Health Of Older People Research Articles

제주지역 노인의 지역사회 계속거주에 미치는 영향요인 연구

This study examined the factors influencing Aging-in-Place(AIP) in older adults in the Jeju region. Also, the study tried to find supporting ways of AIP for older adults. The study used data from the 2020 Ministry of Health and Welfare Survey on Korea Older Adults and analyzed 375 cases of older adults in Jeju. The influencing factors of AIP consisted of functional, structural, phenomenological, and ecological factors. The main results are as follows: First, 98.2% of older adults in a healthy situation chose AIP, but this number drops to 59.5% when their health becomes weak and unhealthy. Second, the factors influencing the AIP of older adults in the Jeju area were age as a functional factor, household type and economic satisfaction as a structural factor, housing and residential environment satisfaction variables with a phenomenological factor, and satisfaction with neighborhood relationships as an ecological factor. Based on the above results, this study suggested the policy to support older adults in the Jeju area as they lead their daily lives and face old age. In particular, the willingness to AIP decreases significantly when the health of older people in the Jeju region deteriorates; the study emphasized and discussed the importance of creating a residential environment.

Supporting Aging-in-Place: Drivers and Desired Outcomes of a Healing Environment for Older Adults in Block Spaces of High-Density Cities.

Aim: The objective of this study was to develop a comprehensive multidimensional framework by identifying the key drivers and components associated with the health of older people in healing environments, and to apply this framework in high-density city block spaces, creating opportunities for aging in place. Background: Effective theoretical and practical research frameworks are necessary to determine how to best support older adults in high-density city areas as they face aging-related challenges. Methods: The methodological approach involved bibliometric analysis (SciMAT) and systematic literature review of approximately 4446 articles related to rehabilitation settings and older adults. The review focused on literature that developed concepts and research frameworks and provided an empirical foundation. Results: The review identified four types of drivers for a healing environment for older individuals in high-density city blocks (HEOI-HCBs): self-environment, interpersonal, physical, and informational environments. These drivers were linked to eight desirable outcomes: initiative acquisition, shared vision, trust, empathy, integrity, systematicity, networking, and perceived usefulness. Conclusion: The drivers and outcomes formed the HEOI-HCBs framework, each representing a distinct dimension of the HEOI-HCBs concept. This study and the resulting framework facilitate the application and understanding of healing environments.

Enhancing resilience in ageing: The role of age-friendly community and individual health in reducing seismic risk

Age-friendly cities/communities (AFC) propose promising strategies for incorporating disaster resilience-building with urban planning and design interventions. However, little attention has been paid to exploring the effects of AFC concept on the resilience and health of older people from a behavioural perspective and through empirical-based approaches. This article aims to expand on the attributes of AFC by incorporating social capital, community support, and individual health factors. We further explore their roles in enhancing earthquake resilience among older adults. We develop a novel interdisciplinary analytical framework, called the Framework of Age-friendly and Resilience Behaviour for Seismic Risk Reduction (FARBSR). This framework combined with focus group meetings and cluster, regression, and factor analyses to compare the determinants of pre-disaster preparedness, coping responses, post-disaster recovery behaviour and resilience among older adults. Based on an empirical survey conducted in Taipei, Taiwan, we randomly selected 427 older adults for face-to-face questionnaire interviews. Results show that high-quality age-friendly physical environments significantly increase older adults’ adoption of adaptation behaviour and resilience. Social environments, social capital, and community support play a relatively weak but critical supporting role. Resilience and adaptation to earthquakes also result from interactions between individuals and their environment. However, the effect of individual health and cognitive factors on this dynamic is mixed. Our research opens avenues for fresh perspectives, bridging the AFC framework with the health and cognitive attributes of older adults, and highlighting implications for policy in land use planning and built environment design.

