Area Of Gerontology Research Articles

COVID-19 AND THE MENTAL HEALTH OF ELDERLY PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY CENTERS

This study focuses on the importance of elderly people's participation in Community Centers for mental health. In an attempt to understand the subject to be researched, as well as the themes interconnected with this process, including the discussion of concepts necessary for a better understanding of the object, it was necessary to read specific articles in the area of ​​gerontology, mental health, relevant legislation and COVID-19, in addition to topics such as community groups; the recent change that occurred in basic social protection, which was the reorganization of social assistance services; Community Service and Strengthening of Bonds; among others. This research aims to investigate the perceptions of the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of elderly people participating in Community Centers. With a qualitative approach, based on the critical dialectical method, the research included an exploratory literature review and a semi-structured interview with users of eight Community Centers for elderly people, located in the city of Ponta Grossa/PR, totaling sixteen people interviewed of both sexes. To support the organization of the information, the IRAMUTEC software was used to create the textual corpus, construct the word cloud and the similarity tree. The analysis of the results followed the content analysis procedures proposed by Bardin (1977) and then the data were categorized, contemplating three chronological phases: 1) pre-analysis; 2) exploration of the material; 3) treatment of the results, inference and interpretation. Through the analysis of the data, it was possible to capture, with the results in the form of responses, how elderly people participating in the Community Centers had their mental health affected by the consequences left by the COVID-19 pandemic. The interviews were duly authorized by the elderly people, who were also previously informed about the objectives and procedures of the research. It was concluded that Community Centers for the elderly are an extremely important place, which can provide human emancipation, prevent isolation and social exclusion and is also an environment in which participants can interact with each other, share life experiences, in addition to achieving active and healthy aging.

Frailty and Erectile Dysfunction: An Understudied Correlation.

The area of geriatrics and the study of the aged are gaining prominence all over the world. In the US, the population of people over 65 years old is expected to reach 71 million in 10 years. Men are projected to account for approximately 43% of the population. Owing to their more complex physiological and pathological state, elderly men face many challenges. Erectile function may diminish in elderly and vulnerable people owing to ageing, physical conditions, psychological stress, or a combination of these factors. This propensity is more common in elderly men. This article reviews the literature on frailty syndrome and erectile dysfunction (ED) to better understand them. Complete MEDLINE/PubMed review of non-systematic literature from 1990 to May 2023 was included. This topic is thoroughly researched using "frailty", "low muscle mass", "erectile dysfunction", and "elderly". Individuals with frailty tend to experience more pronounced instances of ED compared with those who are in good health primarily owing to the anomalies present in their physiological composition. This poses challenges for individuals with physical vulnerabilities to engage in intimate relationships. ED may potentially exert a substantial influence on the mental well-being of older individuals or those who are otherwise vulnerable. Research demonstrates that implementing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can effectively enhance erectile function among elderly individuals. This phenomenon persists despite the knowledge that TRT is not devoid of potential adverse effects. The present investigation has revealed a significant association of frailty, exacerbated by advancing age, with the occurrence of ED. Our findings lead to the conclusion that the condition of frailty becomes more pronounced as individuals advance in age.

Engaged Scholarship in Gerontology: Frank Caro’s Lifetime Contributions

ABSTRACT Dr. Francis G. Caro, retired Professor of Gerontology at the University of Massachusetts Boston, Co-editor (1996–2005) and Editor-in-Chief (2005–2016) of the Journal of Aging and Social Policy, passed away on October 2, 2020. Caro dedicated most of his nearly 60 years of academic and professional activity to gerontology and services for older adults. This article offers a review of his contributions in four central areas of gerontology: the strengthening of long-term services and supports through integration of home care services with other domains, the expansion of how productive aging was socially understood and economically valued, the importance of rigorous program evaluation and ongoing methodological innovation, and the significance of age-friendly cities and communities, both in the United States and internationally. This review of Caro’s work highlights his integral role in helping to place several topics on the gerontological agenda that are still relevant today, establishing him as an important contributor to the field. He also exemplified productive aging and how scholarship can be theoretically rigorous but also applied in meaningful ways to make a difference in individual lives and within communities.

