1. A Lifetime of Health
• Describe the longevity gender gap and possible
contributing factors.
• List the benefits that older Americans can gain from
physical activity.
• Discuss the hormonal changes that occur in men and
women at midlife.
• Name two challenges of aging and discuss their risk
factors and possible ways of preventing them.
• Describe the purposes and types of advanced directives.
• Define death and explain the stages of emotional
reaction experienced in facing death.
• Identify an elderly family member or friend that has
excellent health and determine their beneficial behaviors
that may have contributed to their health status.

2. Topics of Focus For This Chapter
Gender Longevity gender gap
Midlife Hormone changes
Aging Challenges
Physical Activity Benefits
Death Advance directives
Stages and emotions

4. The Difference In Life Expectancy
80.6 years
75.7 years
Women
Men
4.9 years

5. Why Do Women Live Longer Than Men?
Estrogen
Protects heart, brain, bone and blood
vessels
Boosts immune function
May protect against metastases
X
Chromosome Extra dose of immune genetics
Testosterone
Depresses immune function
Increases risk of heart disease and
stroke
Injury Men die more frequently of injury

6. Life Years Lost Due To Lifestyle Habits
Health Hazard Years Lost
(man)
Years Lost
(woman)
Smoking 10 10
High Blood
Pressure 1.5 1.6
High Blood
Sugar 0.5 0.3
Obesity 1.3 1.3

7. Successful Aging
• Physical Activity: It’s Never Too Late
• Exercise slows many of the changes that
occur with age, including increases in body
fat and decreases in muscle strength.
• According to the U.S. surgeon general,
physical activity offers older Americans many
additional benefits, including:
• Greater ability to live independently.
• Reduced risk of falling and fracturing bones.
• Lower risk of dying from coronary heart disease.
• Reduced blood pressure.
• Fewer symptoms of anxiety.
• Improvements in mood.
• Lower health costs.

8. Successful Aging
• Nutrition and Obesity
• The most common nutritional disorder in older
persons is obesity.
• Obese individuals face higher risk of diabetes, heart
disease, stroke, and other health problems, including
arthritis.
• The Aging Brain
• Mental ability does not decline along with physical
vigor.
• Using your brain as you age greatly decreases the
risk for memory loss.

9. Changes At Midlife For Women
Perimenopause
Begins 4 to10 years before last period
Hormone shifts begin causing night sweats and
hot flashes
 FSH and LH increase; estrogen decreases
Menopause
Complete cessation of menstrual periods for 12
consecutive months
Average age for menopause is 51.5

10. Menopause Has Some Health Effects
Decreased estrogen causes:
Dryness of skin and mouth
Increased effect of androgens
Increased risk of Urinary Tract Infections
Increased risk of other health conditions
Obesity
Metabolic syndrome
Heart disease
Stroke
Breast cancer

11. Hormone Therapy During Menopause
Recommended for short-term symptom relief
Estrogen
Only
Minimize hot flashes and night
sweats
Protect from heart disease and
osteoporosis
Combination
Therapy
Increases breast cancer, heart
disease, breast cancer and stroke

12. Men Experience Changes At Midlife Too
Decreased
Testosterone
By 30-40% between ages 48-70
Effects:
 Decreased muscle
 Increased fat
 Loss of bone density
 Lowered fertility and virility
 Low energy
Prostate
Change
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
 May affect urine flow

13. Sexuality and Aging
Better health translates into better sex life
Men
Sexually active men live longer
Need more time for erection or
orgasm
Women
Those who enjoyed sexual activity
lived longer
Produce less vaginal lubricant

14. Summary of Effects Of Aging On The Body

15. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Defined
Noticeable and measurable decline
in cognitive abilities, including
memory and thinking skills.
Coping
Strategies
 Reduce CV risk factors
 Participate in mentally stimulating
and socially engaging activities.
 Exercise regularly to improve
blood flow to the brain.