Ageism Harms Older People's Health, Cognition, and Well-Being: A Selective Review and Policy Recommendations

Ageism refers to stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination directed towards individuals based on their age, such as perceptions that someone is “too old” for certain activities. Ageism directed at older people is prevalent; over 90% of older people in the United States report that they regularly experience ageism, such as when others assume they are forgetful or need assistance because of their age. Experiencing ageism is associated with poorer health outcomes, reduced cognitive performance, and increased healthcare costs. Reducing ageism requires a multifaceted approach, including strengthening anti-ageism laws and reframing societal narratives about what it means to grow older. Growing older should not be presented as a problem but as a fundamental part of the human journey. Ageism can also be reduced through positive intergenerational interactions and educational initiatives. Reducing ageism can promote healthier aging trajectories.

Digital literacy and health of older people in a Korean rural village

Digital literacy and health of older people in a Korean rural village

Anthropometrics and Mental Health Among People with and Without Type 2 Diabetes

Objectives: To investigate the relationships between anthropometric variables and the mental health of older people with type 2 diabetes compared to those without diabetes. Design: A case-control study. Setting(s): The study was conducted in Yazd, the capital city of the Yazd province in Iran. Participants: This study comprised 501 diabetic and 555 non-diabetic individuals recruited from the Yazd Health Study (YaHS). Outcome measures: The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) questionnaire was used to assess mental health. The scale measured anthropometric indicators, including blood pressure, waist circumference, hip circumference, neck circumference, body fat, body muscle percentage, visceral fat, and body mass index (BMI). Results: The non-diabetic group exhibited better mental health (P≤0.01) compared to the diabetic group. Linear regression analysis indicated that, among demographic variables, gender in diabetic elderly was associated with mental health (P≤0.01), while gender, level of education, and marital status (P≤0.01) in non-diabetics were associated with mental health. Furthermore, among anthropometric factors, BMI and visceral fat (P≤0.01) in diabetics and visceral fat (P≤0.01) in non-diabetics were associated with mental health. The model obtained from liner regression based on demographic and anthropometric variables explained 6 to 13.3% and 8.8 to 15.4% of variance in mental health among diabetic (R2=0.086, P≤0.01) and non-diabetic (R2=0.162, P≤0.01) individuals, respectively. Conclusions: Gender, higher BMI, and visceral fat were associated with poor mental health among diabetic patients. The results of the present study can be used for designing appropriate interventions through different programs such as physical fitness programs.

Effect of combined physical–cognitive training on the functional and cognitive capacity of older people with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThe increase in population aging highlights the growing prevalence of mild cognitive impairment, prompting the adoption of interventions that combine physical exercise and cognitive training to improve health and cognitive performance in older adults. The aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy of a combined program on physical and cognitive health in older people with cognitive impairment.MethodsA 12-week randomized controlled clinical trial involving 95 participants (aged 72.12 ± 4.25 years), 47 individuals participated in a control group (CG) that only underwent cognitive stimulation, while 48 individuals were in an experimental group (EG) that participated in a combined program. Balance was measured using the Tinetti scale, upper body strength was assessed with the arm curl test, lower body strength was evaluated with the 30-s chair stand test, flexibility was tested using the back scratch test and chair sit-and-reach test, physical function was measured with the Timed Up and Go test, cognitive function was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination, cognitive impairment was evaluated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, verbal fluency was tested with the Isaac test, and executive functions were assessed using the Trail Making Test.ResultsThe results of the study show significant improvements in both physical and cognitive aspects, such as balance, gait, upper and lower body strength, flexibility, physical function, cognitive function, cognitive impairment, verbal fluency, and executive functions in the group that carried out the intervention compared to the control group.ConclusionA combined program for older individuals with mild cognitive impairment leads to enhancements in physical and cognitive health. These improvements underscore the importance of integrating physical exercise with cognitive training as an effective strategy for enhancing overall health and quality of life in older adults.Trial registrationNCT05503641.

