Exercise as a Boost for the Health Promotion of the Elderly
CHAPTER ONE
AIM OF THE STUDY
The aim of this research was to get an overall view of the elderly awareness and experiences about exercise in the multicultural background. The aim was also to find out the role of nurses in provision of exercise. This research was carried out to map the ways of implementing exercise for the aged population. The authors wanted to get more evidence that exercise promotes elderly health in various ways ranging from physical, psychological, cognitive, and sociological and obtain more positive influences of exercise on elderly people so that they really realize its importance as method of health promotion. It also includes the suitable ways and guidance that nurses can utilize to promote elderly health by implementing exercise in appropriate ways.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
AGED/ AGING
Aging is viewed to have been started during conception and continues throughout lifespan and the process ends with the death. Aging is categorized into stages, for example, birth to one year, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and elderly whereby elderly situation is categorized into three, i.e. elderly 65 to 74 years, older elderly 74 to 84 years and very old 85 years and above. Aging is defined to have lived or existed for long time between 65 years and death. (Taylor 2008, 2.)
The trend of becoming aged had been studies and concluded that, the number of the elderly has been projected to rise steadily in the world (Table 1). Africa, for instance, has the lowest rate of elderly population followed by Asia and Europe which will have the greatest rate by the year 2050. (Ferraro & Wilmoth 2006, 59.)
Physiological Changes Brought by Aging
Aging is a process of inherent change that has separate or joint effects on the individual identity. Aging brings about physiological, psychological and other kinds of changes to human body. It is important to note that although some of the changes brought by aging can’t be controlled but some can be controlled and control seems to be feasible in many of the body organs. Exercise can help us maintain this kind of control to some extent. For many individuals, aging becomes painful with each newly discovered joint ache or mobility restriction. It is possible, however, for the older adult to find ways to compensate for the debilitating losses related with age through active participation in various forms of exercise. (Whitbourne & Krauss 2000, 87.)
After adulthood, there is muscle mass loss as long as strength loss which brings about restricted daily activities among elderly. Even if these activities do not require strength or exertion such as read a book and turn the pages, button up the clothes, watch television and press the remote control button, they very often depend on muscular coordination. Once the elderly realize they are no long able to carry out these small items of activity due to the loss of muscular strength and coordination, individual’ s sense of competence and identity disappear which can result to negative psychological changes. The aging of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems has the greatest relevance to the component of physical identity relevant to mortality. Although early age-related changes in these systems may proceed without being noticed by the individual, when the threshold is crossed and age effects are observed, they can be extremely frightening. (Whitbourne & Krauss 2000, 87-100.)
Aging happens during the individual’s life span. It is not associated with diseases but with growth maturation and discovery. Most changes experienced are not necessarily harmful but it’s associated with hair turning grey and thinning out. The skin will lose its elasticity, body shape will change, and wrinkles will appear. Old people may have loss of muscle mass, reduced sight and slowing down function of normal body function. (Taylor & Johnson 2008, 18; 20.)
Psychological and Sociological Aging.
For an individual elderly to achieve successful aging, psychological resources namely efficacy and resilience must be utilized. The increasing use of preventive care, better medical management of mobility and changing lifestyles in older people may have beneficial effects on health and longevity. Psychological care plays useful part in coping with situations e.g. when facing with problems and how to overcome them. It also boost self-esteem, self confidence and self worthy. (Bowling 2011, 2.)
In Sociological aging, elders who have mental and physical activities of daily living throughout life tend to age in a healthier way. In addition further study done shows that people who age successfully carry forward positive health habits, preferences, lifestyles and relationships. A person is sociologically old when he is regarded and treated by his society. The problems of social adjustments of the role and the status accorded to them by the society, the social provisions of their continued prestige and security, and the opportunities afforded them to achieve their own ends by their own initiative. In every society, aging is accompanied by the changes in the active roles played by the aged functional categories of which they belong. There are two adjustments controlling individual in relation to its social roles, for example one is normally required by the social category in which the individual belongs and also resulting from shift of role from one social category to another which usually aggravates the problem of adjustment. (Jones & Rose 2005, 17.)
