Common Age-Related Health Issues & Spiritual Care
Common Age-Related Health Problems
Problems in Women
Dyspareunia: Painful intercourse can be caused by vaginal dryness, tumors, or infections. Vaginal infections are common. Uterine prolapse can also occur. Tumors of the cervix, uterus, and ovaries are more prevalent in old age.
Treatment options to delay and diminish age-related changes:
- Hormone therapy during menopause.
- Topical estrogen (ovules).
- Vaginal lubricants.
Problems in Men
Impotence: It is crucial to diagnose whether erectile dysfunction is organic or psychogenic. Pharmacological treatment can improve libido or just achieve an erection.
Other treatment options:
- Prostheses: Produce an erection by mechanically swelling the corpora cavernosa.
- Rings: Prevent blood leakage from the corpora cavernosa.
- Vascular surgery: Improves vasocongestion.
Values and Beliefs
The individual is a spiritual person, even when disoriented or cognitively affected. The work of the nurse should not alter moral and spiritual values. Religion influences attitudes, family relationships, children’s education, and other functional areas.
Spiritual Distress
Spiritual distress is a situation where a person suffers an impairment of the vital principle that saturates their entire being, transcending biological and psychosocial nature.
Situations that put cultural or religious ties at risk:
- Near-death experiences (own or family).
- Serious illness.
- Loss of function/disability.
Manifestations of Spiritual Distress:
- Concern about the meaning of life/death, suffering, and its moral implications.
- Anger toward God or religious representatives.
- Verbalization of internal conflicts.
- Inability to perform spiritual rituals.
- Presence of dreams related to the subject.
Outcome Criteria:
- Continue spiritual practices that do not undermine health.
- Describe the reduction of feelings of guilt.
- Expressing religious and spiritual satisfaction.
Nursing Activities:
- Address the patient’s religious demands in case of illness.
- Detect and respect the individual’s spiritual needs.
- Convey a non-judgmental attitude.
- Silence and tact may be useful to convey support.
Loss and Grief
In many cultures, the death of a spouse is considered the most stressful life event. The longer the relationship, the greater the impact of the loss. Men tend to adapt to widowhood worse than women. The risk of death within the first six months of widowhood is higher among men.
Widowhood
Among the elderly, there are more widows. Women, in general, lead more independent lives after becoming widowed. Women are also more reluctant to remarry.
Anxiety about Death
Death anxiety is a situation where a person expresses, verbally or nonverbally, feelings of apprehension, worry, or fear related to death or agony.
Causes:
- The feeling of closeness to death.
- Ignorance of possible triggers.
- Difficulty in executing last wishes.
- Concern for loved ones left behind.
Manifestations:
- Concern about the impact of one’s death on others.
- Concern about the dying process.
- Denial of the imminence of death.
Outcome Criteria:
- Express reduced anxiety about death.
- Identify the source of their feelings.
- Plan how to use personal, family, and social resources.
Nursing Care:
- Create an environment that allows the patient to express feelings, with an open and unbiased attitude.
- Do not minimize the situation or try to comfort with slogans.
- Be open to talking about death.
- Advise on specific issues related to death.
- Accompany in mourning.
- Help recognize and face ambivalent feelings.
- Provide privacy and access to religious or spiritual support if the elderly person is hospitalized.
- Stimulate memories of positive achievements and moments in life.
- Facilitate contact with support groups working on death-related issues.
- Help identify unresolved situations and determine the best way to solve them.
- Train in techniques to stop the progression of anxiety (relaxation techniques, thought-stopping, etc.).
- Help and guide the family.