Виявлення мотивації людей похилого віку до занять різними видами рухової активності

Physical activity has a very important impact on the well-being and health of older people. Regular physical exercise improves quality of life, reduces the risk of various diseases and slows down the aging process. The article is devoted to the motivation of older people to engage in physical activity. The purposeof the study is to determine the motivation for engaging in various types of physical activity among elderly people in Ukraine and Poland. Methods. The study used theoretical analysis of scientific and methodological literature, pedagogical, sociological research methods and methods of mathematical statistics. The study was conducted at the Institute of Sports and Physical Culture of the University of Economics in Bydgoszcz (Poland) and the Kharkiv State Academy of Physical Culture (Ukraine). The experiment involved 120 (30 men and 30 women from Ukraine and Poland) elderly people (average age 66.12 ± 2.98 years). Results. As a result of the analysis of a survey of older people, the advantages in choosing various types of physical activity for men and women living in Poland and Ukraine were revealed. In the course of studying the motivation for physical activity among older people, it was revealed that the main motives are improving health, communicating with friends and maintaining physical fitness. Conclusions. It has been established that in Poland the most common types of physical activity among older people are swimming, Nordic walking, health tourism and cycling; in Ukraine, preference is given to the same types of physical activity other than cycling, which is due to the insufficiently developed infrastructure and technical support in Ukraine. The motives for engaging in physical activity among older people have been determined. Thus, the priorities turned out to be health-improving, recreational, communicative and preventive.

Brain functional training: a perspective article.

Introduction: Physical exercise (PE) positively affects the nervous system, impacting morphology and physiology. It increases brain gray and white matter, improves cerebral blood flow, and stimulates neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, and angiogenesis, promoting brain function. Although exercise already affects cognition, some training modalities place greater demands on the cognitive aspects of physical exercise, such as perceptual-motor and visual-motor training. This type of approach aims to emphasize the cognitive adaptations that occur chronically. Specifically for older people, functional training, a multi-component approach, is a promising exercise modality that stimulates functionality using multi-joint, multi-planar exercises mirroring daily activities. However, applying a greater focus on cognitive adaptations in line with the functional training proposal for maximal benefits remains underexplored. Aim: Thus, this perspective article initially explores different exercise approaches emphasizing cognitive adaptations and proposes Brain Functional Training to improve older adult's functionality. Methods: Furthermore, we explain how brain functional training can be explored to emphasize cognitive aspects based on increasing complexity to stimulate the executive function and its subdomains. Conclusion: This proposal is one alternative to combining motor and cognitive stimuli to promote autonomy and health in older people.

Climate change effects in older people's health: A scoping review.

Climate change has serious consequences for the morbidity and mortality of older adults. To identify the effects of climate change on older people's health. A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Quantitative research and reports from organizations describing the effects of climate change on older people were selected. Sixty-three full-text documents were selected. Heat and air pollution were the two factors that had the most negative effects on cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity and mortality in older people. Mental health and cognitive function were also affected. Climate change affects several health problems in older individuals, especially high temperatures and air pollution. Nursing professionals must have the necessary skills to respond to the climate risks in older adults. More instruments are required to determine nursing competencies on climate change and the health of this population group. No patient or public contribution.

A study on the physical aging characteristics of the older people over 70 years old in China.

In China, with the increase of life expectancy and the decrease of fertility rate, the aging problem has become increasingly prominent, and the physical problems of the older people over 70 years are the key and difficult problems. Based on the interactive logic between the aging problem and the older people health, in the study, a questionnaire survey and a nationwide physical fitness test were carried out on the older people over 70, to divide into different age groups (70-74 years old, 75-79 years old, 80-84 years old, 85 years old and older) and different genders. There were 8,400 valid samples, and 1,050 persons in each group. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the differences among groups of different ages, and a broken line chart was drawn to discuss the aging characteristics of various physical indexes of the older people over 70 in China. (1) Body morphology: male waist circumference, male waist-to-height ratio and female BMI showed a gradual downward trend with the increase of age; (2) Physiological function: male and female vital capacity showed a decreasing trend with the increase of age, while female pulse pressure showed a gradual upward trend. (3) Physical quality: the indicators of male and female muscle strength, flexibility quality, aerobic endurance and balance showed a downward trend with the increase of age. Vital capacity, flexibility quality, muscle strength, aerobic endurance, balance ability and so on, decreased significantly with the growth of age. 80 years old is the inflection point of the rapid decline of various indicators. Blood pressure, silent pulse, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio and other indicators did not change regularly with age. Indicators such as blood pressure, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio were in the high-risk range of metabolic diseases and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The study conducted physical fitness test on the older people over 70 years old in 7 geographical regions of China, which is the first nationwide physical fitness test for the older people, which is an extension and expansion of the national physical fitness monitoring system, and also shows that the test indicators involved in the "Health fitness scale" are simple and feasible. And the study added a series of test data over 70 years old, which is the basis for scientific and reasonable formulation of physical fitness evaluation standards for the older people, and is of great significance for improving the national physical fitness database and grasping the dynamic changes of national physical health status, and providing data support for scientific guidance of physical exercise for the older people.

