13.50)
Wehner, H., & Kultgen, P. (1987). Aging in Brief.
This is an abbreviated version of the Training Guide for Aging Specialists. It can be used as a student manual when the larger Training Guide is used as the instructor '5 resource material or it can be used alone. The in Briefs do not contain the appendices found in the Training Guide. Available from University of Missouri-Kansas City, University Affiliated Program, 2220 Holmes Street, Kansas City, MO 64108 (816) 235-1770. ($6.50)
Hunter-Brookdale Center on Aging. (1990). When People with Developmental Disabilities Age. Video, 18 minutes. New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council: Mountain View Productions.
This video examines some of the similarities and differences among older persons with developmental disabilities, in terms of the physical psychological, and social changes that occur in the aging process. Topics include changes in vision, hearing mobility, stamina, and other areas, such as the need to monitor medication and the social interaction needs of the elderly with developmental disabilities. The video also looks at the interaction to aging and Down syndrome and Alzheimer 's disease. Produced on-site at several senior day program sites, the video draws together information from experts in medicine, gerontology, and developmental disabilities as well as the thoughts of the program managers. The video is an excellent accompaniment to staff/caregiver training programs on the aging of older persons with developmental disabilities. For information or to order a complimentary copy, contact: New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, 155 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210.