Life Of Seniors Research Articles

The Influence of Chronic Illness and Lifestyle Behaviors on Quality of Life among Older Thais.

Chronic conditions and lifestyle behaviors have a detrimental influence on the quality of life for seniors because of physical disability and emotional concerns. This study aimed to assess the influence of chronic illness, smoking, and alcohol use on quality of life among Thai seniors. A cross-sectional study was conducted in three communities, selected purposively from the North, Northeast, and Central regions, and 1278 senior participants were recruited. Binary logistic regression was used to predict the influence of factors on quality of life with adjusted covariates. Most participants were aged 60–70 years and married, earned 500–1,000 Baht/month (US $17–$35), had one chronic illness, and were nonsmokers and nondrinkers. Surprisingly, there appeared to be no link between chronic conditions and quality of life. Current drinkers were more likely to have a high quality of life, with Odds Ratios of 2.16 for men and 2.73 for women. Seniors of both genders who were current drinkers were more likely to accept death and dying and this improved their quality of life. Social participation in alcohol consumption may encourage seniors to share their concerns about death and dying and eventually accept this as a foundation of life.

Health Aspects of the Quality of Life in the Old Age in the Perspective of Social Sciences

The paper presents a theoretical analysis of the links between human health and the quality of life, referring to the period of the old age and aging. The starting point for the analysis was the systemic, holistic and salutogenetic approach to health as physical, mental, social, and spiritual wellbeing, the level of which is determined not only by the human biology but also lifestyle and factors in the living environment. The article shows that wellbeing, which is achieved, among other things, through an active lifestyle and good living conditions, is a category uniting health and the quality of life in the subjective and objective dimensions. Given the inevitability of involutional biological changes and social inequalities in the period of aging and the old age, it was recognized that pedagogical activities aimed at improving the quality of life of seniors are a part of the educational aspects of health promotion. The purpose of “education in the old age” is to free the health potential of senior citizens by stimulating their active lifestyle, which, however, requires education to prepare people for their old age.

A Structured Review of Generic and Specific Instruments for Measuring the Subjectively Assessed Quality of Life of Seniors

A Structured Review of Generic and Specific Instruments for Measuring the Subjectively Assessed Quality of Life of Seniors

Integrating a Clinical Exercise Gerontology Experience into a Kinesiology Curriculum

In the next 45 years it is estimated that individuals aged 65 and older will increase by 93% in the United States. This population will require a reexamination in thinking related to what retirement is and how seniors desire to maintain their quality of life. Thus, with this demographic shift, new career opportunities will be available for students in older adult fitness, and kinesiology graduates can be at the forefront of providing physical activity to promote public health. Through the exploration of an off-campus clinical exercise gerontology experience at Northern Illinois University, specifics of the program and potential barriers are discussed, with an eye toward assisting other institutions that wish to begin/enhance a similar program. Finally, benefits and future opportunities are highlighted showing how this partnership has led to an improved quality of life for seniors and strengthened relationships with the larger community.

Cell and gene therapies: improving and extending quality of life for seniors

Cell and gene therapies: improving and extending quality of life for seniors

“It’s never too late to learn”–How does the Polish U3A change the quality of life for seniors?

ABSTRACTIn the face of the ageing of society, the concept of active ageing has become a key problem within European politics. (United Nations, 2002; European Commission, 2006). In recent years, the University of Third Age (U3A) movement has developed very quickly both within Poland and outside our country. In this article, we consider the educational activity of Polish seniors and the influence this has had on their quality of life in selected areas. A qualitative research study was conducted in May 2015 among U3A participants. A collective case study was undertaken (Stake, 2009) to capture the changes in the quality of life in different areas (adaptation to changes, participation in social life, obtaining and providing support, activity, and lifelong education). (Escuder Mollon & Gil, 2014) Despite the undeniably positive influence on the quality of life among seniors the U3A is still not accessible for the average senior because of their location, their material conditions, and their individual readiness to take part in such activities. In Poland there is also a very strong tradition of engaging seniors in the care of their grandchildren, and this in many cases makes it impossible for them to take part in any self-development or self-actualization programs.

PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL CONTEXT OF SUPPORTING SENIORS IN POLAND , USING TOOLS FROM THE EDUSENIOR PROJECT

The purpose of the article was to capture the psycho-educational context of support for Polish seniors by institutions that have used the methods developed in the Edusenior project. The areas requiring seniors’ education and the scope of work carried out by the developing institutions, government, and NGOs initiatives to raise the quality of life for seniors have been elucidated in the following article. The products obtained from the international Edusenior project, in which the preliminary results were evaluated by experienced Polish reviewers, comply with the above requirements.