Beyond the pandemic: understanding the perceived changes in mental health of the elderly population

This study aimed to describe the mental health of the elderly before and after the COVID-19 outbreak using a qualitative approach. Ten elderly people volunteered to participate in offline semi-structured interviews. The data was analyzed using the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) technique. The results of our study mentioned the differences in the mental health of the elderly during the COVID-19 outbreak and after the COVID-19 outbreak. The elderly felt the difference in emotional terms, such as being more relieved and happier because activities returned to normal. The elderly feel calmer when using religion as religious coping to overcome psychological problems that arise during the COVID-19 outbreak. During the COVID-19 outbreak, elderly people still working also feel the impact on the family's economy, which compounds the problem. Excessive coverage on social media also helped make the elderly more afraid of COVID-19. The study's results can help improve older people's mental health after COVID-19 by understanding their experiences and finding good ways to cope. It suggests that future research should look at specific ways to support older people's mental health, taking into account their special challenges and the role of social media in causing fear and worry about COVID-19.

Influencing factors of home hospice care needs of the older adults with chronic diseases at the end of life in China: a cross-sectional study.

Chronic diseases are becoming a serious threat to the physical and mental health of older people in China as their aging process picks up speed. Home hospice care addresses diverse needs and enhances the quality of life for older adult individuals nearing the end of life. To ensure the well-being of chronically ill older adults at the end of life, it is vital to explore and assess the multidimensional hospice needs of terminally ill older individuals in their homes. The aim of this study was to investigate the current situation of home hospice care needs of Chinese older adults with chronic diseases at the end of life, and to analyze the influencing factors (sociodemographic and disease-related factors). In this cross-sectional study, 247 older adult people with chronic diseases at the end of life were selected from the communities of 4 community health service centers in Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province from June to October 2023 by random sampling method. A general information questionnaire and the home hospice care needs questionnaire developed by our research group were used to investigate. Independent samples t-test or one-way ANOVA was used to compare the differences in the scores of different characteristics, and the factors with significant differences were selected for multivariate linear regression analysis to determine the final influencing factors. The total score of home hospice needs of the dying older adult was 115.70 ± 12, with the mean scores for each dimension in descending order being Information Needs (3.96 ± 0.61), Social Support Needs (3.96 ± 0.44), Spiritual Needs (3.92 ± 0.43), Physical Needs (3.60 ± 0.59), Psychological Needs (3.37 ± 0.65). Status of residence, duration of illness (year), the type of disease, and self-care ability were influential factors in the total score of home hospice needs. The need for hospice care for the terminally ill older adult is high, and healthcare professionals should implement services according to the influencing factors of need to meet their multidimensional needs and improve their quality of life.

Validation of the Perceived Community Support Questionnaire for Older Chinese.

Community support has a profound positive impact on older people's health and plays a crucial role in facilitating aging in place. This impact is particularly significant in the Chinese context, where community support can alleviate the pressure on traditional family caregiving. This study translated, adapted, and validated the perceived community support questionnaire (PCSQ) for use with older Chinese. Data for this validation study were collected from a cross-sectional survey of 1,064 Chinese aged 65 years and above. Following the cultural adaptation of the PCSQ-14, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to examine its factor structure. Criterion validity, convergent and discriminant validity, internal consistency reliability, and test-retest reliability of the scale were also assessed. Based on the CFA results, the adapted PCSQ-14 was found to have a 3-factor solution for community integration, community participation, and community organizations. The criterion-related validity was supported by its significant correlation with depression. Convergent and discriminant validity were established, with the internal consistency of the scale being 0.90. The test-retest reliability intraclass correlation coefficient for the scale was 0.78. The adapted version of the PCSQ-14 demonstrated promising psychometric properties in assessing perceived community support in older Chinese. The adapted PCSQ-14 could assist researchers in determining older Chinese adults' perceptions of community support, and could also assist practitioners and policymakers in developing targeted services for older people and allocating resources more effectively.

