Mental Health Of Elderly Research Articles

Consistency in Physical Activity and Increase in Mental Health in Elderly over a Decade: Are We Achieving Better Population Health?

Objective : Over the past century, advances in medicine and public health have resulted in an extraordinary increase in life expectancy. As a result, focus has shifted from infectious to chronic diseases. Though current guidelines for healthy behaviors among the elderly exist, it remains unclear whether this growing segment of the population has shifted their behaviors in response to public health campaigns. The objective of this study was to investigate mental health and physical activity trends that may be leading indicators for healthier living and increased life expectancy. Methods: Using nearly a decade of continuous serial cross-sectional data collected in the nationwide Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, this study investigated trends of health behaviors and mental health in a population of nearly 750,000 who were 65 or older from 2003 through 2011. Weighted univariate and multivariable analyses were utilized including investigation of trend analyses over the decade, producing adjusted annual odds of physical activity and mental health. Results: A fter controlling for demographic and other factors, higher education and income, lower BMI, and current or previous smoking was associated with higher odds of adverse mental health and lower odds of physical activity engagement. Adjusted odds of adverse mental health climbed over the decade of observation whereas the odds of physical activity remained static. Conclusions: These data, encompassing a very large population over a decade of time, suggest that physical activity is stable though mental health challenges are on the rise in this older population. Public health campaigns may face greater barriers in an elderly population due to lifelong habits, dissemination and educational approaches, or decreasing gains. Further research should be conducted to identify more effective approaches towards increasing physical activity in this important and growing subset of the population and towards transforming behaviors earlier in life.

Elderly Mental Health and Related Factors in Geriatric Depression in Turkey

Background Ageing is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, hospitalisation and loss of functional status related to common mental disorders in the elderly patients. The need to identify new and unmet problem areas and develop efficient interventions for this special population is stressed. Methods The cross sectional study was conducted in a province with 2269 (65-100 …

후기고령노인의 자살시도 경험

본 연구의 목적은 후기고령노인의 자살시도 경험의 의미와 본질을 탐색하여 보다 심층적으로 이해하는데 있다. 이를 위해 Giorgi의 기술적 현상학을 적용하여 경험의 본질에 집중하여 현상의 구조를 밝히고 기술하였다. 자살시도 경험을 가진 서울 지역 75세 이상 노인 8명을 대상으로 하여, 개방적 심층면담을 통해 자료를 수집하였고, 연구 참여자들이 진술한 자료를 근거로 분석한 결과, 후기고령노인의 자살시도의 경험의 의미구조는 '지속적인 고통의 삶과 죽음의 기로에서 편안함을 갈망하는 내려놓음'이었다. 통합된 일반적 구조로 6개의 구성요소와 20개의 하위구성요소가 도출되었다. 최종 도출된 6개의 구성요소는 '모진 세월의 회한', '절망적이며 처량한 신세', '무가치한 삶', '참을 수 없는 통증과 무기력', '의지할 곳 없는 고독', '마지막 선택'이다. 이러한 연구결과를 토대로 후기고령노인의 자살시도 경험에 대한 의미와 본질을 심층적으로 논의하고, 노인자살 예방을 위한 정신보건사회복지의 실천적 제언을 제시하였다. The purpose of this study is to understand the deeper meaning of the experience to explore the essence of latter-aged elderly suicide attempt. To this end, by applying the technology of Giorgi phenomenology to focus on the nature of the experience was described reveal the structure of the developing. By targeting eight people aged 75 years and over in Seoul experience with suicide attempts, open the data was collected through in-depth interviews, participants were analyzed on the basis of the aforesaid materials result, late of suicide in elderly seniors experience semantics was putting down that long for the comfort at the crossroads of life. Analysis of six components were derived 'regrets the harsh years', 'desperate and pathetic beholden', 'useless worthless life', 'body of unbearable pain and lethargy', 'no place to lean loneliness', 'the last select'. Discuss these findings the suicide problem of latter-aged elderly suicide attempt, based on experience and in-depth, Elderly mental health and social welfare presented the practical implications for suicide prevention.

Elderly mental health: needs.

