Concepts Of Altered Health In Older Adults

Case Study (Concepts of Altered Health in Older Adults) Name Institution PhysiologicalFactors That Would Naturally Increase Joseph’s Risk of Falling While Strolling Outdoors Older people like Joseph P. are susceptible to suffering from a condition known as falling despite the fact that they are seemingly in good health. Several types of research and studies have shown that close to 30% of people aged 65 years and above; and 50% of the people who are 85 years of age have fallen at least once in their lives. Vanhees et al (2012) opine that falling is highly prevalent and serious medical condition among the elderly persons living in the society, and it is a condition that has been under-diagnosed in most of the healthcare facilities. In the United States, for instance, it is one of the leading reasons for sudden deaths and the emergency department visitsfor persons aged 65 years and above. Whitney, Close, Jackson & Lord (2012) pointed out that there are some physiological factors that normally cause or increase falling among the elderly persons. Physiological Factors that Would Increase the Risk of Falling in Joseph Even though Joseph P. who is an eighty-two year old, in good health and is able to take long walks more often, some physiological factors would expose him to dangers of falling while walking. Some physiological factors associated to falling include, reduction in proprioception in joint, reduction of flexes especially on the right, increase of postural sway, alteration of gait, reduction in the mobility and flexibility of joint impaired function of the vestibulocochlear, reduction of muscle strength, visual impairment, and general slow reaction time and movement among this group of individuals in the society. However, it is also important to note that the physiological factors that are can be put into two groups: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic Physiological Factors include age, previous history of falls, and gender. Other these other intrinsic factors consist of medical conditions and other numerous comorbid diseases. Some of these medical conditions that might expose Joseph to the risk of falls include hypertension referred to as orthostatic caused by the reduction in the blood pressure; musculoskeletal illness, poor sight. Extrinsic physiological risk factors for falling consist of anything in the environment that may cause loss of balance, tripping, and/or slipping (Whitney, Close, Jackson & Lord, 2012). Musculoskeletal One of the physiological factors that is likely to cause falling in an elderly person like Joseph is a condition known as musculoskeletal. According to Grossman et al (2014), musculoskeletal conditions are the pains that are experienced in a person’s musculoskeletal system, which consist of muscles, ligaments, nerves, tendons, joints, and other structures in the body that supports places such as back, neck, and limbs. More often than not, the musculoskeletal disorders will lead to decrease in the size and strength of muscles, which is caused by loss of fibers in muscles as well as decline in size of the already existing fibers. This condition will also lead to the impairment of the nervous system that will result inthe slow movement. There will also be changes in posture and gait that is...