Development and Psychometric Validation of a New Scale for Assessment and Screening of Frailty Among Older Indians.

BackgroundFrailty is a major challenge for healthcare systems in ageing societies. This dynamic state of health is a reflection of reduced reserve in various organ systems and enhanced vulnerability to stressors. Research in this area of geriatrics and gerontology is limited in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like India. This study is directed at development of a culturally appropriate and validated assessment scale for frailty among older Indians.MethodsAfter extensive review of the literature on existing scales, a preliminary draft scale was formed. This draft was pre- and pilot-tested to check feasibility and modified accordingly. The final scale was validated on 107 older adults by confirmatory factor analysis and was named the Frailty Assessment and Screening Tool (FAST). The Fried’s frailty phenotype was also administered on the same 107 older adults and scores of both were co-related. Suitable cut-off scores were found for frail and pre-frail older adults.ResultsThe final version of the FAST consisted of 14 questions pertaining to 10 domains. It has good reliability. Cronbach’s alpha co-efficient was 0.99; test–retest reliability was 0.97 and validity by confirmatory factor analysis was adequate. The Kaiser–CMeyer–Olkin (KMO) of sampling adequacy was 0.699, and Bartlett’s test of sphericity was significant (χ2 = 353.471, p < 0.001). FAST scores had a cut-off of ≥ 7/14 for frail and ≥ 5/14 for pre-frail elderly.ConclusionThe FAST is a validated tool with good psychometric properties. It is expected that it will be helpful in screening pre-frail and frail older adults in India and other LMICs and guide in clinical decision making for intervention.

Policy Series: The Role of a Stakeholder Member Group in Shaping Geriatric Policy: The National Association for Geriatric Education

The National Association for Geriatric Education (NAGE) is a non-profit membership organization representing Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Programs (GWEPs), Geriatric Academic Career Awardees (GACAs) and other programs that provide education and training to health professionals in the areas of geriatrics and gerontology. Our work includes faculty training and fellowships, continuing education, and hands on experiences in the clinical setting. One of our priorities is to educate policy makers and the public about the need for health care professionals to receive geriatrics education so they will better serve the expanding older population. One of our goals is to provide a mechanism for policy development and dissemination to external audiences regarding the mission, goals and impact of geriatric education programs. Our policy objectives include providing guidance to the United States Public Health Service and other organizations in the development of programs to enhance the education of health care practitioners and others. Another objective is to educate Congress about necessary priorities in geriatric education. We serve as a voice for the goals and interests of the nation’s GWEPs, GACAs, and other groups providing education in geriatrics and gerontology. This symposium will first describe how geriatric educators inform policy. Then a historical perspective of how NAGE has influenced aging policy is provided. Recent efforts to increase funding for geriatric education will be shared, followed by future directions in policymaking.

An Innovative Doctor of Physical Therapy Experiential Learning Opportunity With Older Adults: A Description of a Unique Academic and Long-Term Care Partnership

Background and Purpose. Despite the dramatic increase in older adults and the reality that this population often comprises a substantial proportion of physical therapists' client base, many Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students feel unprepared or less willing to provide care to older adults after graduation. Method/Model Description and Evaluation. The University of Minnesota DPT program developed a unique model for all first-year DPT students to gain experiential learning with older adults through a year-long Clerkship experience. In addition to regular assessments of student learning, a pre/postmeasure of student attitudes toward older adults and a thematic analysis of student reflective journals were conducted. Outcomes. Students entered the DPT program with positive attitudes toward older adults. Although limited changes in student attitudes was observed over time through the quantitative pre/postmeasure, student reflective journals revealed more nuance, with many students describing gains in knowledge and confidence in practicing with older adults, as well as more positive attitudes toward older adults and geriatrics over time. Discussion and Conclusion. The University of Minnesota DPT first-year Clerkship experience is a unique experiential learning program that provides DPT students hands-on experience with older adults over an academic year in a real-life setting. This innovative approach dually contributes to the development of DPT students' essential competencies and has been shown to be beneficial to first-year DPT students in developing positive attitudes toward and comfort in working with older adults, thereby advancing toward a more prepared physical therapist workforce in the area of geriatrics.

