Group Of Older People Research Articles

Clinical Profile and Length of Hospital Stay in a Sample of Psychogeriatric Patients Referred to Consultation Liaison Psychiatric Unit

Background and objectives: There has been a recent increase in older patients admitted to general hospitals. A significant percentage of hospitalized older patients are ≥75 years old, which differ from the patients aged 65 to 74 years old in terms of functional status at patient discharge. This study aims to compare sociodemographic, clinical features, and factors associated with length of hospital stay in youngest-old and oldest-old populations of inpatients referred to the consultation liaison psychiatry unit. Material and methods: This is an observational, cross-sectional, retrospective, and comparative study. We obtained data from a sample of 1017 patients (≥65 years) admitted to a general hospital and referred from different services (medicine, surgery, etc.) to the consultation liaison psychiatry unit. The sample was divided into two groups of patients: youngest-old (65–74 years) and oldest-old (≥75 years). Psychiatric evaluations were performed while the patients were on wards at the hospital. Psychopharmacs were started as needed. A comparative analysis was carried out and predictive factors related to length of hospital stay were calculated. Results: The reference rate to consultation liaison psychiatry unit was 1.45% of the total older patients hospitalized. Our study demonstrates differences between the groups of older people: the oldest-old group were mainly female (p < 0.001), had more previous psychiatric diagnoses (p < 0.001), physical disabilities (p = 0.02), and neurocognitive disorders (p < 0.001), they used more antipsychotics (p < 0.001), and more frequently had a discharge disposition to a nursing home (p = 0.036). The presence of physical disability (beta = 0.07, p < 0.001) and logtime to referral to consultation liaison psychiatry unit (beta = 0.58, p < 0.001) were associated with increased length of hospital stay. Conclusions: Youngest-old and oldest-old people should be considered as two different types of patients when we consider clinical features. The time to referral to consultation liaison psychiatry unit seems to be a relevant factor associated with length of hospital stay.

Social Isolation in Later Life: The Importance of Place, Disadvantage and Diversity

ABSTRACT Social isolation among older people is a complex social problem and growing policy concern. This study investigated social isolation under the auspices of the Hamilton Senior Isolation Impact Plan, a government funded program in Canada. It situates the study of social isolation in a unique region of Ontario and involved 7 focus groups and 32 interviews with older people and stakeholders. Results outline how place and spatial relations can create and/or reinforce isolation; how addressing social isolation requires attention to the relationship between poverty, inequality and disadvantage; and how regional experiences of isolation may differ substantially from what is assumed, where diversity and the needs of particular sub-populations of older people are concerned. Findings highlight the need to broaden policy and practice efforts on social isolation to better include diverse groups of older people who may be poorly served by the agenda of connection alone.

A preliminary exploration of attitudes about COVID-19 among a group of older people in Iwate Prefecture, Japan.

In this article, our goal is to provide researchers with a non-western perspective concerning the COVID-19 pandemic through a qualitative study of older adults living in Iwate, a prefecture in Japan that has only recently (27 July 2020) reported its first confirmed COVID-19 cases and which has experienced comparatively few cases since. Because they live in an environment with few COVID-19 cases, the individuals in this study provide an interesting perspective of the pandemic as it is unfolding in rural Japan and our focus here is on documenting the circumstances and ideas of elder residents of Iwate Prefecture to understand individual experiences of this population. Our intention here is to provide data and tentative analysis that may be useful in developing more complex cross-cultural studies related to the lived experience of COVID-19 among older people.

Berbagi dengan Panti Wreda: Pemeriksaan Kesehatan untuk Menilik Kondisi Kesehatan Lansia

The shifting of population demography to older people groups encourage Indonesia government create integrative care’s policy. Unfortunately, the nursing home as long term care failed to bring integrative care. This aim of community services is to build integrative care for older people groups in nursing home. The first step to establish integrative care is older people’s mapping regarding their health condition and food management through medical check-up. The activities consist of two steps, which are medical check-up and nutrition education. The result shows older peoples have hypertension, normal blood sugar, mild cognitive condition, and average physical activity. The condition motivate nursing home to organize integrative care with other institutions. In addition, the community services also bring opportunity to regular services, especially to nutrition management and medical check-up.

