Elderly Residents Of Care Facilities Research Articles

Impact of Polypharmacy in Elderly Care Facility Residents: Clinical and Gut Microbiota Analysis

Impact of Polypharmacy in Elderly Care Facility Residents: Clinical and Gut Microbiota Analysis

Consistency of supplied food and dentition status of the elderly in residential care homes

BackgroundThe association between oral health and malnutrition has been investigated in detail. The nutrition of elderly subjects in residential care homes is determined by caregivers, dietitians or nutritionists and managed by changing the consistency of their supplied food. However, few reports have described the relationship between oral condition and supplied food consistency. The objective of this study was to determine dentition status and care levels that correlate with supplied food consistency among elderly residents of care facilities. In addition, we estimated the care level at which ordinary food consistency can be supplied by caregivers who cannot diagnose dental status.MethodSeveral factors, including dentition, wearing removable dentures, meals categorized as ordinary or processed (sliced, mashed, or liquefied), and care levels according to the Japanese standardized care-needs certification system were investigated in 276 elderly residents (male, n = 56; female, n = 220; mean age, 87.68 ± 5.94 years) of 12 fee-based care facilities.ResultsThe results of this study showed that care levels were significantly correlated with the consistency of the food supplied to the residents. When supplied food consistency was categorized as ordinary or processed, the number of remaining teeth and the number of tooth contact pairs, either natural or artificial, were statistically significant. From logistic regression analysis, it was determined that the numbers of tooth contact pairs were statistically significant among residents requiring high levels of care.ConclusionThe number of tooth contact pairs, either natural or artificial, was one of the contributing factors for deciding supplied food consistency among elderly residents of care facilities. Elderly residents requiring less than care level 3 should have ordinary meals.

Prevalence of falls and evaluation of mobility among institutionalized elderly persons

Abstract Objective: The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of falls among institutionalized elderly persons and identify associated factors. Method: A cross-sectional study of elderly residents of Care Facilities For the Elderly in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, was carried out. The elderly persons could walk independently and did not have severe cognitive impairment. Data was obtained about the institution and socio-demographic and health information was collected. A physical examination was performed to evaluate frailty, mobility and balance (Timed up and go, Berg Balance Scale, Gait speed and Sitting-rising Test - SRT). Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-squared Test for a 5% significance level. Results: Sixty-three elderly persons were within the search criteria. Of these 22.2% had fallen in the past year. Only the SRT was associated with these falls. Conclusion: It was concluded that the studied population has a low prevalence of falls, and the ability to perform less than 5 repetitions in the SRT was associated with episodes of falling.

A Feasible Method to Enhance and Maintain the Health of Elderly Living in Long-Term Care Facilities Through Long-Term, Simplified Tai Chi Exercises

Practicing Tai Chi offers the potential to enhance the physical and mental health of older adults. Identifying a feasible way to encourage regular Tai Chi practice is essential if Tai Chi is to be promoted as a long-term, daily activity for elderly care facility residents. The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness and feasibility of using an audiovisual, simplified Tai Chi exercise module to enhance and maintain the health of long-term care facility residents. A quasi-experimental, one-group, time-series design was used. Data were collected six times (twice before the intervention; four times after intervention started) at three-month intervals. Fifty-one elderly male subjects were recruited by convenience sampling. A 50-minute Simplified Tai-Chi Exercise Program (STEP) was implemented in two small groups three times a week for 12 months. During the first six-month period, participants received guidance from an actual instructor. During the second six-month period, guidance was delivered via a video tape and displayed on a television screen. Results indicated that participants' physical health (cardio-respiratory function, lower body flexibility, and hand-gripping strength) and mental health (quality of sleep) had both improved significantly six months after intervention started, with improvements maintained throughout the end of the 12-month study (all p values < .05). Instructor-led STEP training followed by practice using appropriate audiovisual aids represents a feasible and effective method to implement a long-term activity program in long-term elderly care facilities.

‘Stops walking to talk’: a simple measure of predicting falls in the frail elderly

Objective: To discover if the measure ‘stops walking to talk’ is a useful indicator of falls risk in the frail elderly in residential care.Method: Twelve frail elderly residents of care facilities were assessed for falls likelihood with the Timed Up‐and‐Go (TUG) and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) tests, and then observed in walking to determine if they needed to stop walking to talk. These results were compared with the number of falls subjects had experienced in the previous six months.Results: Eight subjects were deemed at risk of falling by the TUG and seven by the BBS. Four of these subjects had fallen in the previous six months. Three subjects needed to stop walking to talk on at least one occasion and were deemed at risk of falling by the TUG and BBS. One of these had fallen in the previous six months.Conclusion: This study demonstrated in this group of frail older people that falling in the previous six months was associated with high TUG and low scores on the BBS. Only three observations of ‘stops walking to talk’ were made; this limited the comparisons as only one of these subjects had fallen but all were predicted as falters by the TUG and BBS. A future study with a larger sample size and incorporating memory recall in the conversation should confirm these results.

Exercise participation with videotaped modeling: Effects on balance and gait in elderly residents of care facilities

We conducted two studies of the effects of videotaped modeling procedures on performance of a therapeutic exercise routine and the resulting improvements in the gait and balance of elderly residents of a care facility. In Study 1, five elderly, mentally retarded women used a videotape of themselves to guide their performance of the exercises. Data collected on exercise participation showed high levels of independent performance for up to 6 months. The results of a multiple baseline design across subjects and exercise groups showed that these levels were sufficient to produce increases in accuracy and rate on a balance board walk test. For the three elderly (two mildly mentally retarded) women in Study 2, videotaped modeling by either the participant or a familiar peer resulted in high levels of independent exercise in free choice situations. The results of a multiple baseline design across subjects showed that performance of the exercises produced improvements in one or more dimensions of gait during a balance walk test.