UPDATES FROM THE GEAR-UP PROJECT: PERFORMANCE OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY LEARNERS ON LATE LIFE DEPRESSION AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT SIMULATIONS

UPDATES FROM THE GEAR-UP PROJECT: PERFORMANCE OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY LEARNERS ON LATE LIFE DEPRESSION AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT SIMULATIONS

Quality of life and cognition in elderly: A systematic review

Abstract Population aging is a progressive phenomenon and it is currently a great challenge. The aim of this Systematic Review study was to present/a research panorama on the relationship between quality of life and cognition in the elderly. We used the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online databases, and the Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences and the Scientifi c Electronic Library Online. The NodeXL software was used for keyword analysis.Fourteen articles met the eligibility criteria and were categorized. Most of the studies were conducted and published in Brazil. The mini-mental state exam was the most widely used research instrument in the studies and the term ‘qualityof life’ occurred more frequently and had more connections in the network. The research provides information on the existing studies and contributes to actions that involve care in the area of Gerontology.

AVALIAÇÃO FUNCIONAL DE IDOSOS INSTITUCIONALIZADOS E NÃO INSTITUCIONALIZADOS NA CIDADE DE JUIZ DE FORA/MG

This study aimed to evaluate the functionality of institutionalized and non-institutionalized elderly in the city of Juiz de Fora/MG. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out, which had a non-probabilistic sample of 40 individuals, divided into 20 institutionalized and 20 non-institutionalized elderly, each of the groups consisting of 10 men and 10 women. The individuals were 60 years old or older, and the institutionalized elderly live in the Philanthropic Shelter of Elderly of the Spiritist Foundation João de Freitas, while the non-institutionalized were in attendance at the ambulatory of clinical specialities of the Therezinha de Jesus Hospital and Maternity, both located at the city of Juiz de Fora/MG. The exploratory research was performed using the Barthel Index, that belongs to the field of evaluation of activities of daily living and measures the functional independency in personal care, mobility, locomotion and eliminations. The data collection was performed between August and December of 2017. As a result, the presence of intense loss of functional capacity in institutionalized elderly was noticed, when compared to non-institutionalized elderly. It is concluded that, although the increase of age being related naturally with loss of functional capacity, it’s important to value the presence of associated multimorbidities, since the understanding about the functional evaluation of the elderly is of great importance for the professionals that act in the areas of geriatrics and gerontology. Keywords: Elderly. Functional Evaluation. Geriatrics. Barthel Index.

Intervenciones sociales de terapia ocupacional con adultos mayores en américa del sur: una revisión no sistemática de la literatura

La terapia ocupacional en el área de gerontología aún se concentra en los enfoques biomédicos, centrados en el indivíduo y en los procesos de salud-enfermedad. Sin embargo, se observa la necesidad de abordar el envejecimiento como una cuestión colectiva y un fenómeno social y así &#x0D; entender la complejidad del fenómeno, rompiendo con la visión reduccionista de asociar la vejez a enfermedades y dependencia. El estudio del cual deriva este artículo se propuso reflexionar sobre la terapia ocupacional y las cuestiones socioculturales que involucran el envejecimiento en el contexto sudamericano a través de experiencias publicadas en este ámbito. Las referencias fueron localizadas por medio de una revisión no sistemática en las revistas del área de terapia ocupacional de Brasil, Chile, Argentina y Colombia, específicamente aquellas ubicadas en las bases Lilacs y Scielo, y referencias recomendadas por terapeutas ocupacionales contactados en esos países que se desempeñan en esa temática. Se encontraron en esta búsqueda experiencias en terapia ocupacional referentes a la territorialidad y envejecimiento, al uso del tiempo libre y a las actividades culturales de los adultos mayores y al Sistema Único de Asistencia Social, una política nacional de Brasil. Las &#x0D; experiencias reunidas y discutidas se mostraron diversificadas y retrataron acciones inclusivas, amplias y coherentes con la estructura etaria y social de los países. Se puntualiza la relevancia del desarrollo de investigación y de acciones prácticas dirigidas al campo social para abordar el envejecimiento en la región.