This paper highlights the mental health needs of the elderly. It tackles the issues of their institutionalisation and community care. Rapid urbanisation in Indian society throws up special problems in elderly care. There is great evidence of a raise in morbidity, mortality, hospitalisation and loss of functional status related to common mental disorders in the elderly patients. Overlap of depression and anxiety is very common with up to almost half of the elderly patients reporting significant depressive and anxiety symptoms. Also, depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in late life. Growth in the elderly population means a direct increase in age related diseases such as dementia and poor mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, suicide and serious constraints on the quality of life among elderly individuals.The need to identify new and unmet problem areas and develop efficient therapeutic outcomes for this special population is stressed.

THE PREVALENCE OF DEPRESSION AND ITS RISK FACTORS AMONG MALAY ELDERLY IN RESIDENTIAL CARE

The motivation for the study is to improve the quality of life for elderly in residential care particularly the mental health aspect. Hence, the aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of depression and to identify risk factors related to depression among Malay elderly in residential care. Changes in social structure and economic status have shifted the direction of care for elderly people, as the value of filial piety has gradually declined among the modern Malays. The researchers hypothesized that the level of depression among institutionalized Malay elderly people is high. Altogether, 98 of Malay elderly (men 41.8%, women 58.2%) participated in this study from eight residential cares in Peninsular Malaysia. They were chosen according to the following criteria: Malay ethnic, aged 60 years and above, able to communicate and with no severe mental and/or physical health problem. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30) was used to assess depression among the elderly. Overall, the study found that 70.4% of the Malay elderly in the residential care were diagnosed with depression, where 39.8% had mild depression and 30.6% were suffered from major depression. Five factors were identified as the high risk factors of depression among the Malay elderly i.e., sadness, helplessness, isolation, loneliness and loss of interest in activities (76.8-86.9%). As a conclusion, the prevalence of depression among the Malay elderly in the present study is high. Besides arranging a regular program on screening for depression, it is also important for the residential care providers to create and organize special activities for the elderly in order to reduce them from the risk factors of depression. They should be ensured to have a healthier and happier life at the institutions, if the residential care providers would like to increase the elderly mental health status.

Impact of double stigmatization in oncogeriatry: reviewing existing data

Cancer is a major health problem for which age is a proved risk factor. Paradoxically, elderly suffering from cancer are often excluded from clinical trials and undertreated compared to younger patients. Also, their psychosocial needs remain unknown. An explanatory factor for these observations is the age stigma (that is to say our stereotypes about age and so, ageism), age being currently cited as the main reason for discrimination. Besides these age-related stigmas, cancerous patients face pathology-related stigmas because nowadays cancer (especially some types of cancer such as lung cancer) still conveys a lot of negative representations. These observations bring us to the notion of double stigmatization in oncogeriatry. Moreover, the aim of this review is to present ageism phenomenon on the basis of several studies that had proved negative influence of ageism on elderly's mental and physical health and on the attitude of elderly's interlocutors. Afterwards, we will broach the way by which ageism and stigmatization linked to cancer is observed in the specific context of oncogeriatry, which will allow us to identify current shortcomings.

The effect of humor on elder mental and physical health

A convenience sample of community-dwelling older people attending senior centers was asked to participate in a quasi-experimental study to examine the impact of a humor therapy workshop on physical and mental health. Participants were assessed at baseline and at six months for physical (general health and health quality of life) and mental (general well-being, anxiety, depression and psychological distress) health. The sample consisted of 92 subjects, 42 in the control group and 50 in the workshop. Compared to controls, subjects in the workshop had significantly lower follow-up levels of anxiety and depression and improved general well-being. No differences were observed for general health, health quality of life, or psychological distress. This humor therapy workshop was associated with a positive effect upon mental health. It is recommended that attendance at humor workshops be encouraged and that further investigations into the efficacy of such programs on mental and physical health be investigated.

Prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among urban elderlies: Lucknow elderly study.