16. Alzheimer’s Disease Is a Form of Dementia
Dementia Loss of previous mental capability
Alzheimer’s
Progressive deterioration of brain
Disease
cells and mental capacity
Early Signs
 Insomnia
 Irritability
 Increased sensitivity to alcohol
 Decreased energy
 Decreased frustration tolerance

17. Alzheimer’s Disease Is a Form of Dementia
Still not sufficient evidence to prove that any
preventative strategy can prevent Alzheimer’s
May
Lower
Risk
Regular exercise
Have a purpose in life
Weight management
Healthful diet
Cholesterol-lowering drugs
Treatment No known treatment

18. Osteoporosis Is a Chronic Disease
Losses in bone density become so severe
that a bone will break with slight trauma or
injury
Prevention
•Eat enough calcium or take a supplement
•Drink alcohol moderately
•Don’t smoke
•Let the sunshine in
•Exercise regularly

19. The Aging Pill: Physical Activity
Older people receive additional benefits from
exercise
· Greater ability to live independently
· Reduced risk of falling and bone fractures
· Lower risk of dying from heart disease
· Lower risk of developing high blood
pressure, colon cancer and diabetes
· Fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression
· Improvements in mood and well-being

20. Advance Directives
These documents are important because, without clear
indications of a person’s preferences, hospitals and other
institutions often make decisions on an individual’s behalf.
Health-
Gives someone else power to make
Care Proxy
decisions on your behalf
Living Will
Indicate whether you want or don’t want
all medical treatment and technology
used to prolong life
www.caringinfo.org

21. Advance Directives
Holographic
Will
A handwritten (not typed) statement
that some states will recognize
DNR
Advance directive component that
specifies you do not want to be
resuscitated if heart stops
Five
Wishes
Which person they want to make health-care decisions for
them when they are no longer able to do so.
Which kinds of medical treatments they do or don’t want
How comfortable they want to be made
How they want people to treat them
What they want loved ones to know

22. The Gift of Life
• If you’re at least 18 years old, you can fill out a
donor card, agreeing to designate, in the event
of your death, any organs or tissues needed for
transplantation

23. Categories Of Death
Death Moment heart stops
Functional
Death End of all vital functions
Cellular
Death
Gradual death of body cells after
heart stops
Brain
Death
Absence of electrical activity on
EEG and lack of reflexes
Spiritual
Death Moment when soul leaves body

24. Learning about Death

25. Kubler-Ross’ Emotional Response To Dying
Several stages may occur at the same time
and some may happen out of sequence.

26. Other Death Topics
Care-giving
Typically daughter, wife or sister
may experience anxiety and
depression
Hospice Home-health program helps dying
Near-Death
Experience
Autoscopy—watching from above
as resuscitated
Transcendence—passing into
foreign region or dimension

27. Suicide Is Most Common In Those Above 65
‘Rational’ Suicide?
Person suffering without future positive outcome
ends their life
Perhaps as a result of undiagnosed depression
Physician-Assisted Suicide
Authorized in Oregon and Netherlands
Debate about physician’s responsibility

28. Funeral Arrangements
• A burial is typically the third most
expensive purchase of a lifetime, behind
the cost of a house and car.
• If the body is to be cremated, you must
comply with some additional formalities,
with which the funeral director can help
you.
• The tradition of a funeral may help
survivors come to terms with the death,
enabling them to mourn their loss and to
celebrate the dead person’s life.

29. Autopsies Examine Body After Death
Medicolegal
Cause of death
Gather information for evidence
Medical/
Educational
Increase knowledge
Determine more exact cause of
death

30. Grief’s Effects On Health Are Numerous
· Changes in respiratory, hormonal and
central nervous system
· Mood swings
· Lose appetite, feel physically sick
· Sleep poorly
· Increased rates of depression, suicide,
serious mental illness and premature death

31. How to Cope with Grief