Health Across the Lifespan: Dimensions of Ageing (11855.1)

This unit explores dimensions of ageing through wellbeing and illness lenses and the impact of social determinants on older people. This unit will explore attitudes and societal values that influence the wellbeing of older adults and challenge stereotypical ideas of aging, examining how agism impacts health service delivery and access. Caring for ageing people is inherently complex and requires highly developed skills. Students will explore the expected physiological changes associated with aging and the manifestations of disease processes in the older person.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Identify expected physiological ageing changes, discuss these in relation to disease processes, disease progression and the quality use of medicines;
2. Discuss the role of the nurse in mitigating conscious and unconscious bias and promoting healthy ageing and wellbeing in light of the Aged Care Quality Standards;
3. Compare and contrast differing world views on the social constructs of health and ageing with consideration of Australian First Nations perspectives;
4. Propose strategies to engage with older people from diverse populations to promote dignity and choice in health care decision making, including palliative and end of life care; and
5. Examine historical and contemporary social determinants that impact on the experience of older people including health economics, access, equity, ethical and legal principles and concepts.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures

Prerequisites

11835 Person Centered Practice in Nursing OR
10194 Therapeutic Use of Self 1

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None

Equivalent units

10200 Health Across the Lifespan: Healthy Ageing

Assumed knowledge

None.