Aspects of aging that affect our…

HealthSocial Emotional Wel lbeingReproductive Health and Sexual i ty

“Our we as old as we look or as old as we feel”

OUR LATER YEARSCHAPTER

1. How can we make the adaption needed to maximize good health and maintain Independence and Quality of Life?

2. How much medical intervention are we comfortable with in our later years? (60-80 yrs.)

Breast ExamsVaginal ExamsPreventative Health

3. How does sex and sexual pleasures fit into our lives in our later years?

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT???

Aging has become feminized

Women live longer Fitness becomes a problem as we

age65 and older

12% live in poverty

Our bodies in contextMost cultures value and honor

older people

*In the United States they idealize the young and discriminate against older adults.

THE NEW OLD AGE

Advertisements play on and exaggerate a women’s fear and anxieties about the natural changes in their body as they age

Pharmaceutical – Hormone replacement & cologin

Plastic Surgery – Botox & Laser Treatment

Cosmetics – Oil of Olay & Clinique

“Self acceptance as we age can be hard won but…invaluable” pg 550

ADVERTISEMENTS

Maintaining Connections

Set new goals as relationships changeEvaluate or assess our love and

relationshipsChange in gestational hierarchy in

familyNo matter how we defi ne relationships, social connections have positive eff ect on ones health Dealing with Loss

During our older years we experience the death of more friends and loved ones

RELATIONSHIPS

65 and older – 42% of women are widowed

65 and older – 14% of men are widowed

65 and older – 45% of women live alone

65 and older – 19% of men live alone

GOING AT IT ALONE

We all age diff erently

some women have developed disabilities from an early age

More women develop disabilities in midlife or older

AGING AND HEALTH

The key word is prevention

Prevention is doing what we can to take care of ourselves so as to avoid or ease the chronic conditions associated with later life

Healthy habits include no nicotine and excessive alcohol and as much exercise and nutritious eating as possible.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES: TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES

There are many factors beyond our controlsuch as…

Occupational Health HazardHigh Blood PressureDiabetesEthnicity

“Strive to make changes that are within out power”

PREVENTIVE MEASURES: TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES CONTINUED

Start and or continue to exercise

Engage your mind

Get to bed – you need sleep just like young adults

Schedule checkups which can now be paid for by the 2010 health care reform act

BASIC PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

Hearth DiseaseOsteoporosisDiabetesArthritisForms of CancerUrinary incontinence… everyone’s favorite topic

You can visit www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease for more information about chronic diseases

COMMON CHRONIC DISEASES

By the age of 60 a women has undergone regular screenings for

Cervical Canceror

Breast CancerLongevity is a recent phenomenon in women

so…There is not a lot of data on screening for women over 85. It is important to maintain

Vaginal HealthMamograms – every year for women age 50-74Pap screenings – 65 and older should discuss with

their health care providerBone screenings should be done at 65 and every

2 years following

GUIDELINES FOR SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE

The Sex ContinuumOur society views older women as

“drugged up” and sexless.

Sexuality unlike, fertility, can continue throughout your life

Many women enjoy sex more in the middle and later stages of their lives due to appreciating their body and sexuality more fully

Adjustments, disruptions or feeling less sexual can also result from chronic or acute illness or surgery

SEXUALITY

2010 Harvard Medical School Spec ia l Heal th Report Sexual i ty in Mid l i fe and Beyond

Poss ib le Age Related Sexual Changes for Women:

Phys ica l Changes: Low estrogenDecreased blood fl ow to genitals Thinning of vaginal l iningMuscle tone

Desire – Decreased libido, fewer sexual thoughts

Arousal – Reduced vaginal lubricants, less blood and congestion

Orgasm – Delayed or absent

Resolution – body returns rapidly to a non- aroused state

“Only 22% of women discuss sex with a physician after 50”

PHYSICAL CHANGES THAT AFFECT SEXUALITY

Declining HealthBody ChangesChronic IllnessMedication

Health Benefits to Sexual ActivityExpand EnergyBurns Calories – Brain release endorphinsReduced StressSleep BetterDelay or minimize incontinence by working

pelvisDelay Pain – Orgasm can reduce pain

PRACTICAL APPROACH TO AGE RELATED SEXUAL CHANGES

Women experience a shift in levels of desire throughout their lives

Reasons for less sexual desire include:

