Senior Day Care Centers Research Articles

A 3 month nutrition and exercise program improved hallux strength among senior daycare center users in Korea: a cluster randomized controlled trial.

With a growing aging population, the focus on the health and well-being of older adults, especially in preventing falls, becomes crucial. This 3 month study, initiated in July 2022, aimed to assess the impact of a nutrition and exercise program in senior daycare centers in Chuncheon, South Korea. A 3 month study, beginning in July 2022, included 204 older adults from 10 senior daycare centers in Chuncheon, South Korea. Randomly assigned to intervention or control groups, the intervention involved nutrition, daily toe exercises, or both. Control centers received interventions post-measurements. Pre- and post-intervention analyses used paired t-tests and multiple linear regression, assessing metrics like toe grip strength for significance. While 204 were initially enrolled, the analysis included 151 participants due to dropouts. Participants, with a mean age of 83.3 years (43.1% aged ≥ 85 years), exhibited mild to moderate cognitive impairment and multiple chronic illnesses. Health data indicated that 37.3% were obese, and the average BMI was 24.0 kg/m2. Both the intervention and control groups showed significant improvements in toe grip strength post-intervention. Specifically, the exercise-only and combined exercise-nutrition groups demonstrated significant differences in hallux strength compared to the control group after adjusting for age and gender. The study showed that a basic nutrition and exercise program increased toe strength in older adults with chronic diseases, including mild cognitive impairments. This intervention holds potential to prevent muscle strength decline and reduce fall risks in older individuals. As the first of its kind in Korean senior daycare centers, it emphasizes the need for future research and standardized programs for senior daycare users.

Development of a frailty prevention program including nutrition and exercise interventions for older adults in senior daycare centers in South Korea using a mixed methods research design.

The growing aging population has led to an increased utilization of senior daycare centers. This study was conducted to design a program to enhance the health of older adults in senior daycare centers in Chuncheon City, South Korea. The study explored the health conditions and dietary patterns of older adults in senior daycare centers. Participants included staff and older adults from senior daycare centers in Chuncheon City. A mixed methods research design was used to obtain both qualitative and quantitative data. Qualitative insights were obtained through in-depth interviews with 26 staff members and older adults, coupled with observations made at 10 senior daycare centers. The quantitative component comprised structured questionnaires and physical measurements of 204 older adults at these centers. Many of the older adults relied on the meals provided by the center due to their limited cooking abilities. Dental health issues and dysphagia were common. Interviews highlighted the budgetary constraints of the centers in providing wholesome meals and the need for government support to alleviate meal expenses and enhance quality. A structured survey of older adults showed that the average age was 83.3 yrs, with an average of 2 chronic conditions per participant. Frailty analysis of the participants revealed that 56.2% were prefrail and 32.0% were frail. Almost half of the participants (47.0%) used dentures. Based on these findings, a preventive intervention program was proposed, addressing the specific needs and challenges of older adults while promoting overall well-being and preventing frailty. Tailored health promotion strategies are crucial in senior daycare centers. Recommended interventions include staff nutrition education, improved dietary plans, and cost-effective strength training programs. These interventions aim to reduce frailty and enhance the quality of life of older adults in the community via interventions in daycare centers.

Culturally tailored group Qigong exercise in older Chinese immigrants: A feasibility study

BackgroundCulturally tailored group exercise bridges health disparities among new immigrants, particularly older adults. We designed a Chinese Qigong (Baduanjin) exercise intervention testing the feasibility and acceptability among older Chinese at a senior daycare center in Philadelphia, PA, US. Methods10-week Qigong group in-person exercise was delivered 5 days a week, using a 12-minute video tutorial under trained research assistants’ guidance. Daily attendance and attrition was recorded. Participants completed baseline self-report assessments on physical and mental health, and two computerized cognitive tests, the psychomotor vigilance test and a memory test. Results53 older adults participated (mean age: 78, female: 88.7%). Average daily attendance was 65.28%. Stratification analysis on age groups <80 and ≥80 shows no significant differences on key variables. ConclusionsRecruitment for Baduanjin Qigong exercise was feasible in senior daycare centers, and older adults could easily learn and safely follow exercise movements. Preliminarily findings call for further research.

Factors Influencing the Use of Walking Aids by Frail Elderly People in Senior Day Care Centers.