The contemporary Education to the Old Age in the Context of Relations with Environment, Family and Society

Abstract The contemporary education to the old age in the context of relations with the environment, the family and society constitutes the need, due to fully relevant conditions of the changing nature of reality, to open up to the problems connected with old age - their implied connotations and social consequences. That is, on one side, an attempt to more precisely define the functioning of the system of the elderly in the family and an indication of the role of the contemporary system of family and social support in relation to the living conditions and opportunities for seniors. On the other, it is an effort to underline the subject of organizing leisure activities for older people and highlighting the role of various institutions, organizations and Universities of the Third Age in the lives of these people. This bipolarity in an compact attempt to present the subject seems, in the opinion of its author, to be consistent with a contained reflection on the quality of life for seniors. Therefore, the importance of belonging to a group has been emphasized, the need for self-development and the objectives which the elder individual set itself. As a consequence of the problematic subject consistency, the effort was undertaken to present the psychological aspect of the relations with the environment and its impact on the life satisfaction of older people.

Ambiente físico-social y envejecimiento de la población desde la gerontología ambiental y geografía: Implicaciones socioespaciales en América Latina

The study refl ects on the analysis of the physical-social environments that determine the quality of life of seniors in Latin America from the approach of environmental gerontology. Through the literature, we develop a discussion of urban and rural sociospatial implications on the residential dimensions (built environment), social, economic, health, welfare (social services) and cultural, and to promote healthy aging in place. Also addressed are the main theoretical and methodological issues of the socio-spatial implications for environmental gerontology, which highlight the contribution of geography, through a review of the complex relationships between geographical space and the elderly. Thus, in the region there is a need for an interdisciplinary approach that emphasizes research on the analysis of the attributes and functions of the physical-social environment in the aging population, contributing to the gerontological planning from a holistic perspective.

Re-imagining long-term services and supports: towards livable environments, service capacity, and enhanced community integration, choice, and quality of life for seniors.

In the half century since enactment of the 1965 Great Society programs, accomplishments were gradually made to improve access to and quality of long-term services and supports (LTSS), including: mitigation of financial and care abuses in nursing facilities (NFs); substantial rebalancing of LTSS towards consumer-preferred home-and-community-based services (HCBS); increasing flexible consumer-centered HCBS including payment to family caregivers; and more assisted-living and housing options for seniors with heavy care needs. A unified planning and advocacy agenda across age and disability type and greater consumer transparency fueled progress. Nonetheless, LTSS is a broken system; persistent problems interfere with substantial and necessary change. These include; over-emphasis on safety for LTSS consumers; inattention to physical environments in all settings; regulatory and professional rigidity; and poor communication and information. Our recommendations are aimed at builders and designers, LTSS professionals, regulators, and educators/trainers; the last may be crucial in forging new consensus and over-coming entrenched beliefs. Policy recommendations include relatively narrow steps-for example, requiring single occupancy in all NFs and assisted living settings financed with public dollars-to broad reworking of the prerequisites for livable age-friendly (and dementia-friendly) communities and for a capable, flexible LTSS workforce.

Validation of the Educational Game for Seniors: “Live Well, Live Healthy!”

A literature review was conducted as part of a development project to flesh out a number of issues: How can game component design be adapted to accommodate seniors’ physical or intellectual limitations? How should a game interface and its components be displayed on the screen to facilitate game navigation? What restrictions should be considered when selecting computer game equipment to be used by seniors? What are the guidelines for efficient game audio, video and text readability? This communication first presents the pedagogical and technological adaptations of the online educational game: “Live Well, Live Healthy!” This adaptation of the Bingo game has allowed us to introduce learning content with the objective of improving the quality of life for seniors. Second, the methodology used for the validation of the ergonomics of this educational game with seniors and third, the results of validation and the recommendations from the seniors to improve the ergonomic conditions.

Selected determinants of seniors´ lifestyle

The article presents partial results which reflect seniors’ lifestyle and which are focused on selected determinants (especially sports activities). These determinants are the key factors of the quality of seniors’ life. The respondents of our research were the retirees from the town of Liptovsky Mikulas. We used a questionnaire to obtain the primary indicators of quality of life and lifestyle of seniors. Our findings significantly show that exercise and sports activities play an important role in terms of maintaining social contacts, health and independence, the values that are particularly specific for life of seniors from different points of view. The article is a part of the grant research task VEGA no. 1/0376/14 Physical activity intervention for the prevention of health of the population of Slovakia.