Background:Paucity of systematic studies in elderly mental health in an aging population is an urgent need, which is required to address services and planning issues for health.Aim:The present study aims to investigate the distribution of physical, neuropsychiatric, and cognitive disorders of a community sample of elderlies with certain socioeconomic data.Materials and Methods:A door-to-door household survey was conducted to identify houses with elderlies (≥55 years) in two urban localities of Lucknow. Mini mental state examination (MMSE), Survey Psychiatric Assessment Schedule (SPAS)/Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) and physical and neurological examination were used for screening all consenting elderlies. MMSE positive participants were assessed on Cambridge Mental Disorders of the Elderly Examination-Revised for diagnosis of cognitive disorders; SPAS/MDQ positives were assessed on Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry based clinical interview for diagnosis of neuropsychiatric disorders other than cognitive disorders (using ICD-10 criteria). Routine and indicated laboratory/radiological investigations on all and on MMSE/SPAS (organic section) positive/physically ill participants respectively were done to confirm organic and/or physical illness. Only percentages were calculated to find the distribution of morbidity.Results:The sample had proportionate age structure as that of the surveyed population and had balanced gender representation in each age deciles. Prevalence of neuropsychiatric disorders (with/without comorbidities) was 11.8% in the elderlies (60 years and above) highest being in the 60-69 years age group. Being women and of lower socioeconomic status was more commonly associated with a neuropsychiatric diagnosis. 7.6% of the elderlies had cognitive impairment. Overall findings suggest a prevalence rate of 17.34% of total psychiatric morbidity among elderlies. A significant number had comorbid physical illness diagnoses.Conclusion:More than half the elderlies had some diagnosable physical or mental ailment. The study familiarizes us to the significant amount of physical and psychiatric comorbidity in the particular age group. About one-fifth was found to suffer from psychiatric morbidity, which any health services for the elderly should be oriented towards.

The effect of funding status on duration of stay for inpatients with dementia

PurposeThis study is a follow‐up to a previously published paper, by Ball et al. in 2004. The purpose of the study was to examine the factors that influenced the discharge outcomes and duration of stay over the three years since the introduction of the National Framework for Continuing Health Care (CHC) provision in October 2007.Design/methodology/approachThis study examined consecutive dementia patients (n=175) admitted to an organic elderly mental health assessment ward over a three‐year period between January 2008 and December 2010. The majority of patients in the study had vascular dementia (34 per cent) or Alzheimer's disease (31 per cent) with an average score of 11.5 in the Mini‐Mental State Examination. The assessment tools used in this study were good indicators as part of the dementia care pathway to predict the rehabilitation outcome.FindingsThe mean duration of stay of patients was 8.4 weeks but this was extended to 18.3 weeks for the 15 per cent of patients subject to CHC funding. Patients who require CHC funding can expect to stay in hospital for more than ten weeks before a placement is made. Duration of stay was longer for those patients with behavioural and psychological complications, but the strongest independent predictor of duration of stay was CHC funding which accounted for 23 per cent of the duration of stay in hospital, independently of any clinical parameters in the patient.Originality/valueThis study provides evidence of the effect of current funding procedures in the discharge of inpatients with dementia from an assessment ward.

Positive Relationships That Support Elder Health and Well-Being Are Grounded in Midlife/Adolescent Family

Family is potentially a major support system for people of all ages. It can become particularly important for elders. On the basis of a 25-year longitudinal study, this article explores the contributions of family system functioning at parents' midlife to elderly parents' physical and mental health. Findings support the significant influence of the quality of the midlife/adolescent family life cycle stage on later life relationships between elderly parents and their adult children. Positive relationships with their adult children were important for both elderly parents' well-being. Frequency of contact with children was important for fathers-both for their well-being and for their physical health.

Risk factors for stress-fractures in the elderly

Growing numbers of elderly in countries of the developing world presage an increase in those affected by organic, age-related mental diseases such as dementia. A simultaneous rise in the burden of non-organic mental disorders in elderly populations is likely because stressors in many countries are affecting the mental health of the elderly directly and/or indirectly by altering the ability of families to provide care for them. This paper reviews studies on the disease burden of mental health problems of the aged in the developing world. It examines evidence on how demographic change, economic change, education, urbanization, war and displacement, and widowhood influence elderly mental health. A look at policies and programs improving the condition of elderly mentally ill throughout the developing world emphasizes positive options for policymakers. Recommendations for future research both identify areas in which investigation would be particularly useful and highlight current methodological problems.

