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Age specific

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The document discusses age-specific considerations in healthcare for 7 age groups: neonates, toddlers, preschoolers, school age children, adolescents, young adults, middle adults, and older adults. Key points include that neonates are small and vulnerable, toddlers are dependent and stressed without caregivers, preschoolers are developing independence but still fearful, and school age children may not voice needs but want participation. Adolescents experience physical and psychological changes, while young and middle adults focus on careers and families. Older adults have increased health risks and slowed reflexes. Understanding differences across age groups is important for quality care.

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Age Specific
Introduction  Regardless of one’s role in the healthcare setting, understanding age-specific issues is essential to providing quality patient care and ensuring patient satisfaction. The age groups are: Neonates Adolescents Toddlers Young Adults Preschoolers Middle Adults School age Older Adults
The Neonate  Neonates are 1/3 the length, 1/9th the BSA, and 1/21st the weight of an adult  Difficulty breathing is one of the most common complications and emergencies associated with this population  They experience the world through their senses o see, hear, smell, taste, touch  They respond well to o Rocking, cuddling, cooing, smiling  Care must also be given to parents or caregivers because they are often stressed when a child is in the hospital or ill.
Toddlers (1-3 years)  Become upset and stressed if separated from their primary caregiver  Difficult to understand because of developing communication skills  Dependent o Beginning to develop sense of self
Preschoolers (3-6 year)  Begin to develop more independence and improved communication skills  Fearful of disfigurement and pain  Understand simple explanations, but take things literally  Primary caregiver should be with them as much as possible  Need plenty of opportunities to play
School age (6-12 years)  May not voice their needs or complain of pain  May fear repercussions from complaints  Becoming increasingly independent and responsible for their own care and actions  Explain things clearly and thoroughly  Allow them to participate is decision-making  Parental involvement, presence important  Also contact with friends  Greater sense of self; focuses on “fitting in
Adolescence (12-20 years)  Period of transition from childhood to adulthood  Many physical as well as psychological changes  Physically, looks and responds like an adult  Psychologically, behaves like children  Behavior fluctuates from dependence to independence, idealism to realism, confidence to uncertainty  Important to respect the need for privacy and involve in planning and decision-making
Young adults (21-45 years)  A time when individuals are generally basically healthy  Trying to establish relationships and careers, start families, may be caring for aging parents  May be shopping for healthcare services  Concerned with cost and employment issues  May need social service referral to help balance family responsibilities during hospitalization/recovery
Middle adults (45-65 years)  More established-financially, personally  Time when many common health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancers begin to occur  Physiological and psychological conditions more accurately determined by how the person acts and feels than by his or her age  Encourage regular checkups and preventive exams; monitor health risks; update immunizations
Older adults (65+ years)  Age more appropriately defined not by chronology, but by function  More prone to developing health problems  Reflexes are slowed, sensations diminished  Care should reflect respect for physical, psychological changes  Slow speech down and speak clearly  Sense of smell/taste diminished - honor special meal requests whenever possible

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Age specific

  • 2. Introduction  Regardless of one’s role in the healthcare setting, understanding age-specific issues is essential to providing quality patient care and ensuring patient satisfaction. The age groups are: Neonates Adolescents Toddlers Young Adults Preschoolers Middle Adults School age Older Adults
  • 3. The Neonate  Neonates are 1/3 the length, 1/9th the BSA, and 1/21st the weight of an adult  Difficulty breathing is one of the most common complications and emergencies associated with this population  They experience the world through their senses o see, hear, smell, taste, touch  They respond well to o Rocking, cuddling, cooing, smiling  Care must also be given to parents or caregivers because they are often stressed when a child is in the hospital or ill.
  • 4. Toddlers (1-3 years)  Become upset and stressed if separated from their primary caregiver  Difficult to understand because of developing communication skills  Dependent o Beginning to develop sense of self
  • 5. Preschoolers (3-6 year)  Begin to develop more independence and improved communication skills  Fearful of disfigurement and pain  Understand simple explanations, but take things literally  Primary caregiver should be with them as much as possible  Need plenty of opportunities to play
  • 6. School age (6-12 years)  May not voice their needs or complain of pain  May fear repercussions from complaints  Becoming increasingly independent and responsible for their own care and actions  Explain things clearly and thoroughly  Allow them to participate is decision-making  Parental involvement, presence important  Also contact with friends  Greater sense of self; focuses on “fitting in
  • 7. Adolescence (12-20 years)  Period of transition from childhood to adulthood  Many physical as well as psychological changes  Physically, looks and responds like an adult  Psychologically, behaves like children  Behavior fluctuates from dependence to independence, idealism to realism, confidence to uncertainty  Important to respect the need for privacy and involve in planning and decision-making
  • 8. Young adults (21-45 years)  A time when individuals are generally basically healthy  Trying to establish relationships and careers, start families, may be caring for aging parents  May be shopping for healthcare services  Concerned with cost and employment issues  May need social service referral to help balance family responsibilities during hospitalization/recovery
  • 9. Middle adults (45-65 years)  More established-financially, personally  Time when many common health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancers begin to occur  Physiological and psychological conditions more accurately determined by how the person acts and feels than by his or her age  Encourage regular checkups and preventive exams; monitor health risks; update immunizations
  • 10. Older adults (65+ years)  Age more appropriately defined not by chronology, but by function  More prone to developing health problems  Reflexes are slowed, sensations diminished  Care should reflect respect for physical, psychological changes  Slow speech down and speak clearly  Sense of smell/taste diminished - honor special meal requests whenever possible