Investigation on the status quo of fall prevention and self-management behavior in elderly inpatients

Objective To investigate the status quo of fall prevention and self-management in elderly inpatients. Methods A cluster sampling method was used to select 163 hospitalized patients in 5 geriatric areas of a Class III and a Class A hospital in Wuhan city, and a self-management behavior questionnaire was designed for elderly patients to prevent falls for face-to-face investigation. Results Scores for each dimension of self-management behavior: environmental management(3.88±0.36) points, daily life management (3.65±0.44) points, chronic disease management(3.25±0.64) points, dangerous behavior (3.18±1.04) points, self-protection/falling self-help (2.45±0.69) points, health concept(2.34±0.62) points, medication management(2.22±0.74) points. Conclusions Elderly patients' fall prevention and self-management behaviors have good self-management behaviors in environmental management, daily life and living management, chronic disease management, drug management and other dimensions, and their self-management behaviors in the aspects of self-protection/fall self-rescue, health belief, and dangerous behavior monitoring need to be improved.Health education should aim at improving patients' self-management ability, refine behavioral guidance, enrich professional knowledge connotation, and provide scientific fall prevention and health knowledge. Key words: Fall; Elderly people; Self-management

Residência no processo de construção do conhecimento do enfermeiro: motivações e percepções dos residentes

O programa de residência consiste em uma modalidade de ensino de Pós-Graduação Lato sensu, voltada para ás áreas de saúde, sendo uma especialização caracterizada pelo ensino em serviço, oferecendo instruções práticas específicas e direcionadas. A proposta do estudo visa mostrar os sentimentos e vivências de Enfermeiros Residentes e como eles influenciam no processo de formação. Objetivo: Identificar as expectativas, motivações e percepções vivenciadas pelo enfermeiro residente da residência hospitalar com foco em geriatria de um hospital particular do Rio de Janeiro entre os anos de 2015 e 2016. Método: Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva, com abordagem qualitativa, cuja coleta de dados foi realizada através de entrevista semiestruturadas, com 18 enfermeiros residentes. Resultados: Na análise dos dados emergiram três categorias temáticas: Motivação ao escolher o programa de residência; expectativas ao ingressar no curso e, percepções após o ingresso na residência. Conclusão: Observou-se que muitos são os benefícios ao optar por uma especialização com Modalidade de treinamento em serviço. O estudo mostra que a especialização em forma de residência proporciona ao enfermeiro vivências da realidade, que os capacita e os torna melhor preparados para o mercado de trabalho.

The SARC-F Questionnaire: Diagnostic Overlap with Established Sarcopenia Definitions in Older German Men with Sarcopenia

Background: The high relevance of sarcopenia for the aging societies of most developed nations is emphasized by its recent inclusion in the ICD-10-CM (M62.84). However, diagnosing sarcopenia is a daunting task. Apart from varying definitions, the proper assessment of recognized sarcopenia criteria is time and cost consuming. A short and inexpensive screening tool may thus be welcome for clinicians and others working in the area of gerontology. Recently, a simple questionnaire was provided (SARC-F) that may adequately realize this aim. Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare established sarcopenia definitions (European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People [EWGSOP], Foundation National Institute of Health [FNIH], International Working Group on Sarcopenia [IWGS]) with the SARC-F. Our hypothesis was that the diagnostic overlap between the SARC-F and sarcopenia as determined by these recognized definitions was too low to reliably diagnose sarcopenia. Methods: Seventy-four community-dwelling German men aged 70 years and older with established sarcopenia according to EWGSOP and/or FNIH and/or IWGS were screened with the SARC-F questionnaire. Results: Applying the definitions of EWGSOP, IWGS, and FNIH, 66.2, 43.2, and 50% of the cohort were classified sarcopenic, respectively. The SARC-F identified 33.5% of the cohort as sarcopenic. The predictive power of the SARC-F increased when men were classified as sarcopenic according to 2 (57.1%) or all (78.8%) sarcopenia definitions. The diagnostic overlap with the 3 sarcopenia definitions varied between 38.8% (SARC-F-FNIH) and 54.1% (SARC-F-IWGS). In comparison, the overlap of diagnosed sarcopenia ranged from 27.0% (FNIH-IWGS) to 49.0% (IWGS-EWGSOP) among the definitions themselves. Only 12.2% of the men met all 3 sarcopenia definitions. Conclusion: The diagnostic overlap with respect to sensitivity of the SARC-F and present sarcopenia definitions was at least as high as the range of the diagnostic overlap of these approaches themselves. Thus, although the sensitivity of the SARC-F may be debatable, for want of a better option it seems reasonable to consider the SARC-F as a first simple step within a hierarchical screening procedure. Independently of this procedure, a universally accepted mandatory sarcopenia definition along with comprehensive criteria and fixed cutoff points should be provided promptly.