Overwork and anxietyLoss of newnessAbuseGradual changes/accommodationsNot being attracted

LOSS OF DESIRE

Viagra and other erectile dysfunction medications exist for men

Navigating Health CareIn the twenty-fi rst century medical care there is a great shortage of doctors, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, dentists and other health care professionals trained in caring for older adults

PLEASURING OTHERS AND YOURSELF

Predictions in the near future…

2007 = 1 geriatrician for every 2,546 older adults2030 = 1 geriatrician for every 4,254 older adults

2007 = 1 geriatric psychiatrist for every 11,372 older adults2030 = 1 geriatric psychiatrist for every 20,195 older adults

THE INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE

Providers without adequate training may treat older women inaccurately

They may not fully treat chronic illnessMisdiagnosis or fail to manage

reversible conditionsOver proscribe medicationsPeople over the age of 65 take 34% of medicationsPrescriptions are based on a yearly

basis in the USThey are only 13% of the US population

WRONG DIAGNOSIS, WRONG TREATMENT

Be proactive … Plan Ahead

Look into retirementHealth CareLong-term CareHousingActivitiesYour Community Can Help

PLANNING AHEAD

Retirement and Social SecurityPlanning ahead is critical in dealing with gaps in your earning during employment years

Raising childrenTaking care of older parents

HousingAs you get older you may…

Move to a smaller home Get a roommateMoving to a retirement homeReceive elder services in your own house

PLANNING AHEAD CONTINUED

Household help and Long Term Care

Long term care services are very expensive

Community Living Assistance Services and Support Act (Class Act) 2010 Health Reform Law

Voluntary Long-Term Care insurance program for senior and disabled people to pay no medical services and support

Contribute for 5 years – A benefi t on average of $50 a day

MORE PLANNING AHEAD

Power of Attorney – A trusting person has the authority to act on your behalf in financial and legal matters if unable to take action yourself

Health Care Proxy Document – A person you trust authority to make medical testing and treatment decisions

Medical Advance Directive or Living Will – Describes the medical treatment one wishes to receive or refuse… and under what conditions

HEALTH AND LEGAL DECISION

Sometimes medical science, not the concern of a women’s life quality, shapes the advice we receive about death and dying

Talk to a health care provider about your wishes

You need to manage your own healthcare

Compassionate end-of-life care that addresses you emotional, spiritual and practical needs is essential, regardless of the type of treatment or care chosen

END OF LIFE CARE

66% of caregivers are women41% work full time13% work part timeThe economic value of caregivers unpaid contributions is estimated at $375 billionCare givers have high rates of

DepressionChronic DiseasesInfectionsExhaustion

This is compared to non-caregivers of the same age

CAREGIVER

Family Caregiver Alliance (caregive.org)Information services and advocacy for caregivers

National Alliance for Caregivers (caregiving.org)Non-profi t coalition of national organizations

focused as family caregiversRoselynn Carter Institute of Caregiving (roselynncarter.org)

Established local and state partnerships that build quality long-term and home based services Share the Care (sharethecare.org)

creative models in which neighborhoods help families

RESPITE AND RESOURCES

Women need to accept help without feeling deminished

Helpers need to provide choices when possible

Living Full: Building Community, Continuing Advocacy

“From the bottom of my heart: Life gets greater and more surprising after 40, 50, 60 and yes 70.” -Gloria Steinem-

One must have a sense of purpose and enthusiasm for life

ACCEPTING CARE WHEN WE NEED IT

You need fulfi llment during later years

Why do you need fulfi llment…Less time leftClarified prioritiesMore knowledge of what matters

Dr. Gene Cohen, geriatric psychiatrist was convinced older people have untapped wells of creativity and skills

“Chocolate for the aging brain”

ACCEPTING CARE WHEN WE NEED IT CONTINUED

Older women’s wisdom and skills are much needed by younger generations

We must work toward building a society that celebrates and supports the elderly

INTERGENERATIONAL LIVING

Older women need to build on the strength they have in numbers by creating and supporting programs that meet older women’s needs

Such as…Long-Term CareHealth CareWork-Family BalanceRetirement security

Everyone will age

Women need to continue to tell their stories of being mothers, sisters, daughters, caregivers, workers and push their local, state and national governments to provide services for their older years!

WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE CHANGE