Доверие пожилых людей к социальным службам как феномен общественного сознания

The article deals with the conceptual issues of senior citizens ' trust in social services. The author states the reasons for the prevalence of distrust on the part of certain groups of older people, analyzes the institutionality and personification of trust. The importance of observing ethical prerogatives for the evolution of personalized trust into institutional trust is emphasized.

Research on the treatment of the elderly with Alzheimer disease in virtual reality puzzle games

Objective: To analyze the impact of educational games on the rehabilitation of older people with Alzheimer’s disease. Methods: According to the simple neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI), 60 older people with Alzheimer’s disease who received treatment in this study from April 2020 to May 2021 were selected as the research subjects [1]. The most presented data was recorded. The paired sample analysis method divided them into a control group (30 people) and an experimental group (30 people). The control group was given conventional medication only, and the experimental group was given puzzle game therapy. After the experiment, the mental state and cognitive function of the two groups of older people were compared. Results: 1) The experimental group changed significantly on the NPI questionnaire. 2) The indicators of the experimental group are better than those of the control group. The condition of the control group tends to worsen, and the experimental group’s condition tends to get better. Conclusion: Virtual reality puzzle games can improve the mental state and cognitive function of patients with Alzheimer’s disease to a certain extent and positively affect the rehabilitation of the elderly with Alzheimer’s disease [2].

Experience of speech pathology and nutritional monitoring of oral feeding in older people from a community-based approach

ABSTRACT Purpose: to describe the changes in the body composition and swallowing of an older-people group from a community-based speech therapy and nutrition program. Methods: a pre-experimental study of a single group was carried out, with prospective timing and pre-post evaluation for three months. The Body Mass Index (BMI), percentage of body fat (%BF), percentage of muscle mass (%MM), percentage of visceral fat (%VF), swallowing performance, and Swallowing Quality of Life (Swall-QoL) were evaluated. The Spearman correlation coefficient and the Mann-Whitney U test were used, significance level p&lt;0.05. Results: 13 older people participated in the study. The average age of the group was 73.8 years (SD= 4.6). The BMI (pre=28.17; post=28.38), %BF (pre=38.5; post=38.7), %MM (pre=24.8; post=24.9) and %VF (pre=14.3; post=14.8) did not present significant differences (p&gt;0.05). The scores obtained in the deglutition test was pre=19.15 and post=18.9. An association between BMI and VF (Rho=0.74; p=0.02) was detected. Conclusion: the program represented a community-based instance of health promotion focus on oral feeding of older people.

Frailty and Initiation of Cardio-Protective Medicines Following Incident Acute Coronary Syndrome in Older People: A Linked Data Study

IntroductionBeta-blockers, renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and statins are evidence-based pharmacotherapies for preventing recurrent acute coronary syndrome (ACS), however their use in older people may depend on clinical factors such as comorbidity and frailty. Deriving comorbidity information from linked administrative data is well established. The recent development of the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) now allows ascertainment of frailty from linked administrative data.&#x0D; Objectives and ApproachWe determined the ability of the HFRS to discriminate between groups of older patients initiated on these three cardio-protective medicines following hospitalisation for an incident ACS. We used a 15-year look back to identify incident ACS cases between 2005 and 2008 from Western Australian hospital data and linked them to national pharmaceutical dispensing records. The study was limited to patients aged ≥65 years who had not received these medicines in the last two years and were discharged alive from their index ACS admission. Separate competing risk regression models assessed the association between HFRS and initiation of each medicine, controlling for comorbidities and other variables available from the linked datasets.&#x0D; ResultsOverall, increasing levels of HFRS were associated with lower subdistribution hazards of initiation of each medicine examined, however these varied by age group and sex. For example, the subdistribution hazard ratios (SHR) for beta-blocker initiation among men in the oldest age group (≥85 years) were 0.65 (95% CI: 0.44-0.95) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.29-0.90) in the intermediate and high HFRS groups respectively compared to the low frailty group. The corresponding SHR for women were 1.01 (95% CI: 0.76-1.35) and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.63-1.27), respectively.&#x0D; Conclusion / ImplicationsThe HFRS applied to linked administrative data discriminates between groups of older people who received cardio-protective medicines following an incident ACS. There is potential for it to be used in other chronic disease conditions.