La couverture vaccinale contre la grippe saisonnière du personnel soignant en gériatrie : mise au point

BackgroundFlu vaccinations for healthcare professionals seems to be one of the most effective preventive actions in the face of a disease that carries a high risk of a potentially serious nosocomial epidemic in a geriatric environment. The aim of this study was to take stock of the flu vaccination status among caregivers in the geriatric units and to understand the reasons for their reluctance to be vaccinated, in order to put forward proposals to improve vaccination coverage. MethodA literature search of articles published since 2000 in the area of geriatrics, infectious diseases or pneumology was mainly conducted on PubMed using the keywords “caregivers”, “elderly”, “flu”, “influenza”, “nosocomial” and “vaccination”. After reading all abstracts in English or French and ruling out irrelevant articles, only 64 relevant articles have been listed in bibliography section. ResultsDespite official recommendations, the literature reveals insufficient vaccination coverage of healthcare personnel at both the national and international level. Vaccination coverage seems to be lower among younger female non-medical staff. The factors that determine the likelihood of vaccination are the wish to protect one's self, one's family and patients/residents, as well as the experience of earlier bouts of flu. Factors that oppose vaccination are complex and related to the fear of side effects, the use of other preventive measures, the feeling that vaccination is ineffective, poor understanding of the disease and the vaccine, forgetfulness and problems of organization. Campaigns to promote vaccination that target healthcare professionals must be multidimensional and very incentive. The pedagogical message must be centered on the benefits to the individual and adjusted to socio-professional categories. Mobile strategies in the different departments to encourage staff are a pragmatic solution to this challenge. The referring doctor has an essential role to play, as does the occupational doctor in association with the hospital hygiene services. ConclusionFlu vaccinations must be included in the education and training of caregivers.

Nurses’ attitudes and knowledge of the geriatric age issue

AimThe research aim was to map attitudes and knowledge of nurses regarding the issue of geriatric age and to find the influence of selected determinants influencing nurses’ knowledge. DesignThe work has a design of a cross-sectional quantitative study that is performed based on a questionnaire survey. MethodologyThe research group was formed of 100 nurses who were classified in the sample based on intentional selection. The quantitative research was performed with the help of two methodologies. The nurses’ attitudes towards seniors were measured based on the Fraboni Scale of Ageism (FSA); we gathered information regarding the nurses’ knowledge about the issue of geriatric age by the means of a questionnaire of our own structure. The influence of the selected determinants influencing the nurses’ knowledge of the geriatric age issue was verified based on the statistical tests: the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Spearman correlation coefficient. ResultsWith the help of the FSA questionnaire we found that 72% of the nurses have a slightly positive view of the elderly, i.e. almost no ageist attitudes. We found a medium level of ageist attitudes and thus slightly negative views of the elderly in 28% of the nurses. The knowledge level regarding the geriatric age issue in 14% of the nurses was excellent, in 36% of them it was very good, 29% had good knowledge, it was satisfactory in 12% and dissatisfactory in 9%. Based on the statistical tests, we found a correlation between the age (p=0.009), length of professional practice (p=0.017), and education (p=0.007) of the nurses and their knowledge of the geriatric age issue. ConclusionThe research results point to the need of comprehensive education for nurses in the area of geriatrics and gerontology with an emphasis on an individual approach and non-generalisation of individuals within the whole senior population.

Introduction to Abstracts to be Presented at the Fifth Chinese Congress on Gerontology and Health Industry.

