Terms6

• Acupuncture


  is a branch of traditional Chinese medicine. Very fine needles are used to stimulate certain points on the body along lines called meridians, to increase or disperse the flow of energy
• Aromatherapy


  uses oils from plants that are either absorbed through the skin during massage or inhaled
• Chiropractic


  uses manipulation of the spine for symptomatic relief and improved body functioning by bringing the spinal components back into correct alignment, thereby decreasing or eliminating pain
• Herbal


  medicines contain plant material as their active ingredients and are used to treat a wide variety of health conditions
• Imagery


  uses a visual stimulus to produce a particular physiologic change that can decrease stress or promote healing
• Integrative medicine


  focuses on combining conventional and complementary interventions in a collaborative way
• phytotherapy


  plant therapy
• qi


  the flow of energy
• Qi gong


  is a form of Chinese exercise-stimulation therapy that seeks to improve health by redirecting mental focus, controlling breathing, improving coordination, and promoting relaxation
• Reiki


  stems from the Japanese word meaning “universal life force energy
• shaman


  A trained practitioner

  uses techniques to achieve a nonordinary reality, or a “shamanic” state of consciousness
• Yoga


  a word derived from the Sanskrit meaning “union,” is a spiritual practice that combines exercise, controlled breathing, posture, and mental focus to bring about positive effects on the body and mind
• Wisdom


  having good judgment based on accumulated knowledge
• reminiscence


  reviewing one’s life
• psychosocial theories


  theories related to socialization and life satisfaction
• Longevity


  length of life
• life span


  maximum years one is capable of living
• gerontologists


  specialists in the study of aging people
• elder abuse


  each year, although only about 1 in 14 is reported
• ego integrity


  state of being complete
• Demographic


  statistics about populations
• dementia


  degeneration of brain tissue
• centenarians


  people 100 years old or older
• Biologic theories


  theories based on cellular function and body physiology
• Aging


  a continual process of biologic, cognitive, and psychosocial change
• Ageism


  discrimination because of age
• Age-associated memory impairment


  memory functions that tend to change with age
• individualized aging


  describes how older adults should be viewed as individuals, not as a stereotypical member of the group