Gerontological Nursing:
Aging Theories, Care &
Common Changes | Study
Guide & Exam Review
|Guaranteed success|
, Tooth loss, drastic personality Are not 'just normal aging.'
change, acute confusion, and major
functional decline
Presbyopia Affects near vision.
Presbycusis Affects hearing, with high frequencies lost first.
Sarcopenia Age-related loss of muscle mass, strength, and
function.
Immunosenescence Causes weaker immune/inflammatory responses
and atypical infection findings.
Pneumonia in older adults May appear as confusion, restlessness, fatigue,
tachypnea, or a slight cough rather than high fever.
Orthostatic hypotension Systolic BP drop of at least 20 mm Hg after rising;
major fall/syncope risk.
CHF in older adults May present with confusion, insomnia, agitation,
anorexia, weakness, weight gain, edema, or
dyspnea.
Red, frothy sputum Suggests pulmonary edema/left-sided heart failure.
Primary prevention Prevents disease.
Aging Theories, Care &
Common Changes | Study
Guide & Exam Review
|Guaranteed success|
, Tooth loss, drastic personality Are not 'just normal aging.'
change, acute confusion, and major
functional decline
Presbyopia Affects near vision.
Presbycusis Affects hearing, with high frequencies lost first.
Sarcopenia Age-related loss of muscle mass, strength, and
function.
Immunosenescence Causes weaker immune/inflammatory responses
and atypical infection findings.
Pneumonia in older adults May appear as confusion, restlessness, fatigue,
tachypnea, or a slight cough rather than high fever.
Orthostatic hypotension Systolic BP drop of at least 20 mm Hg after rising;
major fall/syncope risk.
CHF in older adults May present with confusion, insomnia, agitation,
anorexia, weakness, weight gain, edema, or
dyspnea.
Red, frothy sputum Suggests pulmonary edema/left-sided heart failure.
Primary prevention Prevents disease.
