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Designing for the Life Span Segment 4

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Slide 6 of 78

Slide 6 Content

In sustaining health, the aging face the greatest challenges to their ability to maintain economic independence. Research in the area of retirement shows little difficulty until the onset of serious health care problems. Many older Americans face almost total loss of assets and health diminishes. Some of the most significant issues are...

• People over the age of 80 average two chronic pathological conditions- usually arthritis or, for women, osteoporosis.
• 50% of all acute care patients (hospital) are over the age of 65.
• As individuals progress through the lifespan to old age the possibility of incurring disability, chronic condition and disease increases.
• Recent research has revealed a process called "carmelization" having a significant impact on the aging. As individuals age, the way the body intakes and disposes of nutrients - and the way humans process foods before that are eaten- affects the body over time by depositing fats in tissue and aging cellular material.

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As pointed out in Segment 002, after 1950, health care moved from concern about childhood diseases to the diseases, pathological conditions, chronic conditions and psychological changes related to aging. Health care in the 21st century is about aging. Health is directly related to independence for older adults. Of importance in this respect, is that disability is not related to dependency. As stated in the slide, most people over 65 report at least one chronic condition. People over 80 average two chronic conditions. The most frequently occurring conditions reported were: arthritis, hypertension, hearing impairments, heart disease, cataracts, orthopedic impairments, sinusitis, and diabetes. 50% of all acute care patients are over 65.

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