Evaluation of Quality of Life and Safety of Seniors in Golestan Province, Iran

This study evaluated the criteria for quality of life (QoL) using standardized short-form health survey with only 36 questions (SF-36; Version 2.0) and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) questionnaires to study the relationship between QoL and living conditions of seniors in Golestan province in Iran. This was an analytical cross-sectional study with descriptive and analytical parts. The population was individuals above 65 years of age in Golestan province in Iran. The sample size was calculated based on the correlation coefficient; a correlation of .2 or greater was considered statistically significant at 80% for the power of the test at the 95% confidence level. The data on QoL of seniors were collected by interview and observation using the CPSC questionnaire for nursing homes and the SF-36 for QoL health indicators. The reliability of the CPSC questionnaire was estimated using Cronbach’s alpha with a coefficient of .838. The SF-36 questionnaire was validated with Cronbach’s alpha with a coefficient of .95. Chi-square and logistic regression were used to interpret the probability of abnormal QoL between levels of independent predictors. The percentage of seniors in overall poor health as a binary outcome was 43.5, and the percentage of unsafe conditions was 49.8.

Quality of life and depressive symptoms in the elderly living in community

Introduction: the elderly are affected by some chronic diseases that require comprehensive and continuous health care, among them depression, with disabling potential, compromising their quality of life. Objective: discovering the quality of life of seniors residing in community and their relationship with the symptoms of depression. Method: a quantitative study, observational, cross-sectional, whose sample included 110 elderly with preserved cognitive conditions and who agreed to participate voluntarily. Data collection was conducted from October to December 2013. Statistical analysis was performed using the software Statiscal Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 20. Results: the quality of life assessed by the WHOQOL-BREF obtained the highest score in the field of social relations (73.93) and lowest score in the environmental field (61.27). The WHOQOL-OLD showed a higher score in sensory abilities facet (76.19) and lowest score on the facet autonomy (61.47). The correlation of quality of life with depressive symptoms presented the psychological domain and facet social participation with strong and negative association. Conclusion: the development of longitudinal studies becomes feasible for a better understanding of the phenomenon studied.

Impact of the actions of an interdisciplinary team in the elderly quality of life

Introduction: Quality of Life (QoL) of the elderly is a complex process, not only by the subjectivity of the term, but also due to the heterogeneity of the elderly. So, analyzing QoL of the elderly is an important way to know better who provides care, allowing the proposal of interventions beyond the treatment of diseases. Objective: Evaluating the impact of the actions of an interdisciplinary team about the quality of life of seniors. Method: A longitudinal, analytical, quantitative study conducted with 92 elderly, in which there were applied the SF-36 and the Whoquol-Bref, in July 2012 and April 2013. For data analysis there was used SPSS version 18.0. Results: The average age was of 68.8 years old. There was a predominance of women with low income and education. After eight months of follow-up, the elderly showed improvement in SF-36 parameters: Functional Capacity; Physical Aspects; Pain; General Health; Vitality and Mental Health; and WHOQOL-Bref (Physical, Psychological and Environment Domain, and Quality of Life). The linear regression analysis showed independent predictor variables for improving the quality of life of seniors. Conclusion: There was the importance of interdisciplinary actions to improve the quality of life of elderly people, suggesting that interdisciplinarity can be a relevant strategy in the work of health professionals.

Improving walkability for seniors through accessibility to food stores: a study of three areas of Greater Montreal

The aging of suburbs requires that pedestrian accessibility be favored in this type of environment, because walking is a key element in the quality of life of seniors. This article analyzes the potential for accessibility by foot in three inner suburbs of the Greater Montreal Area. Accessibility was calculated using walking distances throughout the street network. This analysis was complemented by an observation of physical-spatial characteristics likely to affect walking among seniors. Pedestrian accessibility is influenced not only by long travel distances but also by various obstacles that result from land-use decisions in favor of motorized travel on a regional scale. This article reveals the necessity for urban planners to find a balance between local accessibility by foot and public transit, and regional accessibility by motorized transport.