Stakeholder perceptions of gerodontology education for final year Australian dental school curricula.

The study explored the perceptions of final-year Australian dental students, directors of nursing, and consumer representatives toward geriatric education provided at Australian undergraduate dental schools. Findings will strengthen and inform future curricula design for dental schools. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted through videoconferencing and in-person interviews, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Thematic analysis found the major themes to include relationships, curriculum variation, resources, and in-service learning experiences. The participants found gaps in the current delivery of undergraduate dental education. Solutions included greater resourcing through funding and time allocated to supervisors and a curriculum dedicated to gerodontology. Healthcare professional curriculum design must consider the needs of the learners and stakeholders involved in the health of older people. The focus group participants found multiple barriers and gaps to achieving what is required to adequately prepare dental graduates for an older, frail, and care-dependent population. For curricula to be successful, policymakers and education providers must find solutions to ensure that the oral health needs of older Australians are addressed and managed appropriately.

Do Health and Housing Attributes Motivate Residential Moves Among Older Chinese Adults? Evidence From an 8‑Year Follow‑up Study.

Despite the widespread belief in aging-in-place as the preferred housing arrangement for older adults, they are increasingly embracing moving. The person-environment fit theory explains that environmental changes due to residential moves can pose health risks, discouraging older people from moving. However, it also suggests that moves may be suitable when living conditions no longer meet their physical needs. The correlation between older people's health, housing, and their subsequent moving or staying actions in China remains underexplored. Using alternative operating variables of key concepts and the China Family Panel Studies 2012-2018 data sets, this study examines the effects of health and housing status on older people's residential moves in China. The study outlines changes in health indicators and housing characteristics during multiple moves, as well as examines the relationship between the health and housing status of older adults and moving over a relatively long period of time using both regression models with lagged explanatory variables and fixed effects binary choice models. The results reveal that: (1) higher rates of subsequent moves were observed among older adults with better self-rated health, positive self-rated health changes, and no ADL impairment, but no significant associations were found between most health variables and moving; and (2) the correlation between older persons' house ownership/type and their residential moves was significant and consistent over time, steady and lasting. Potential mechanisms explaining the association between specific housing types and ownership statuses on moving are discussed. The findings encourage a focus on the positive benefits of moving in later life and how to provide additional housing options for older individuals.

NATIONAL EXAMINATION SURVEY ON BLOOD PRESSURE OF OLDER AND VERY OLD PEOPLE IN GERMANY 2022-2023: WHY SELF-REPORTS, MEASUREMENTS AND MEDICATION DATA ARE NEEDED

Objective: The National Study on Health of Older People in Germany “Gesundheit 65+” aimed to provide up-to-date information on the health of older adults in Germany including blood pressure (BP) measurements at home by a study nurse. Design and method: Nationally representative examination survey of the population aged 65 years and older residing in Germany and with sufficient German language skills, using two-stage population registry sampling from 128 sample points from June 2022 to April 2023. Participation of physically or cognitively impaired persons was possible via proxy interviews and consent from legal representatives. Recruitment and data collection used a mixed-mode design. Three standardized blood pressure measurements at two-minute intervals were taken after 5 minutes rest with an oscillometric device (Mobil-O-Graph) using one of five cuffs according to upper arm circumference. The mean of the second and third measurement was used for analysis. Hypertension was defined as mean systolic BP (SBP) at or above140 mm Hg, or mean diastolic BP (DBP) at or above 90 mm Hg, or the use of antihypertensives (ATC-codes C02 antihypertensives, C03 diuretics, C07 beta-blockers, C08 calcium-channel blockers or C09 ACEI and ARB) in participants with self-reported hypertension diagnosis. Provisional weights account for unequal sampling and participation probabilities. Results: The “Gesundheit 65+” examination survey included 1,493 participants and 1,475 (98.8%) had successful BP measurements (763 men and 712 women aged 65 to 100 years). External quality control showed very good standardization of BP measurements in the home environment. Central BP data were available from 1,356 participants. Based on self-reported diagnoses alone the prevalence of hypertension would be 58.3% [95% CI 53.2-63.3] in men and 59.5% [53.8-64.9] in women. However, overall hypertension prevalence was estimated at 70.4% [65.8-74.7] in men and 72.3% [66.9-77.1] in women based on the study definition which combines self-reported physician diagnoses, standardized BP measurements and medication. Conclusions: Our study shows very good feasibility, acceptability and data completeness of standardized BP measurements using home visits. The prevalence of hypertension would be greatly underestimated in the absence of examination survey data with standardized measurements and detailed recording of medication.

