Nursing Theory of Aging

Nursing Theory of Aging 

• Miller (2004) has developed the functional consequences theory.
• Older adults experiences functional consequences because of age related changes and additional risk factors.
• Without interventions, many functional consequences are negative; with them, however functional consequences can be positive.
• The role of regent logic nurse is to identify the factor that causes negative functional consequences and to initiate  interventions that will result in positive ones.
• Normal age related changes and factors may negatively interfere with patients activity and quality of life.
• The nurse must differentiate between normal age related changes that can be reversed and risk factors that can be modified.

Importance to Nurses 
1. Each theory provides framework and insight into the differences among elderly patients.
2. Nurses play a significant role in helping aging person experience health fulfillment and sense of well being.
3. Nurses attitude towards aging can have an enormous impact on patients.
4  It makes the nurse aware whether the changes are related to aging or disease condition.
5. It helps to provide specific care keeping in mind about the various changes in their biological and psychological aspect.
6. It helps to differentiate normal aging from the abnormal one.
7. It can be tested, changed or used to guide research or to provide base for evaluation.
8. It guides the nurses in helping the old people adapt to various changes.
9. It helps the older people on re-balancing the relationship.

Natural changes during older adulthood 

Ageing is a natural process. It should be regarded as a normal inevitable biological changes which are incident to old age is gerontology. Care of aged is called geriatrics.

Old people have limited regenerative capabilities and are more prone to disease, syndromes, and sickness than other age groups. There is often a common physical decline, and people become less active. Old age can reason, along with other things:

• Hair loss
• Changes of hair color to gray or white 
• Wrinkles and liver spots on the skin.
• Agility and slower reaction times 
• Reduced ability to clear thinking 
• Lessened hearing 
• Diminished eyesight 
• Difficulty recalling memories 
• Lessening or termination of sex, sometimes because of physical symptoms such as erectile dysfunction in men, but often simply a decline in libido.
• Greater weakness to bone disease such as osteoarthritis 

Some myths and facts related to aging are given below:

Myths:
1. Ageing is the time of tranquility and that ageing is synonymous with senility.
2 Old age is time of reduced activity.
3. Older person are thought to be resistant to change.
4. Ageing is a uniform process that progresses at the same rate and with the same results for all.

Facts:
1. Many older people retain their mental faculties well beyond the ninth decade of life.
2. Societal factors may limit opportunities for older adults to demonstrate their productivity but many older adults remain productive throughout life.
3. resistant to changes tends to be lifelong characteristics, not one developed with advancing age.
4. Ageing affects each individual differently and the outcomes of ageing may be different from one individual to another.


Nursing care of older adults is challenging and they should be cared for according to their level of understanding because all older adults are not the same. For example, some may be physically active, intelligent and productive members of the community whereas others may not be aware of these differences.