Older Adults In Residential Facilities Research Articles

Patterns of visiting nurse services for older adults in Japanese residential facilities: A latent class analysis.

To examine the patterns of the visiting nurse services provided to older adults in a type of residential facility in Japan and to identify associated factors. This secondary analysis used past survey data from visiting nurse service agencies providing services to older adults in residential facilities with few nurses, known as non-specified facilities in Japan. Approximately 515 cases were used to determine the patterns of visiting nurse services using latent class analysis. Multinomial logistic regression analysis examined the relationships between identified classes, residents' characteristics, facilities, and services provided by visiting nurses. Three service patterns were identified as follows: Class 1, observational and follow-up care (37.1%); Class 2, chronic disease care (35.7%); and Class 3, end-of-life care (27.2%). Class 1 comprised fewer nursing services than the other classes and primarily involved the observation of medical conditions, whereas Classes 2 and 3 involved higher care-need levels and provided diverse nursing care support. Specifically, Class 3 was associated with the inclusion of family (odds ratio: 2.42) and a visiting nurse at the attached facility (odds ratio: 4.88). The three identified classes describe the older residents' healthcare needs. Additionally, the factors associated with the end-of-life care class suggest that older residents with these factors may have difficulty accessing end-of-life care by visiting nurses. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 326-333.

Effects of Vitality Acupunch exercise on functional fitness and activities of daily living among probable sarcopenic older adults in residential facilities.

To test the effects of a Vitality Acupunch exercise program on the functional fitness and the ability to perform the activities of daily living (ADL) among older adults with probable sarcopenia in residential facilities. This was a cluster-randomized controlled trial. A total of 12 long-term care facilities randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups with 1:1 allocation ratio. Among them, 114 older adults with probable sarcopenia participated at baseline and were allocated to either the intervention or control group according to the facility where they resided in. Of these, 103 older adults completed the study. The intervention group (n=52) underwent the Vitality Acupunch exercise program three times a week, each lasting 40min, for 6months while the control group (n=51) performed its routine daily activities. The functional fitness and ADL of the intervention group significantly improved at each time point (all p<0.001), while the control group showed a significant decreasing trend. Except the lower limb muscular endurance, the functional fitness and ADL of the intervention group significantly improved compared to the control group at T1, and the improvements were still significant at T2. Functional fitness and the ability to perform ADL in older adults with probable sarcopenia were significantly improved after receiving the Vitality Acupunch exercises. An exercise that integrates the meridian theory and exercise concepts effectively improves functional fitness in probable sarcopenic older adults. Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04504786). The trial was first posted on August 7, 2020. This part of the data was collected from August 2020 to March 2021.

Personal and Environmental Contributors to Sedentary Behavior of Older Adults in Independent and Assisted Living Facilities.

Sedentary behavior is associated with negative health outcomes and unhealthy aging. Older adults are the most sedentary age group, and decreasing sitting time represents an intervention target for improving health. Determinants of sedentary behavior have been examined in older adults living in their own homes, yet less is known about sedentary behavior of older adults in residential care facilities. The purpose of this study was to explore factors contributing to sedentary behavior among residents of independent and assisted living facilities. We conducted eight focus groups with residents (n = 44) and semi-structured interviews with staff (n = 6) across four living facilities. Audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed using an iterative, inductive approach. Three salient themes were identified. Residents and staff both viewed sedentary behavior negatively unless it was in the context of social engagement. Additionally, fear of falling was discussed as a significant contributor to sedentary behavior. Finally, residents felt the community living environment contributed to their sedentary behavior while staff did not. Our findings provide valuable insight for designing targeted interventions for older adults in residential facilities and suggest thinking beyond the individual and considering environmental influences on sedentary behavior in the residential care setting.

Improving the assessment of risk for imminent aggression in older adults in residential facilities

Abstract Aggressive behavior by older adults living in residential facilities occurs commonly, and negatively impacts caregivers, other residents, and sometimes visitors. A precondition of aggression prevention efforts is accurate identification of high-risk individuals and interactions. To this end, elucidation of early warning signs and specification of proximal causes, processes and high-risk interactions is critical. Structured risk assessment instruments have been shown to improve prediction of imminent aggression in inpatient mental health care settings, and these instruments have been applied to various other populations and settings; however, there is little evidence regarding their validity in older adult populations. This paper reviews literature that has sought to identify the proximal causes and processes associated with aggressive behavior in older adults; this includes premorbid personality, cognitive impairment, language impairment, social functioning, mental health, functional dependency, sensory impairments, and pain. Given that the proximate causes and processes leading to aggression in older adults seem to differ in subtle ways from acute mental health inpatients, further examination (and possible modification) of existing risk assessment instruments for use in older adults is warranted. This paper identifies six factors that may improve utility and predictive validity when applying extant risk assessment instruments with older adults in residential facilities: confusion/disorientation, resistiveness to care, social disengagement, fear, symptoms of depression, and uncontrolled pain or discomfort.

