Older Adult Interview
Functional Status and Biological Changes
The definition of Functional status of individuals, describes the capacity and performance of safe activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). It is a sensitive indicator of health or illness in older adults and therefore a critical health professional assessment. There are articles in the Week 2 module – Overview & Readings – part II section that describes ADLs & IADLs.
Biological changes that occur with age in the human body affect mood, attitude to the environment, physical condition and social activity. Investigating biological changes can help identify individuals at higher risk of disease and death. Are they safe living alone?
Interview of the Older Adult:
1.Introduce yourself and the purpose of interview.
2. Tell the older adult that you are interviewing them for a class project and that you will share information obtained in the interview with your professor and with your classmates.
3. Tell the older adult that you will not identify them by name, but that you will identify the older adult initials and/or by referring to their relationship to you (i.e. “my grandfather” or “my next door neighbor”).
4. If the older adult is not comfortable with these criteria, thank the older adult for their time and tell the older adult that you will not continue with the interview because you respect their right to privacy.
5. Must be a face to face interview. It is important to see the older adult’s non-verbal’s. You learn a lot about a person’s facial expressions.
Interview Focus:
Have a discussion with an older adult (age 65 years or older) to learn about their experience of physical change with age. Ask the older adult to:
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o Identify three changes (biological changes and/or “age-related” health changes) experienced in their body as they have aged. Focus on Body System changes and/or Cognitive changes.
o Describe the changes (what, specifically, has changed) and talk about how they have accommodated to those changes. (How do these changes relate to their functional status as an older adult – you will ask the older adult how these changes in their physical condition have affected their capacity to perform their Activities of Daily Living – cooking, cleaning, walking the dog, balancing the checkbook, etc…)
Paper Should Include:
Write a paper about the older adult’s changes that have occurred with age. You will be evaluated on your ability to:
1. Describe in detail the older adult: age, personal appearance, gender, cultural background, living environment, education, family life, career, activities, etc.
2. Describe the three changes your older adult identified and how they have accommodated to these changes. Citations to support you findings (is this normal or abnormal for their age).
3. Discuss accurately and in detail the biological basis for these changes as well as any factors that might affect these changes. Basically what happens in the body that causes the changes as we age. Describe the normal physiological changes due to aging. AS well as external factors that could cause the changes. Use citations to support your findings/data (is this normal or abnormal for their age) .
4. Discuss how their biological changes have affected their functional status for performing of ADLs and IADLs. Citations to support you findings (is this normal or abnormal for their age).
5. Describe what you personally learned from your discussion with the older adult, that has affected/influenced your views on aging.