Analysis of the influence of pharmacotherapy on the quality of life of seniors with osteoarthritis

AimsThis study aimed to assess the influence of pharmacotherapy on health-related quality of life of elderly with ostheoarthritis. MethodsLongitudinal study involving 91 older adults from both genders (Age: 70.36±5.57 years) from EELO project with self-reported knee or hip ostheoartritis, confirmed by radiographic analysis. Data regarding pharmacotherapy was assessed by a structured questionnaire and the quality of life was analyzed by SF-36 questionnaire at the initial moment and two years thereafter. All domains from quality of life were grouped in physical and mental components for further data analysis. ResultsA statistically significant decline in both physical and mental components of quality of life was observed (Wilcoxon test, p<0.05). However, it was observed a slighted decline in physical components in group treated with chondroitin/glucosamine when compared to other groups, according to Kruskal–Wallis test (p=0.007). On the other hand, it was not observed any influence of pharmacological treatment on mental components of health-related quality of life (p>0.05). ConclusionsTreatment with condroitin/glucosamin contributes to a lower decline in physical component while it had no influence on mental component of health-related quality of life in older adults with ostheoartritis.

Abuse and maltreatment in the elderly

IntroductionThe aging population is increasing worldwide, but the abuse and mistreatment in the elderly (often silenced forms) has also been increasing, with strong implications for their quality of life. ObjectiveTo identify forms of abuse and ill-treatment in the elderly, as well as the determinants of these abuses. MethodologyThis is a quantitative study, of the non-experimental, descriptive, cross-sectional type attended by 135 Portuguese elderly. It uses the Family APGAR Scale and the Question to Elicit Elder Abuse (QEEA), which was applied between January and June 2013, in the elderly residing in the central of Portugal. ResultsThe data shows that 23.5% of the elderly have suffered some kind of abuse, these being especially of the emotional kind and neglect. We also found that the most abused elders were unmarried and widows, those who had lower academic qualifications, those who reported feeling lonely and less healthy and even those who perceive to integrate families with some degree of dysfunction. ConclusionWe found that the abuse and mistreatment are present in the everyday life of many seniors and are a difficult subject to approach. The evidence, invite us to reflect on the development of intervention strategies, particularly at the levels of emotional abuse, neglect, promotion of health and family functioning in order to contribute to the reduction or extinction of abuse and ill-treatment in the elderly.

농촌 고령자의 안전위협에 관한 주거실태 조사연구

This research intends to discover the housing conditions of the elderly in rural area in South Korea, and identify measures to improve the conditions for an independent and safe life of seniors. This research conducted both survey research and experimental study. The survey interviewed 1,000 elderly people over 65 in farming areas across the country based on random selection from Census 2010 and sampling by regional size and administrative unit (Eup, Myeon, Li) to reflect the regional characteristics more accurately. The data was analyzed using SPSS 18.0 program. The experimental study identified the housing elements that may threaten the life of seniors based on a complete survey on households of elderly people over 65 in a selected typical rural village. As a result, the most inconvenient and threatening factor in the housing facilities appears to be the floor level difference. It was identified that most houses had the risk of falling due to the differences of the floor level between indoor and outdoor, and slippery floor materials. The squat toilets also bring inconvenience not only to the seniors with limited mobility but also to healthy elderly people. In particular, as most bathroom doors opened inward, it may be difficult to escape from or rescue someone in an emergency of falling, fainting or exhaustion.

Older Adults and Diabetes: Preface.

What do Tom Hanks, Paula Dean, Paul Sorvino, Randy Jackson, Mike Huckabee, Delta Burke, Billie Jean King, Patti Labella, Larry King, Drew Carey, and Earl “The Pearl” Monroe have in common, aside from being famous? They are all 50+ years of age and living with type 2 diabetes. Yes, when Hanks announced in 2013 that he has type 2 diabetes, he joined a growing list of celebrities and millions of other Americans with this diagnosis. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), nearly 26 million people in the United States are living with diabetes, and seniors have more diabetes than any other age-group; 10.9 million people ≥ 65 years of age (26.9%) have diabetes. Additionally, prediabetes is common, with an estimated 50% of people in this age-group affected.1 The elderly constitute the largest population seeking care for diabetes. Yet resources are marginal with regard to their particular diabetes care concerns, which are age-specific and often accompanied by multiple comorbidities. The quality of life for seniors living with diabetes can be affected by diabetes in many ways. Diabetes is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Cardiovascular disorders, retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy are complications that can lead to heart disease, blindness, end-stage renal disease, and lower-limb amputations, respectively. Depression is commonplace (a 60% increased risk for individuals with type 2 diabetes) and can complicate diabetes management.1 People with diabetes who are ≥ 60 years of age are two to three times more likely to report an inability to walk a distance of one-fourth of a mile, climb stairs, or do housework compared …