Attitude Toward Aging Process - Essay Example

Running head: ATTITUDE TOWARD AGING PROCESS AND HOW THIS MIGHT IMPACT NURSING PRACTICE Reflection Paper Attitude Toward Aging ProcessIt is important to focus on the nursing practice knowledge and attitude toward problems associated with the aging process. This is because aging begins at birth and it's an incurable change. An aged person requires extra care and protection since they are more prone to diseases and unexpected sudden health deterioration. The old age complications are inevitable and everyone goes this phase unless one is unfortunate to survive longer.

It is a crucial turning point in the life of an aged person due to the senescent change. The loss of melanocytes in the hair follicles, skin change and loss of hair pigment make elderly people to look old. They are faced with other complications such as hearing and eyesight impairment, memory loss and diminished joint mobility. Wrinkling of skin develop and there is loss of elasticity due to atrophy of subcutaneous fat. We need to infuse change in the nurses' attitude since they are not just interested in the status of elderly health.

For this case this negative attitude should be changed fro them to be able to serve elderly people with confidence in future. The medical curriculum recommended interdisciplinary subject that includes multiple specialty subject on aging process and a number of diseases of elderly people. The subject provided both community and hospital based teaching materials. Since then there are a number of theory have come up to explain the aging process. (Rieder, 2004) These theories are the wear and tear theories and Genome based theories.

The wear and tear theories are old theories which include; cross linkage theory, free radical theory, error catastrophe theory and the waste product accumulation theory. On the other hand, the genome based theories are the most recent theories of the aging process and they include; somatic mutation, finite doubling potential of cells and the programmed aging. (Rieder, 2004)According to Reider (2004), people with over 65 years in United States most often spend a lot of their time in health care than those below the age of 65 years.

This is estimated to be an average of three times more.The old age comes with two complications. These are age related diseases and age dependent diseases. The age related diseases are disorders that are common in advance years of life hence they offer the opportunity for control, prevention and treatment. (Cotran, Kumar and Robbins, 2004)These age related diseases include; Alzheimer's disease, cancers of prostate, colon and skin, Systemic atherosclerosis, Type II diabetes mellitus, Chronic ischemic heart disease, Cerebrovascular disease, systemic hypertension, Glaucoma, Parkinson's disease and Acute myocardial infarction.

(Cotran, Kumar and Robbins, 2004)Age dependent diseases are those disorders that are direct consequence of physiologic senescence. These geriatric diseases include; Nodular prostatic hyperplasia, Osteoporosis, Hearing impairment, Vulvovaginal atrophy, Senile hyperinflation of lungs, Cataracts, and also adverse reaction of the drugs. (Cotran, Kumar and Robbins, 2004) Since aging is incurable and inescapable, every one of us has to pass through it if he or she fortunate enough to live longer. For this case, if one is aware of the complications associated with old age, he or she can be able to ensure that regular medical check up is important whether one is unwell or healthy.

There is no difference with old age complications mentioned earlier with the one I have witnessed in my own aging grandparent. Medical gerontology in-depth knowledge with exposure to the community make nurses develop positive attitude of taking care of aging population. (Pramanik, 2004)ReferencesCotran, R. S, Kumar, V and Robbins, S.L (2004): Diseases of ageing: Robbins Pathologic basis of diseases, Sixth Edition, New York, W. B. Saunders CompanyPramanik, J. (2004): A radical change in medical teaching and training system - A Herculean job to accomplish.

Academic Medicine 2004; 79: 615-616 Rieder, C. H (2004): Geriatrics and Gerontology Education for Physicians: The JAHF/AAMC Partnership. Academic Medicine 2004 79: Sv.