Sarcopenia Essay

Individual factors were found to be a predictor of functional limitation and frailty in older adults. Several studies showed that personal characteristics, such as ethnicity, female gender and age (Espinoza & Hazuda, 2015), gene (Interleukin-18 gene) (Mekli, Marshall, Nazroo, Vanhoutte, & Pendleton, 2015), education and health status, demonstrated an association with frailty (Chang et al., 2015; Chen et al., 2014; Fried et al., 2001; Mitnitski et al., 2015; Tocchi, 2015). Furthermore, it is clear that comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus (DM), stroke, hip fracture, history of coronary heart disease (CHD) and arthritis significantly increase the risk of frailty (Ambrose, Cruz, & Paul, 2015; Zaslavsky et al., 2013).

In the later stages, the individual may become emotionally and physically frail and their reliance on care will increase to the point where they will no longer be able to care for themselves.

More people are living much longer lives than in years past. People are very surprised to be living much longer lives than they thought they would. Health care has played a large part in patient longevity. There are many normal changes that come along with aging, however, because people are living longer these normal changes can become chronic problems. Common aging problems that can make the older adult a vulnerable population are reviewed in Gerontological Nursing (Tabloski, 2014) and can include nutritional needs, medication management, sleep changes, oral or mouth care, renal problems and musculoskeletal concerns. According to A Profile of Older Americans: 2013 (http://www.hhs.gov), there are a large amount

4. Shega, J. W., Dale, W., Andrew, M., Paice, J., Rockwood, K., & Weiner, D. K. (2012). Persistent Pain and Frailty: A Case for Homeostenosis. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society, 60(1), 113-117. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03769.x

This article addresses an important issue on how to develop frailty assessment tools in older adults with musculoskeletal disorders. Why is this topic more essential? Frailty has found in various fields of chronic diseases not only in musculoskeletal disorders. I am interested in frailty; however, it is tricky to determine who present frail in older adults having physical function limitation. Therefore, the different among physical function limitation, immobility, and frailty are still hard to justification. For example, older adults having secondary or third osteoarthritis always presents with severe pain at the knee joint. This pain also interferes his/her physical function. The more joints movement, the greater pain emerge. Reducing severe

Much of this timing is based on genetics, lifestyle, and access to health care. In general, people have learned stereotypes regarding the elderly. Some of these stereotypes are accurate, but they do not pertain to all the elderly population. Health care providers have come to expect changes in the elderly. However, it is important not to make assumptions, and to use assessment tools to identify changes the elderly may have encountered. Some of the areas the clinician may expect to find changes include: mobility, ambulation, nutritional intake, continence, and skin changes (Tabloski, 2014). The result of these changes includes a multitude of challenges for the elderly. It is important for the clinician to obtain an accurate functional and psychological assessment of the geriatric patient prior to deciding a plan of

Allen, J.D., Robbins, J.L., VanBruggen, M.D., Credeur, D.P., Johannsen, N.M., Earnest, C.P.,…Welsch, M.A. (2013). Unlocking the barriers to improved functional capacity in the elderly: rationale and design for the “fit for life trial”. Contemporary Clinical Trials. 36(1), 266-275.

The elderly population is growing with 35 million people who are age 65 years or older and half are between the ages of 65 to 74 and the other half are over the age of 75. The population age 85 years or older are the fastest growing population (Dubow, 2017). In 1991 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) reported that 8 out of 10 people over the age of 60 had one or more chronic diseases or impairments which included arthritis, hypertension, hearing impairment, heart disease, cataracts, deformity or orthopedic impairment, chronic sinusitis,

Bill presenting a physical, social and emotional weakness is obviously part of the symptoms to frailty due to his old age. The recognition of Bill to become frail in the nearest future will prevent adverse outcomes with multidisciplinary treatments. This will enable possible preventive intervention for the professionals. Frailty is considered to contribute to increased health risks which could result in falls, reduced mobility, less independence, and minimal physical activity (Fred et al., 2001). Considering the population prevalence and several possible outcomes, it is estimated that 3-5% of death in older adults could be delayed if frailty is prevented. Frailty assessment provides clinically important information on the survival of older adults (Shamilyan, 2013). An assessment process will need to recognise Bill’s physical and mental frailty. This will help to organise the care that Bill requires in terms of holistic, nutrition and medication management. These assessments will consider Bill’s physical, psychological, social,

When a group of retailers and wholesalers of a particular product decided to all raise prices together and they are accused of overpricing customers. Which federal law allowed the United States to investigate this anti- competitive method ?

There are physiological changes that occur within all systems of the elderly. These changes provide challenges to providing quality care. The following is an example from each of the systems. The integumentary system has a decrease in subcutaneous fat, this increases the potential for decubitus ulcers. The musculoskeletal system has a decrease in bone density, which can contribute to falls. Diminished deep sleep develops due to changes in the neurologic system. This may result in weight fluctuations resulting from changes in appetite. The cardiovascular system causes a decrease in arterial compliance, resulting in increased risk of tachyarrhythmias. The Immune system has a decrease in immune response, resulting in the potential for delayed or incomplete healing. The respiratory system suffers from decreased

Frailty develops when an older adult experiences a stressor and is unable to achieve a normal homeostasis accompanied by a decrease in several physiologic systems over a period of time. With a decrease in different physiologic systems, homeostatic reserves become depleted, resulting in a minor stressor causing a change in health status that is disproportionate to the stressor. For example,

As people grow older, they develop dental problems which lead to nutritional intake issues. Cognitive function declines affecting memory, decision making, conversing, and problem solving. In addition, falls can occur with mental status disturbances. Lack of social interaction, depression, and anxiety also crop up in the elderly. Sleep patterns are altered by restless legs, snoring, and disrupted breathing sequences. At times, pain can be constant from arthritis, osteoarthritis, or other medical issues (Tabloski, 2014).

As individuals age changes occur physiologically that are part of normal aging. These changes occur in all organ systems and can impact an individual’s quality of life. The changes related to aging can be attributed to an individual’s genetic make up, lifestyle, physical activity, and dietary lifestyle. Being able to differentiate between normal changes in aging against disease process is important because it can help clinicians develop a plan of care (Boltz, Capezuti, Fulmer, & Zwicker, 2012). Creating an accurate plan of care for older adults will greatly impact their quality of life.

Fried’s Frailty Index is the original tool which was modified for specific purposes. Fried’s Frailty Index have five domains for measuring frailty: shrinking, exhaustion, slowness, weakness, and physical activity. Scores ranged from 0- 5. The score 0 is robust (not frail), score 1-2 is pre-frail, and the score of 3 or greater is frailty (Kistler et al., 2015; Kua et al.,