It is again with great pleasure that we introduce the research work to be presented at the third Chinese Congress on Gerontology and Health Industry (CCGI), which is published in abstract form in this issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS). The CCGI is a national conference organized by the Chinese Geriatrics Society (CGS), Chinese Medical Association. The third CCGI conference will be held on September 12–14, 2014 in the city of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, the People’s Republic of China. Held in the same city on September 13-15 of last year, the second CCGI conference, received very positive feedback in China and proved to be a great success, with 182 abstracts published by JAGS September 2013 supplement issue [J Am Geriatr Soc 2013; 61 (S3): S307–S370]. As a result, the number of collaborating professional organizations and government agencies related to geriatrics, gerontology, and senior healthcare has increased to 36 this year, compared to 32 last year. In addition, we have 191 quality abstracts to be included in this issue, about 5% increase from last year. Similar to the second CCGI conference last year, the work to be presented at the third CCGI conference this year encompasses many important areas of geriatrics and gerontology, from basic aging research to clinical trials; from clinical observation to large epidemiological studies; and from biological investigations to social and behavioral research. Studies concerning cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative conditions, malignancies, and other common age-dependent chronic conditions are abundant. Moreover, a number of abstracts describe important findings on genetic polymorphisms in Parkinson’s disease and cognitive impairment in the genetically homogeneous population in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest of China. Several others describe promising results from clinical trials of traditional Chinese herbal medicine for age-related chronic diseases. Also well represented are the cutting-edge basic aging research topics including stem cell biology, carcinogenesis, and cellular senescence. Publication of such exemplary work in geriatrics and gerontology in this supplement issue of JAGS will further our effort to promote meaningful scientific and scholarly exchange with the geriatrics community in the United States and around the world. To this end, we would like to thank again the leadership of JAGS, particularly Dr. Thomas Yoshikawa, Editor-in-Chief, and Mr. Kurt Polesky, Business Development Manager at Wiley for their support and effort in making this a success. As pointed out in JAGS September 2013 supplement issue, China has the largest aging population in the world. The need for the development of quality geriatrics care and aging research in that vast country is unprecedented. With the support from Chinese government agencies and the entire society, the current CGS leadership is dedicated to the development of standards for high quality geriatrics clinical care and education as well as advancement of gerontological research, a necessary step towards establishing geriatrics as a medical subspecialty in China. For instance, CGS is leading the way in developing and standardizing geriatric medicine textbooks as well as organizing national training courses for academic leaders in geriatrics and gerontology. In addition, US medical philanthropy such as the Milstein Medical Asian American Partnership (MMAAP) Foundation has established the Irma and Paul Milstein Program for Senior Health to provide private funding for further development of geriatric medicine and aging research programs in China. It is hoped that leaders in the US geriatrics community can partner with their colleagues in China to apply for such funding (see the MMAAP Foundation website www.mmaapf.org for details). Furthermore, the healthcare market in China has been recently opened to the private sector, and the Chinese government encourages the introduction of innovative geriatrics care models and senior healthcare management expertise to meet the healthcare needs of Chinese senior citizens, creating a unique opportunity for geriatrics *From the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5505 Hopkins Bayview Circle, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA; The American Geriatrics Society, 40 Fulton St, New York, NY, 10038, USA; and Department of Geriatric Cardiology, Chinese Great Wall Hospital, 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing, 100853, P. R. China.

Geriatric teaching in Brazilian medical schools in 2013 and considerations regarding adjustment to demographic and epidemiological transition.

This study aims to describe the profile of medical schools that introduced courses on Geriatrics and Elderly Health or Aging in their curriculum, and compare such information with the age distribution and health epidemiological data of the Brazilian population, using data until the year of 2013. 180 universities offering medical undergraduate courses and registered with the Ministry of Education and Culture of Brazil (MEC) were found, as seen on the MEC website (www.emec.mec.gov.br) in February 2013. Based on the list of institutions, the authors created a database. Brazil's Southeast region is the one presenting most of the courses, both offered as core or elective subjects, in the area of Geriatrics. The Midwest region had the least offer of Geriatrics and Elderly Health and Care courses. The Southeast region presents the greater absolute number of institutions with elective subjects, followed by the South and Northeast regions, each with a single institution. The Southeast region was at the same time the one that presented the biggest absolute number of institutions offering core subjects in the area of Geriatrics, being followed by the Northeast, South, North, and Midwest regions. By analyzing the availability of courses that emphasize aging and Geriatrics in brazilian medical schools, the present study reveals that specialized training should be encouraged with respect to the specificities of health care given to the elderly population, which has a higher frequency of chronic and degenerative diseases.

