M3: Discuss the effects on self-esteem and self-confidence of the physical changes associated with ageing.

M3: Discuss the effects on self-esteem and self-confidence of the physical changes associated with ageing.

In this task, I will discuss the physical changes related with ageing and how these changes affect my mothers self-esteem and self-confidence.

As my mother grows older, she is gradually experiencing physical changes which affects her life.

physical appearance:

Wrinkles are creases, folds or ridges in the skin. Most commonly, wrinkles appear as we get older. However, they may develop after our skin has been immersed in water for a long time. The first wrinkles to appear on our face tend to occur as a result of facial expressions. Sun damage, smoking, dehydration, some medications, as well as a number of other factors may also cause wrinkles to develop. 
Wrinkles are an inevitable part of the natural aging process. As we become older our skin gets thinner, drier and less elastic. Our skin’s ability to protect itself from damage is also reduced as we age. Eventually, wrinkles, creases and lines form on our skin. Apart from the factors mentioned above, a person’s genetic makeup also influences how wrinkly we become, and when and where wrinkles start appearing.

My mother is experiencing deep set wrinkles that are appearing all over her face. My mother is beginning to lose her self-esteem and has considered saving up to get some botox. My mother has suffered from depression all her life and this seems to be worsening her mood, because it has lowered her self-esteem she finds it difficult to be around people that aren’t friends or family.

My mother has also been losing teeth since she was 50,but as she has got older she seems to be losing them more frequently.

My mother has a lot of confidence by losing her teeth, she struggles to smile and laugh as much as before as her teeth are becoming more noticeable.

She finds it difficult to eat hard food as she is unable to as well as she has in the past, she finds it extremely embarrassing if we have dinner out as she think that people are staring at her which lowers her self-esteem. My mother believes that she has lost some of her integrity which could lead to a stronger onset of depression.

 Incontinence:

There are several types of incontinence:

Stress incontinence – this is the most common kind of urinary incontinence, especially among women who have given birth or have gone through the menopause. In this case stress refers to physical pressure, rather than mental stress. When the bladder and muscles involved in urinary control are placed under sudden extra pressure the person may urinate involuntarily.

The following actions may trigger stress incontinence:

• A sudden cough
• Sneezing
• Laughing
• Heavy lifting
• Exercise

The amount of urine that leaks out unwillingly depends on how full the bladder is and how affected the muscles are.

Urge incontinence (effort incontinence) -, also known as reflex incontinence. This is the second most common type of urinary incontinence. The bladder is either unstable or overactive. There is a sudden, involuntary contraction of the muscular wall of the bladder (detrusor muscles) that causes urinary urgency – an urge to urinate that cannot be stopped. There is an involuntary loss of urine for no apparent reason while suddenly feeling the need or urge to urinate. When the urge to urinate comes the person has a very short time before the urine is released regardless of what they try to do. The urge to urinate may be caused by:

• A sudden change in position
• The sound of running water (for some people)
• Sex (especially during orgasm)

People with urge incontinence tend to have to pass urine frequently; sometimes having to get up to go to the toilet during the night.

Bladder muscles can activate involuntarily because of damage to the nerves of the bladder, the nervous system, or to the muscles themselves.

Overflow incontinence – this type of urinary incontinence is more common in men with prostate gland problems, a damaged bladder, or a blocked urethra. The enlarged prostate gland obstructs the bladder; the person often only manages to urinate in small trickles and has to go frequently. He may feel that his bladder is never really completely emptied, even after trying hard.

Put simply, overflow incontinence is an inability to empty the bladder, the patient frequently dribbles urine. Some patients constantly dribble urine (as opposed to frequently).

Mixed incontinence – if a patient experiences both stress and urge incontinence he/she has mixed incontinence.

Urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine; in simple terms, to wee when you don’t intend to. It is the inability to hold urine in the bladder because voluntary control over the urinary sphincter is either lost or weakened.
Urinary incontinence is a much more common problem than most people realize. In the United Kingdom it is estimated that at any one time at least 3 million people – 5% of the total population – suffer from urinary incontinence. The US Department of Health and Human Services estimates that approximately 13 million Americans suffer from urinary incontinence.Urinary incontinence is more common among women than men. 10% to 30% of American women/girls aged 15-64 years are thought to suffer from it, compared to between 1.5% and 5% of men. Over half of all nursing home residents are thought to be affected by urinary incontinence. The Department of Health, UK, estimates that 20% of all women over the age of 40 are affected by urinary incontinence.
The main symptom is the release (leakage) of urine when you don’t want to. When and how this occurs will depend on the type of urinary incontinence.

Functional incontinence – the person knows there is a need to urinate, but cannot make it to the bathroom in time due to a mobility problem. If a person has a disability they may not be able to get their pants down in time; this would be an example of functional incontinence. The amount of urine lost may be large. Common causes of functional incontinence include:

• Confusion
• Dementia
• Poor eyesight
• Poor mobility
• Poor dexterity (cannot unbutton pants in time)
• Depression, anxiety or anger (unwilling to go to the toilet)

People with functional incontinence may have difficulties in thinking, moving or communicating – these difficulties may prevent them from reaching a toilet.

Functional incontinence is more prevalent among elderly people, and is common in nursing homes.

Functional incontinence may occur when there is nothing physically wrong with the person. If you are on a long trip and dying to urinate but there are not toilets nearby.

Gross total incontinence – this either means the person leaks urine continuously all day and night, or has periodic uncontrollable leaking of large amounts of urine. The bladder is unable to store urine.

The patient may have a congenital problem (was born with a defect), there may be an injury to the spinal cord, and injury to the urinary system, or there may be a fistula between the bladder and, for example the vagina.

– the person knows there is a need to urinate, but cannot make it to the bathroom in time due to a mobility problem. If a person has a disability they may not be able to get their pants down in time; this would be an example of functional incontinence. The amount of urine lost may be large. Common causes of functional incontinence include:

• Confusion
• Dementia
• Poor eyesight
• Poor mobility
• Poor dexterity (cannot unbutton pants in time)
• Depression, anxiety  or anger (unwilling to go to the toilet)

People with functional incontinence may have difficulties in thinking, moving or communicating – these difficulties may prevent them from reaching a toilet. Functional incontinence is more prevalent among elderly people, and is common in nursing homes.
Functional incontinence may occur when there is nothing physically wrong with the person. If you are on a long trip and dying to urinate but there are not toilets nearby.

Urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine; in simple terms, to wee when you don’t intend to. It is the inability to hold urine in the bladder because voluntary control over the urinary sphincter is either lost or weakened.

As my mother has gotten older she finds it very difficult to hold her urine if she needs to use the toilet, this has made very self-conscious as she believes that if she were to go out she is at risk of worsening her embarrassment even further. My mother suffers from functional incontinence this means that it is difficult for her to get to the toilet by herself without taking to long. This has effected my mothers confidence a lot as she believes that she is causing the people that are around her embarrassment, lowing her pride and self-esteem. She also believes that she has given people a false image of the person she wishes she was.This affects my mother as she thinks that she is now worthless and a burden to the family because he cannot move independently.

 Deafness:

Hearing loss is a common problem that often develops with age or is caused by repeated exposure to loud noises.

Action of hearing loss estimates that more than 10 million (about 1 in 6) people in the UK have some degree of hearing impairment or deafness.

Hearing loss can occur suddenly, but usually develops gradually. General signs of hearing loss can include:

• difficulty hearing other people clearly and misunderstanding what they say
• asking people to repeat themselves
• listening to music or watching television with the volume turned up high

My mother has had a problem with hearing since she was in her 40’s, due to ageing this has become more of an issue as the condition has only worsened with age. She struggles to understand one to one conversation as she’s gotten older, the hearing aids are not proving as successful as she gotten older. My mother feels like she is a burden a lot of the time, she feels guilty that she might not be able to hear my children grow up and learn things. Because my mother is unable to hear things clearly this means that she has to see an object e.g phones, flashing lights for when someone at the door. My mother feels like she is getting worse and she believes that its not fair that i have to look after her, this has given my mother self-doubt as she thinks that if she causing all this fuss she may be better in a home. Moving to as residential home could either make her feel better about herself or worse.