CHAPTER THREE
IMPLEMENTATION OF RESEARCH
Research Problem
The main aim of this study was to observe the experiences, awareness and implementation of exercise among elderly people in three different countries and find out what is the nurses’ role in provision of exercise and how nurses can promote exercise in the most possible ways so long as exercise brings a variety of benefits to elderly people. We are motivated to do this research in order to find out answers to the following research problems which are issues of our common concern.
- What are the elderly experiences about exercise? 1.2. How do the elderly implement exercise?
- How do the elderly experience the effects of exercise on their health?
- What is nurses´ role in promotion of exercise among elderly?
Research Method
This research was carried out in a quantitative way. The aim of quantitative research focuses in counting and classifying features and constructing statistical models and figures in order to explain what has been done and observed. Quantitative research usually starts with a theory, which in this context can be described as a broadly deductive approach and is largely concerned with the objective measurement and quantification of phenomena. (Cowman 2009, 67; 72.)
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
Background of the Participants
In this part, questions 1-3 which are as background enquiry questions are analyzed.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY
The result of this research shows that the life expectancy in Finland is longer than that of China and Kenya. Elderly in China, Finland and Kenya are aware of the importance of exercise since majority of they do certain amount of exercise regularly. The distribution of exercise is universal among the elderly of the three countries. Most of them recognize the positive changes brought by exercises. Exercise as an approach to boost elderly health is universal. Many Finnish exercise for a shorter time because they are very old compared to Kenya and China.
Age should not be a limiting factor of exercise since there are different forms of exercises as adopted by the elderly among which walking is the most popular form of exercise since it can be conducted any time and everywhere. Apart from it, stretching exercise, gardening and shopping are also preferred by elderly in these three countries. But there are various forms of exercise performed by elderly due to cultural differences, for example, Chinese elderly also play Taichi and Mahjong and Kenya elderly skip slope while Finnish elderly do baking and handcraft.
It also showed the active role played by nurses and family members in facilitating exercises to the elderly. Family is the main source where elderly get information about exercise in these three countries while nurses are the second important source they get information from. But there is still inadequacy of exercise guidance from nurses. So it is very important for nurses to play the role as a promoter of exercise since exercise is a boost to elderly health promotion.
In general, most elderly are satisfied with the exercise they do but there is still some space for improvement.
DISCUSSION
In Finland, elderly are mainly taken care of in elderly homes by nurses who instruct on exercise with information and implementation while in Kenya, care is provided by relatives with awareness of importance on exercise as a way of promoting elderly well-being and they wish to spend time together in the house with the patients who are bed ridden or even with minor ailment. In China, the majority of elderly are nursed in their own homes by relatives who are not able to give proper and professional instructions on exercise. The family is the main place of elderly activity and the main partner of the elderly are family members. This will bring a wide range of effects on the quality of life of old people. Therefore, the qualities of family life activities directly affect the quality of life of the elderly.
Development by continuous education of professionals on exercise on elderly will update them with current issues. Learning in this case is ongoing responsibility to every care giver. It’s evidenced by nurses aiming to move from competence to experts. They employ the expertise to their profession which is reflected in improved well-being of their clients.
Generally key area to be discussed in this topic is that can exercise reduce the incidence of falls in the elderly. And if so, what form of exercise is most effective. It has been noted with concern of the increasing number of falls in many facilities. Exercise was indicated to have potential to reduce falls in elderly. From previous experience, ward managers are getting concerned with the ways of implementing exercise.
Secondly, less attention is paid on exercise despite provision of knowledge from nurses and medical field. Still the discussion remains why its attention is so low as the living standard improves. The use of electronics, decreases physical activities, a large shift of less demanding work, increased technology which is evidenced by more obesity reported, and chronic diseases, diabetes.
Also from the authors’ previous experiences from Kenya, China and Finland, it has been shown that medical staff is reluctant to provide exercise apart form their usual routines of medication and nutrition consideration. They tend to value more of these than exercise. Some claimed that work load is too much and shortage of nurses has been contributing factor.
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