P-1019 - Mental health in late-life. Data from an Italian population-based study

Technological and medical progresses stimulated a worldwide demographic transition with a high socio-economic impact. The Mental Health in Older People Consensus suggests that elderly mental health deserve attention from a research and a public health perspective. To investigate mental disorders in a population-based sample of persons aged 75+ living in Faenza (Northern Italy). The Cambridge Mental Disorders of the Elderly Examination (CAMDEX) (Roth, 1986) was administered to 462 elderly (or/and their proxies/informants). Cognitive functions were tested using CAMDEX-Cognitive section (CAMCOG) and dementia diagnoses were achieved according to DSM-IV criteria. Among cognitively intact individuals, depression was diagnosed based on DSM-IV and ICD-10 criteria. Presence of general anxiety disorder was evaluated using the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory Short Form (GAI-sf) (Byrne, 2011). Dementia prevalence was 19.1% (95% Confidence Intervals: 16–23%). Even if only eight (2.2%) participants were affected by a major depressive episode (DSM-IV criteria), one out of four participants was clinically diagnosed as being depressed when ICD-10 criteria were applied: mildmoderate- and severe-depression prevalence was 16.4% (95%CI: 12.6–20.2%); 7.5% (95%CI: 4.8–10.2%); 1.1 (95%CI: 0.04–2.2%) respectively. Furthermore 20 (5.4%) participants complained sub-threshold depressive symptoms. Three persons had psychotics’ symptoms (two were depressed). Fifty-one participants (11.0%) felt that living was not worthy (95%CI: 8.0–14.0%) and 29 (7.0%) had suicidal thoughts (95%CI: 4.0–8.0%). Anxiety affected the 18.6% of the sample (95%CI: 14.0–22.0%). Depression and anxiety co-occurred in 36 persons (10.2% of the total population). At least one mental disorder is diagnosable in one out of two community-dwelling elderly.

Mental Health of Elders in Retirement Communities: Is Loneliness a Key Factor?

Loneliness is often manifested by intense feelings of emptiness and abandonment and can lead to depression and suicide. The prevalence of loneliness in older adults is estimated to be 40%. This secondary analysis examined differences between elders reporting and elders not reporting loneliness and the effect of gender on resourcefulness and measures of physical and mental health within the context of L. C. Hawkley and J. T. Cacioppo's (2010) theoretical model of loneliness. A descriptive, comparative design was used to examine gender differences and associations among loneliness and indicators of physical and mental health. Results indicated that for overall health, and indicators of physical health (functional status and number chronic conditions), no significant differences were found between those who reported loneliness and those who reported no loneliness. There were significant differences, however, between lonely elders and nonlonely elders on indicators of mental health, including both anxiety and depressive symptoms. Differences between lonely elders and nonlonely elders on measures of resourcefulness approached significance. The findings from this study suggest that intervention programs designed to prevent or reduce loneliness in older adults may be beneficial for preserving their mental health.

Introduction: Elder Mental Health—The Next Frontier

The Age Wave is upon us. The first group of baby boomers has already passed age 60 and will begin to turn 65, the age of Medicare eligibility, in 2011. The last group of boomers, born 1 year before...

Coalitions on Mental Health and Aging: Lessons Learned for Policy and Practice

Elders with mental health needs have been poorly served. Private and government agencies have given this issue a low priority, which is reflected in service delivery and funding. Coalitions have developed in states around the country and have engaged in a variety of tasks, including training techniques and collaborative efforts to advocate successfully for appropriate services. While accomplishments vary, the coalitions should continue their work, and others should organize in order to reach the goal of having accessible and appropriate elder mental health services.

Using silver yoga exercises to promote physical and mental health of elders with dementia in long-term care facilities

This study aimed to test the effects of yoga exercises on the physical and mental health of elderly people with dementia living in long-term care facilities. A quasi-experimental, pretest-post-test design was used. A convenience sample of 68 residents in long-term care facilities in southern Taiwan, aged 60 years and above with mild to moderate dementia, was selected. An experimental group of 33 elders participated in a 12-week yoga training program of three 55-minute sessions a week; a control group of 35 elders maintained their usual daily activities. Data were collected before and after completing the 12-week study. Measurements included body composition, cardiopulmonary functions, body flexibility, muscle strength and endurance, balance, joints motion, depression, and problem behaviors. The yoga-trained participants had better physical and mental health than those who did not participate, including lowered blood pressure, reduced respiration rate, strengthened cardiopulmonary fitness, enhanced body flexibility, improved muscle strength and endurance, improved balance, and increased joints motion (all p values < 0.05). In addition, the depression state (p < 0.001) and problem behaviors (p < 0.001) of these demented elders were significantly reduced. Yoga exercise has positive benefits for both the physical and mental health of elders with dementia living in long-term care facilities. It is recommended that yoga be included as one of the routine activities in these long-term care facilities.