Assessment of loss of health of the population of an older age group

Introduction. The problems of preserving the health of the older generation are especially significant for society and determine the need to search for key indices of medical and social well-being. The purpose of the study is to develop a method for assessing the health losses of the population of the older age group and to test using the example of the Siberian Federal District. Material and methods. For a comprehensive assessment, the following groups of indices were used: the life expectancy, mortality, morbidity, chronic diseases, cumulative disability in group 60+. An integrated assessment of health by the sum of normalized indices by the average value for the Siberian Federal District (NP) is proposed. There was using cluster analysis. Results. Dysfunctional territories (NP≥3) include: Altai Territory, Altai Republic, Irkutsk Region. 4 clusters were identified, of which the 1st cluster has the highest mortality and morbidity rates. Levels of life expectancy, the coefficient of chronicity of diseases in the IV cluster is higher than in II cluster. Cluster III is characterized by the lowest mortality, morbidity, against the background of minimal life expectancy and high cumulative disability. Discussion. The value of the proposed method is limited by the completeness of information on indices of health loss, the different availability of medical care in the territories. Conclusion. The proposed approach to assessing health losses in a group of older people has shown medical and demographic problems in the Siberian Federal District to be very different, which determines a differentiated approach to maintaining public health.

Sleep quality and chronic pain in community dwelling older adults: preliminary results

Background: The natural process of human aging causes biopsychosocial alterations, which can trigger chronic pain and poor sleep quality in older adults. Considering the high prevalence and possible association between these two clinical conditions, special attention from public health policies is necessary to provide quality aging. Objective: To verify if there is an association between chronic pain and sleep quality among older adults in the community. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional study on the association of chronic pain with the sleep quality among older people in the community. Participants were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); Visual Analog Pain scale; questionnaires of sociodemographic and clinical data, assessment of cognitive impairment through the Mini Mental State Examination, and anthropometric assessments. The data were submitted to descriptive statistics. The means between the groups of older people with and without chronic pain were compared using the Student's t test for independent samples and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) was used to analyze the association of PSQI with pain intensity. Results: In total, 51 older women were included, with a mean age of 70 ± 8 years. The majority had a low level of education (52.9%), low financial income (64.7%), and chronic pain (56.9%). It was found that the older adults with chronic pain presented worse sleep quality when compared those without chronic pain and a moderate (r=0.595) and significant (p&lt;0.01) correlation between sleep quality and the intensity of chronic pain was observed. Conclusion: Older adults in the community with chronic pain present worse sleep quality when compared to the older adults without pain. There is a strong correlation between the intensity of chronic pain and sleep quality in older adults; the greater the intensity of pain, the worse the sleep quality. Trial Registration: Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos (REBEC) Identifier: RBR-3cqzfy&#x0D;

Postrzeganie srebrnej gospodarki w kontekście wyzwań związanych ze starzejącą się populacją w ujęciu lokalnym. Studium przypadku

An ageing society is a challenge of modern times. One of the areas where there is a chance for the effects of demographic processes to be mitigated, is the silver economy, widely understood as an economy that responds to the changing needs of different groups of older people. This aspect is evident in the development strategies being created at European, national, or regional levels, but to a much lesser extent at the local level. At the local level, actions are implemented that take into account the specificity of a particular social situation, that may differ significantly from the situation at higher levels. When drawing up development strategies, local governments and local opinion formers should have complex information of the demographic situation of a given territorial unit and should know the solutions applied in so-called good practices. The article pre-sents the results of the research (case study) verifying whether the solutions related to an ageing population, implemented at the local level, take into account the use of the potential of the silver economy and the knowledge of local governments and opinion-formers in this respect. A qualita-tive study was applied, based on desk research, the technique of individual in-depth interviews and focused group interviews.

