Psychology. 5: Implications of the ageing process for nursing practice

Many people are living longer and, as a consequence, the UK is populated by increasing numbers of elderly people. This trend towards an increase in longevity has been matched with an increase in morbidity, despite contemporary professional and lay interest in the adoption of healthier lifestyles. Hence, expertise in elderly care is likely to continue to be important for many health-care professionals. This article considers aspects of the ageing process and draws attention to the psychological interpretations of personality and life span, social isolation, intelligence and memory related to elderly people. The main conclusions drawn are that, although becoming older can be associated with health-care problems, the process of ageing is individually experienced and it is inappropriate to assume that all elderly people share common needs. A number of implications for nursing practice are highlighted and recommendations to enhance care are made.