Mental Health Concerns of Older Adults Living in Long-Term Care Facilities: An Area of Expansion for MFTs

ABSTRACTAs baby boomers reach retirement age, the number of older adults living in long-term care will inevitably increase. Living in long-term care often brings psychological, relational, and emotional challenges for older adults, their families, and professional care-providers. Despite these trends and associated challenges, there appears to be an underrepresentation of attention addressing the mental health care of older adults and their families in marriage and family therapy (MFT) literature. Emphasis needs to be turned to assessing the quality and effectiveness of mental health resources for older adults in residential facilities, and to filling the gap where needed services are unavailable. The current review summarizes research addressing residential care for older adults, detailing a) mental health challenges faced by residents, families, and professional care-providers, b) effective mental health treatment options, and c) how MFTs are uniquely suited to working in long-term care settings.

Effect of Interdisciplinary Service Learning Experience for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Students Working With Adults With Dementia

An interdisciplinary service learning (SL) experience with audiology and speech-language pathology students was designed to examine changes in students' attitudes toward adults with dementia following an SL experience in which they socialized with nursing home residents who had dementia. Nineteen audiology and 24 speech-language pathology students completed an SL course, and 14 audiology and 18 speech-language pathology students did not participate in the SL course. The students interacted with 24 nursing home residents with dementia; specifically, the audiology students conducted 2 hearing evaluations with the residents, and the speech-language pathology students socialized with the residents during 15 visits. The students' attitudes toward older adults with dementia were assessed using Kogan's Attitudes Toward Old People Scale (Kogan, 1961) and qualitative analysis of their journal entries. The results were compared across groups over time. The SL groups showed more positive attitudes than the non-SL students, and their later journal entries were more positive than earlier entries. This SL experience provided clinical opportunities for audiology and speech-language pathology students to work with adults with dementia. Direct contact with the residents resulted in more positive attitudes toward older adults in residential facilities.

Bewegungsempfehlungen und Bewegungsangebote in Schweizer Altersheimen

Hintergrund: Korrelate und Determinanten von körperlichen Bewegungsmustern älterer Erwachsener standen in den letzten Jahren im Mittelpunkt der Forschung. Dennoch weist die Forschungsliteratur Lücken auf. So sind weitere für gebrechliche Ältere (75 – 94 Jahre) relevante Studien nötig. Da die Unterbringung in Institutionen mit zunehmendem Alter wahrscheinlicher wird, ist die Wohnumgebung derart gestaltet, dass sie die körperliche Aktivität gebrechlicher älterer Menschen fördert. Bisher wurden die Möglichkeiten körperlicher Aktivität für in Heimen lebende ältere Menschen nur wenig untersucht.

A guide to psychological practice in geriatric long-term care

Here is a helpful guide for practitioners who work in long-term care settings. A Guide to Psychological Practice in Geriatric Long-Term Care highlights and describes assessment tools and interventions for use with older adults in residential facilities. It is written from a pragmatic view of elder care that fosters the growth of geriatric psychology and views aging dynamically, as a developmental phase with its own challenges, opportunities, and responsibilities. A primer for health professionals in long-term care, this book explains new intervention strategies practitioners can apply to their own residents and helps administrators organize and deliver care in an efficient and substantive manner.A Guide to Psychological Practice in Geriatric Long-Term Care is divided into two sections. The first presents an integrative model of psychological services as part of geriatric care. It discusses conceptual issues and provides practical advice on how geriatric psychology and other geriatric disciplines can blend into a diversified and rich clinical environment for the caring of older adults. The second part focuses on important and often ignored clinical issues in long-term care such as alcohol abuse, sexuality, psychotherapeutic intervention, and caregiver issues. It urges psychologists to use their theoretical backgrounds and clinical training to explore new foci of care. In both sections, pertinent literature is reviewed and case vignettes illustrate ideas and concepts.Other topics discussed in this book include neuropsychology, effective use of paraprofessionals, the use and training of interdisciplinary teams, behavioral medicine, family caregiving, and integrated treatment planning. Intrinsically a multidisciplinary book, A Guide to Psychological Practice in Geriatric Long-Term Care is an ideal resource for psychologists, social workers, counselors, nurses, nursing home administrators, and students in these fields who are interested in providing effective care for older adults. The author invites these professionals to see how psychology can enrich their respective clinical practices.