Activity recognition using wearable sensors for tracking the elderly

A population group that is often overlooked in the recent revolution of self-tracking is the group of older people. This growing proportion of the general population is often faced with increasing health issues and discomfort. In order to come up with lifestyle advice towards the elderly, we need the ability to quantify their lifestyle, before and after an intervention. This research focuses on the task of activity recognition (AR) from accelerometer data. With that aim, we collect a substantial labelled dataset of older individuals wearing multiple devices simultaneously and performing a strict protocol of 16 activities (the GOTOV dataset, N=28). Using this dataset, we trained Random Forest AR models, under varying sensor set-ups and levels of activity description granularity. The model that combines ankle and wrist accelerometers (GENEActiv) produced the best results (accuracy >80%) for 16-class classification. At the same time, when additional physiological information is used, the accuracy increased (>85%). To further investigate the role of granularity in our predictions, we developed the LARA algorithm, which uses a hierarchical ontology that captures prior biological knowledge to increase or decrease the level of activity granularity (merge classes). As a result, a 12-class model in which the different paces of walking were merged showed a performance above 93%. Testing this 12-class model in labelled free-living pilot data, the mean balanced accuracy appeared to be reasonably high, while using the LARA algorithm, we show that a 7-class model (lying down, sitting, standing, household, walking, cycling, jumping) was optimal for accuracy and granularity. Finally, we demonstrate the use of the latter model in unlabelled free-living data from a larger lifestyle intervention study. In this paper, we make the validation data as well as the derived prediction models available to the community.

Children vs elderly in orthopedic surgery site of infection. Are there difference? Experience of a high volume plastic surgeon consultant.

Introduction: Prevention of surgical site infection in surgery and bone trauma has some hallmarks not shared with other surgical disciplines. The surgeon is not always able to open the pathogen and a key to correct therapy. The aim of our work is to verify if there are differences between pathogens, and treatment between the two groups most susceptible to skin infections by means of synthesis such as children and the elderly. Materials and Methods: From January 2011 to december 2018, we perform 3189 consultancies in various departments of orthopedics and traumatology. From the exclusion criteria we recruited 168 patients with superficial infection of the surgical site after orthopedic surgery. A group represented by children (under 12 years old) and a group of older people over 65. The evaluation criteria between the two groups were: the infectious bacterial flora; the type of antibiotic, the duration of antibiotic therapy; the type of medications used in the post-operative period, the complications.Results:The results showed that elderly patients are more likely to be bacterial superinfection due to poor hygiene. Therapy in children is shorter and has minor complications. Proper management of the surgical site showed a rapid resolution of the infection in both groups. Conclusion: The correct management and hygiene of the surgical site allows its rapid recovery from infection. The plastic surgeon management of the fracture site infection can be a winning weapon in the treatment of this problem both in the child and in the elderly.

Tolerance for uncertainty in elderly people

The aim of the study. The aim of the paper is a comparison of tolerance to uncertainty in two groups of elderly: the students of the University of the Third Age (UTA) and older people who are not enrolled but help to educate grandchildren. A relation to uncertainty was shown to infl uence on decision making strategy of elderly that indicates on importance of the researches. Methods. To obtain the objectives of the paper the following methods were used: 1) Personal change readiness survey (PCRS) adapted by Nickolay Bazhanov and Galina Bardiyer; 2) Tolerance Ambiguity Scale (TAS) adapted by Galina Soldatova; 3) Freiburg personality inventory (FPI) and 4) The questionnaire of self-relation by Vladimir Stolin and Sergej Panteleev. 40 socially involved elderly people were investigated according the above methods, 20 from UTA and 20 who are not studied and served as control group. Results. It was shown that relations of tolerance to uncertainty in the study group of students of the University of the Third Age substantially differ from relations of tolerance to uncertainty in group of older people who do not learn. The majority of students of the University of the Third Age have an inherent low tolerance for uncertainty, which is associated with an increase in expression personality traits and characteristics in self-relation. The group of the elderly who are not enrolled increasingly shows tolerance of uncertainty, focusing on the social and trusting relationship to meet the needs of communication, and the ability to manage their own emotions and desires than a group of Third Age university students. Conclusions. The results of experimental research of the third age university student’s peculiarities of the tolerance to uncertainty were outlined. It was found that decision making in the ambiguity situations concerning social interaction is well developed in elderly who do not study. The students of the University of Third Age have greater needs in conversation, social interaction than the control group and should learn to make decisionin ambiguity or uncertainty situations.

