Nursing Management of the Elderly A) Assessment of the Elderly 1. Aging Process ✅ Definition: ✅ Common Age-Related Changes: System Age-Related Changes Cardiovascular ↓ Heart rate, ↑ BP, Atherosclerosis Respiratory ↓ Lung elasticity, ↓ Oxygen exchange Musculoskeletal ↓ Bone density (Osteoporosis), ↓ Muscle mass Neurological ↓ Reflexes, ↓ Memory (Mild cognitive impairment) Renal ↓ Kidney function, ↓ Urine concentration Gastrointestinal ↓ Saliva production, Slow digestion Skin Thinning, Wrinkling, ↓ Elasticity