Bodily Practices and Meanings Articulated in the Physical Exercise of Older Adults in Santiago de Chile Post-COVID-19.

This article presents the results of almost nine months of ethnographic research on the relationship between physical exercise and health in older people in the post-COVID-19 context. Via exploratory-descriptive qualitative research and the use of a convenient sample, I shed light on this relationship using the stories and life experiences of 40 older people (10 men and 30 women, including two women instructors for senior classes) who exercise regularly. The meanings they attributed to physical exercise during COVID-19 and after it are explained, emphasising first that there is no health in a context of not feeling safe; once there is a feeling of security, the most relevant meanings can be exposed in three directions. First, exercise produces a sense of identity linked to "being an athlete" and "belonging to a group". Second, exercising is valued as participating in something meaningful (the meanings range from self-realisation, independence, and autonomy to feelings of happiness). Finally, and linked to the sense of identity, those who train alone show more commitment and total hours spent in physical exercise and physical activity than those who train in groups. Even though older people are not a homogeneous group, they generally faced the pandemic as an ageist situation that affected their lives and how they saw sports and health. This article describes the strategies they used during COVID-19 related to exercise and well-being and those used once the pandemic restrictions were no longer present. The qualitative aspects that physical exercise brings to this population are highlighted. The research results give voice to older people, showing their heterogeneity and the meanings and practices that unite them. These inputs are rich material for studies on physical activity, older people, and well-being.

The impact of widowhood on the mental health of older adults and the buffering effect of social capital.

Widowhood is one of the most serious issues affecting the mental health of older persons. China currently has tens of millions of widowed older adult, which is a huge group. It is of great significance to study the impacts of widowhood on their mental health and put forward some measures for improvement. We used China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data in 2020, which included 4,184 older adults. Linear regression is used to examine the relationship among widowhood, mental health, and social capital. Both short-term and medium- and long-term widowhood lead to a significant increase in depression, which seriously affects the mental health of older people. At the same time, community-level and family-level social capital have significant buffering effects on the loss of mental health caused by widowhood, but this effect is heterogeneous, with different types of social capital playing different roles among different gender groups. The provision of care support by children and good neighborhood relationships can help mitigate the psychological impact of widowhood, and these are areas where social policy can make a difference.

La santé des anciens : ralentissement et innovation

Dans le cadre d’un partenariat avec une collectivité territoriale, des chercheurs mettent en œuvre avec les acteurs de terrain une recherche-intervention (désormais RI). Le tiers-espace socio-scientifique (espace d’intersection entre la sphère recherche et la sphère socio-professionnelle) réunit les acteurs qui permettent d’accompagner le changement en EHPAD en co-construisant un dispositif à visée inclusive. Cet espace intersectionnel permet de médiatiser la rencontre entre les mondes au sein des groupes de travail et du comité de pilotage de la RI, de favoriser le métissage des savoirs académiques et expérientiels et de mettre en réflexion et en chantier des situations problèmes pour favoriser l’inclusion des anciens. Sur deux niveaux, la démarche permet un ralentissement encourageant l’innovation sociale et soutenant une nouvelle modalité de construction des politiques publiques : (1) au niveau de la production de la politique publique et (2) au niveau des conditions de production de celle-ci. Dès lors, le ralentissement induit par la démarche de RI peut être considéré comme un facteur favorisant l’innovation sociale en EHPAD et, en conséquence le droit à la santé des anciens.