Vibrotactile perception on the sole of the foot in an older group of people with normal glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes.

Objectives:To evaluate vibrotactile sense in an older group of people with normal glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes relative to other sensory tests.Methods:Vibration perception thresholds on the sole of the foot (Multifrequency vibrametry and Biothesiometer) were compared to the results from evaluation of touch (monofilament), electrophysiology (sural nerve) and thermal sensation (Thermotest®).Results:Vibration perception and temperature thresholds, as well as sural nerve function, differed between normal glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes. Measuring vibration perception thresholds at lower frequencies with multifrequency vibrametry versus biothesiometer provided correlations similar to sural nerve amplitude. Temperature thresholds correlated with vibration perception thresholds and sural nerve function. Monofilaments revealed pathology in only a few participants with type 2 diabetes.Conclusions:In an older group of people, vibration perception thresholds show a correlation similar to sural nerve amplitude on tactile and non-tactile surfaces. Measuring a vibration perception threshold on a tactile surface in type 2 diabetes provides no clear advantage over measuring it on the medial malleolus. In older type 2 diabetes subjects, both large and small diameter nerve fibers are affected.

Efecto de un programa de ejercicio físico sobre el riesgo de caídas, equilibrio y velocidad de la marcha en personas mayores con discapacidad intelectual

IntroductionPeople with intellectual disabilities (ID) have balance disturbances and risk of falls, which are aggravated with ageing. This study aimed to provide information on the effects of an exercise programme on fall risk, balance, and walking speed in a group of older people with ID. Materials and methodsEight people with mild to moderate ID (mean age: 56.37±7.08 years) participated in a 12-week programme based on a weekly session that included exercises aimed at strengthening stabilising muscles, stimulating proprioception, and enhancing reflexes in unstable situations. The effects of the programme on the risk of falling and on balance and walking speed were assessed using the Tinetti scale and the Timed Up and Go test, respectively. ResultsThe programme was feasible and no adverse effects were registered. At the end of the programme, the risk of falls remained unchanged, while balance and gait speed improved significantly. ConclusionsA three-month weekly programme based on muscle strengthening and proprioceptive re-education exercises was feasible and had a positive impact on balance and walking speed in a group of older people with ID. These results lay the foundation for future randomised clinical trials aiming to confirm the effects of such programmes on the risk of falls in this population.

Older people and creativity: What can a social pedagogical perspective add to this work?

While for some older people longevity is a blessing, for others it is a curse. This article draws on the author’s experience of working through the National Lottery Fund’s Ageing Better programme with groups of older people in Leicester, many of whom are marginalised in terms both of society and under-represented in research. Four psychosocial challenges are identified from this experience: handling change; chronic loneliness; meaninglessness; and loss of a social role. The article explores the significance of creativity whether linked to the participatory arts or creative thinking and problem solving in addressing these challenges. It acknowledges the value of the participatory arts but highlights problems of accessibility and sustainability. The article explores briefly the concept of ‘everyday creativity’ and touches on the underexplored areas of how creativity can link to freeing up some rigidities in mindset and opening older people up to new possibilities. Finally, it examines the principles and practices of social pedagogy. Despite there being very few examples of practice with older people in the UK named as social pedagogy, it is suggested that the perspective is highly relevant to this area of work. Not only do the values and skills match what is needed, but adopting a social pedagogical perspective across the sector might enhance the self-confidence of staff and volunteers, the quality of the work, and provide a much-needed common language. Psychosocial knowledge and skills could, with benefit, be integrated.

