ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines effects physiological ageing can have on major body systems before focusing on wider social and attitudinal issues. Ageing almost inevitably brings decline in most physiological functions, although rates of decline vary between systems and individuals. V. Aggarwal suggests older people have similar intensive care unit outcomes to younger patients. Ageism, insidious throughout society, can easily, and insidiously, influence care; reflecting on and evaluating nursing care help identify areas for development. Age is not a disease, and diseases suffered by older people are not unique to their cohorts. Older people are more frequently malnourished than younger people owing to factors such as poverty, poor mobility, maldentition, reduced gut motility, digestive problems, lack of facilities or chronic bowel dysfunction. Many older people were born before the National Health Service existed, when society and social values were very different; doctors were presumed to always know best. Friends/family may treat the older person as a burden.