S13-03 - Dialogue and challenge among different specialities

IntroductionThanks to social, technological, and medical advances occurred during the last century, the aging of the population has become a worldwide phenomenon (Kinsella, 2002). The high socio-economic impact of this demographic transition has recently stimulated a growing interest for the aging process (Lunenfeld, 2008) and elderly mental health has been receiving increasing attention (Mental Health in Older People. Consensus, 2008).ObjectiveOld age psychiatry, or psychogeriatric, deals with psychiatric conditions that predate the ageing process such as schizophrenia or depression, and with diseases occurring later in life like dementia and other cognitive disorders. To cope with the increased workload due to older people, Psychiatric Services are required to provide multidisciplinary, comprehensive and integrated care.AimsTo investigate the attitude of Bologna's Psychiatric Services in the care of elderly affected by psychiatric disorders.MethodsSelf-completed questionnaires administered to psychiatrists.ResultsPsychogeriatric is the second main priority of psychiatry for the new millennium. Psychiatrists working in liason-consultation settings take care of around 20 elderly patients per weeek. Sedation, insomnia and resistant-depression treatment are the most frequent interventions required to psychiatrists by colleagues of other specialities. Psychiatrists report feelings of un-satisfaction and worries for potential drugs side-effects. They “don't like much” dealing with elderly people especially with patients affected by un-treatable conditions such as dementia (narcissistic wound?).ConclusionAccessible and responsive services working in liason with other medical specialists, gero-psychiatric nurses, case manager and social workers might be a good response to the increasing needs of elderly with mental health disorders.

FC28-02 - Generalized anxiety disorder in the elderly. An Italian population-based study

IntroductionThe longevity of population is an evidence over the past decades. Elderly physical and mental health are imperative. Despite anxiety is common and has adverse consequences, literature is meagre.ObjectivesTo estimate the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in elderly and to investigate the association with physical comorbidity, depression, daily habits.Methods426 subjects from the population-based Faenza Community Aging Study (De Ronchi et al 2005), mean age 85,1 (Standard Deviation = 6,9). The Geriatric Anxiety Inventory short-form (GAI-sf) was utilized to define GAD (score ≥ 3). Logistic-regression were used to estimated odds ratio and 95%Confidence Intervals (CI).ResultSubjects with anxiety were 84 (21,2%), 63,1% were women. For age &lt; 80 the prevalence of GAD was 38,1% while for age&gt; 95 was 4,8%. When we compared elderly with GAD to elderly not affected we found the following results: no hobbies (83,3% vs 79,6%) p = 0,124, no friendship (21,8% vs 15,8%) p = 0,425, they don’t make physical activity (53,7% vs 45,6%) p = 0,214 than subjects without anxiety. To have comorbidity was associated with anxiety: one disease OR (CI95%) = 2,71 (1,15–6,24), two or three OR (CI95%) = 2,57 (1,07–6,16) and &gt; three OR (CI95%) = 7,5 (1,81–31,05). Hypertension was positively associated with anxiety OR (CI95%) = 1,94 (1,04-3,62). Depression was highly correlated with anxiety OR (CI 95%) = 5,82 (3,39–9,98). Moderate alcohol consumption was negative associated with anxiety OR(CI 95%) = 0,49 (0,25–0,95).ConclusionAnxiety in elderly is frequent and should be actively investigated especially in elderly with comorbidity.

The Effect of Elderly Mental Health on the Life Satisfaction

The Effect of Elderly Mental Health on the Life Satisfaction

A Study of Factors Affecting on the Preference of the elderly's Mental Health Services Utilization in Rural Areas -Application of Andersen and Newman's Model-

A Study of Factors Affecting on the Preference of the elderly's Mental Health Services Utilization in Rural Areas -Application of Andersen and Newman's Model-