Geriatric Assessment Project

Geriatric Assessment Project

Introduction

Women are living longer, and there is considerable overall increase in the aged population. The life expectancy rate for women has increased to an average of 79.8 years (Phibbs, 2007). The overall increase in diabetes may be caused by the aging population and increasing numbers of obese or physically inactive individuals. Because women tend to live longer than men, clinicians expect that as the population ages the prevalence of the disease among older women will soon be higher than it is among men. More than 60 percent of diabetes cases can be prevented if everyone maintained a healthy body mass index (BMI). Until recently, type 2 diabetes was found only among the adult population, but with rising rates of obesity, the disease also is being diagnosed in children. Higher rates of type 2 diabetes are found in individuals with a family history of the condition and in particular ethnic communities for instance Asians, Africans, and Hispanics.

Discussion

In senior women, the leading cause of mortality continues to be chronic disease. Heart disease, malignant neo-plasms, chronic lower respiratory diseases, cerebrovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease and diabetes are major reasons of death. For women over the age of 85, influenza and pneumonia are frequent causes of death because they complicate other chronic diseases. Physical and mental well-being is often complicated by grief and loss as many senior women experience the death of their partner (Alexander, LaRosa, Bader & Garfield, 2007). Depression is also considered an important health issue for these women and might result from chronic disease, medication interactions, loneliness or pain. Senior women are more likely to commit suicide than males of similar age. Many women experience cognitive decline, either as the patient or as the caregiver. As women age, they injure more easily and heal more slowly.

The symptoms of diabetes are similar in all forms of the disease, but they are often more severe, and occur more rapidly, among individuals with type 1 diabetes. These include the following:

Increase in frequency and changes in urination, called polyuria thirst or polydipsia

Increased hunger

Increased fatigue

Increased body weight, or rapid weight loss in type 1

Vision changes

Infections, such as thrush and itchiness around the genitals

Increased risk of damage to blood vessels, kidneys, eyes, nerves, and the heart

Damage to blood vessels, which can result in foot ulcers and eventual limb amputation

Kidney disease and failure occur at increased rates among individuals with diabetes. Women who have lived with ...