Evaluating audio-visual falls prevention messages with community-dwelling older people using a World Caf\xe9 forum approach

BackgroundFalls risk increases sharply with older age but many older people are unaware or underestimate their risk of falling. Increased population-based efforts to influence older people’s falls prevention behavior are urgently needed. The aim of this study was to obtain a group of older people’s collective perspectives on newly developed prototypes of audio-visual (AV) falls prevention messages, and evaluate changes in their falls prevention behaviour after watching and discussing these.MethodsA mixed-method study using a community World Café forum approach.ResultsAlthough the forum participants (n = 38) mostly responded positively to the three AV messages and showed a significant increase in their falls prevention capability and motivation after the forum, the participants collectively felt the AV messages needed a more inspirational call to action. The forum suggested this could be achieved by means of targeting the message and increasing the personal connection. Participants further suggested several alternatives to online falls prevention information, such as printed information in places in the community, as a means to increase opportunity to seek out falls prevention information.ConclusionsFalls prevention promotion messages need to be carefully tailored if they are to be more motivating to older people to take action to do something about their falls risk. A wider variety of revised and tailored AV messages, as one component of a community-wide falls prevention campaign, could be considered in an effort to persuade older people to take decisive action to do something about their falls risk.Trial registrationThis study was registered prospectively: NCT03154788. Registered 11 May 2017.

Pilot testing the effectiveness of the Healthy Ageing Supported by Internet and Community programme for promoting healthy lifestyles for people over 65 years of age.

Active ageing is associated with physical, social and mental wellbeing, as well as the participation and integration of older people in society. Currently, demographic changes represent a major challenge while reinforcing the need to improve our current understanding of active ageing and promote appropriate interventions suitable for older people. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the impact of the Healthy Ageing Supported by Internet and Community training programme for acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary for adopting a healthy lifestyle in community-dwelling adults over 65years of age. This study was conducted between 2015 and 2016 and was based on a convenience sample of individuals who responded to questionnaires. The study participants comprised all those who were included in the training programme (n=71, 47 mentors and 24 participants in peer groups). The statistical analysis demonstrated the effectiveness of the programme regarding feasibility and expected results (p<0.05 for most items, individually, as well as for the total scores of each test dimension). The programme was based on peer group training and the use of information and communication technologies and proved to be effective for acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary for adopting a healthy lifestyle. Furthermore, increased health scores were obtained in the physical, mental and social domains. It could also be beneficial for other groups of older people in order to support their integration into society, enhance their social skills and decrease any feelings of loneliness and rejection.

Non-communicable disease burden and quality of life of selected group of older people in Galle, Sri Lanka

Introduction: Chronic ill health due to non-communicable diseases have already posed a great threat to the well-being of older people in Sri Lanka impairing their quality of life to a greater extent. This study was aimed to examine the impact of some chronic disease conditions on quality of life (QOL) of older people in Galle, Sri Lanka. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 70 older people (male=21, female=49) aged 60 years. Validated self-reported version of World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire which measures QOL in four dimensions; physical, psychological, environmental and social was used to assess the QOL. Results: The age range of the participants was 60-90 years (mean = 70.3 years, SD = 6.2 years). Of the total, 41 subjects were living with their spouse and 22 were widowed. Visual impairment (67%), hypertension (47%) and arthritis (34%) were the most prevalent chronic diseases reported. QOL mean scores for all the four domains which measured in a 1 - 100 scale were all higher than 65 for both men and women. Further, mean scores of QOL in all the domains in both sexes were found to be low among those who were suffering from chronic conditions, although significant differences were found in physical and psychological domains between those with and without cardiovascular diseases and hypertension (p Conclusions: QOL of older people in Galle is relatively higher compared to the QOL of community dwelling older people in many other countries. Although NCDs and other chronic conditions are prevalent in this study population, cultural and environmental factors may have contributed to improve the QOL of this population group.