A Qualitative Investigation of Gerontological Practice: The Views of Social Work and Psychology Students, Faculty, and Practitioners

Recently there has been an increase in the population of older adults; however, this increase has not been reflected in the helping professions. The aim of this study was to qualitatively investigate barriers to working with older adults within the human service professions. An online survey was sent to students, academic faculty, and practitioners from the disciplines of social work and psychology throughout Australia, addressing issues related to work with older adults. Thematic analysis was used to extract themes and subthemes from the responses (N = 252). The most important finding was that a barrier to working with older adults appears to be a consequence of a perpetuating cycle among students, academic faculty, and professionals collectively. Faculty members did not feel knowledgeable in the area of gerontology and were therefore not able to educate students in this area appropriately, leading to students to enter the workforce as either faculty members and/or practitioners without expertise to work with older adults. This study highlighted the importance of including more comprehensive gerontological information within social sciences’ curriculum, which may promote more realistic images of older adults and help alleviate barriers to working with this population.

Occupational Complexity and Leisure Activities in Cognitive Aging

Human beings possess a considerable reserve capacity that allows them to benefit from exposure to highly enriched environments. The hypothesis of environmental complexity states that those individuals involved in activities that require greater cognitive demands keep their cognitive abilities undamaged despite the passing of time. The aim of this review is to present an analysis of the results obtained from empirical research made between 1980 and 2014 in Europe and America, focusing on the impact that cognitive reserve has on older adults. This review will demonstrate how environmental complexity and the importance of engaging in recreational activities influence individuals’ lives and their cognitive healthy aging. Bibliography was obtained systematically, through a defined search strategy of several data bases. Ninety one scientific articles were selected in agreement with the appropriateness they keep with the objective of the present research. In regard to pharmacological treatment, there is little evidence that cholinesterase inhibitor drugs affect progression to dementia or improve cognitive performance of patients with MCI. Complementarily, mixed results have been reported from different research lines that use cognitive training. Besides, there is increasing evidence that consider the role of environment and lifestyle as protective factors for the development of Alzheimer’s disease from MCI. The review sheds some suggestions for future research related to the studied topics and for professional intervention in the area of gerontology.

O cuidado do idoso no contexto familiar: percepção da equipe de saúde da família

Pesquisa qualitativa que utilizou estudo de caso e análise de conteúdo. Originalmente, teve como objetivo apreender o significado do cuidado domiciliário, na percepção dos profissionais de saúde da família, e suas interações com a família cuidadora de pessoas idosas dependentes. O objetivo deste artigo foi apresentar a experiência no cuidado domiciliário e as dificuldades a partir da percepção dos profissionais de saúde da família. Foi realizada na Região Metropolitana do Vale do Aço, Minas Gerais, nas cidades de Ipatinga, Timóteo, Coronel Fabriciano e Santana do Paraíso. Havia 54 equipes cadastradas na região e a amostra foi composta por 75 profissionais de saúde da família, auxiliares de enfermagem, enfermeiros, médicos e técnicos de enfermagem, que aceitaram participar da pesquisa, assinaram o TCLE e estavam atuando na equipe implantada há mais de um ano, após aprovação do gestor municipal. Os resultados apontaram que, na experiência da equipe, o cuidado domiciliar ao idoso dependente é realizado quando o mesmo se encontra num estágio de comprometimento da capacidade funcional mais avançado. Os profissionais apresentaram dificultadores como a demanda aumentada da USF, transporte insuficiente e equipe incompleta, e ainda se sentem despreparados para esse cuidado. Apresenta-se a necessidade de investimento dos gestores na educação continuada da equipe de saúde da família na área de geriatria e gerontologia, para que os profissionais deem conta de atender às necessidades dessa crescente população de idosos, que pode desenvolver fragilidade e comprometer sua autonomia e independência.