Senior day care centers in Japan are the most commonly used insurance service for frail elderly people, and it is important to examine the factors that influence the use of walking aids at these centers. We aimed to investigate the factors affecting the use of walking aids by frail elderly patients in senior daycare centers. A total of 131 frail elderly people (mean age 82.7 ± 6.4 years) formed our study population. They were divided into two groups: solo walking (n = 87) and walking aid (n = 44). Individuals with cognitive decline were excluded. All participants were assessed using Functional Independence Measure Motor (FIM-M) sub-scores. Grip strength, knee extension strength, the 10 s Chair Stand test for Frail elderly (Frail CS-10), Single Leg Standing (SLS), and Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests were measured and compared between the two groups. The walking aid group scored significantly lower than the solo walking group for five items: FIM-M, knee extension muscle strength, Frail CS-10, SLS, and TUG (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that knee extension muscle strength was the only factor that affected the use or disuse of walking aids (p < 0.05). The cut-off value of the knee extensor muscle strength-to-weight ratio for walking alone was 28.5%. Knee extensor muscle strength was the most important factor in determining the use of a walking aid.

Applicability of tools to identify potentially inappropriate prescribing in elderly during medication review: Comparison of STOPP/START version 2, Beers 2019, EU(7)-PIM list, PRISCUS list, and Amsterdam tool-A pilot study.

Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) is one of the major risk factors of adverse drug events in elderly patients. Pharmacotherapy assessment criteria may help reduce the instances of PIP among geriatric patients. This study aimed to verify the applicability of selected tools designed to assess prescribing appropriateness in elderly and to identify PIP in the study population. Based on pharmacist-led medication reviews that were performed among patients attending senior day-care centers based in Poland, aged 65 years and over, the following tools were applied for assessing the appropriateness of pharmacotherapy: PILA (patient-in-focus listing approach): STOPP/START v.2 and Amsterdam tool, DOLA (drug-oriented listing approach): PRISCUS list, and DOLA+: Beers criteria v.2019 and the EU(7)-PIM list–the criteria oriented on medications requiring indications. Fifty patients participated in the study. The prevalence of prescribing issues in the study population was very high and ranged from 28% to 100%, depending on the criteria applied. The highest number of PIP cases was identified based on the PILA criteria: STOPP/START v.2 (171, a mean of 3.4 PIP cases per patient), and the Amsterdam criteria (124, a mean of 2.5 PIP cases per patient). The lack of protective vaccinations against pneumococci identified using the START criterion was found to be the most common PIP (identified in 96% of the patients). Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) were identified as the most problematic group of medications. The STOPP, EU(7)-PIM and Beers criteria revealed cases of inappropriate prolonged PPI use, whereas the Amsterdam tool identified cases where PPIs should have been prescribed but were not. The highest number of PIP cases in the study population were identified with the PILA tools, and on this basis the most comprehensive assessment of pharmacotherapy appropriateness in geriatric patients was conducted. Further studies should be designed, covering a larger group of patients across different healthcare settings (inpatient and outpatient), with access to comprehensive patient data.

Evaluation of a handwashing intervention to reduce respiratory illness rates in senior day-care centers.

To decrease respiratory infections in senior day care, staff were educated on viral transmission and the value of hand washing. Fanny packs with alcohol foam supplemented hand washing and were alternated monthly between centers. Infection rates were unchanged with alcohol foam use. The intervention year's infection rate was significantly lower than the previous 3 years, suggesting a benefit of education.

The relationship between depressed affect, pain and cognitive function: A cross-sectional analysis of two elderly populations

The relationship of cognitive function and pain to depression was studied among 195 participants in senior daycare centers and 408 residents of a nursing home. The residents' cognitive capacity was segregated into three levels (intact, moderate impairment and severe impairment) as determined by the Brief Cognitive Rating Scale (BCRS). Ratings of both the residents' levels of depressed affect, as well as whether they experienced any pain were obtained from the staff at each institution. In both populations, individuals in pain with moderate cognitive impairment evinced the highest levels of depressed affect. The present findings indicate that moderate cognitive impairment might exacerbate the impact of pain on depressed affect. The importance of detecting physical pain and depressed affect among those suffering with dementia is therefore underscored.

Agitation among elderly persons at adult day-care centers: the experiences of relatives and staff members.

Two hundred participants (mean age = 80 years) from five senior day-care centers were included in a study of agitation. Staff members at the centers and participants' relatives rated the frequency with which participants displayed agitated behaviors, via an expanded version of the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory. The most frequent behaviors noted were general restlessness, repetitious sentences, verbal interruptions, and pacing. A three-factor solution for staff members' ratings included (a) physically nonaggressive behaviors, including general restlessness and pacing; (b) verbally agitated behaviors, including complaining and constant requests for attention; and (c) aggressive verbal behaviors, including cursing and temper outbursts. A three-factor solution for relatives' ratings included (a) physically nonaggressive behaviors, including general restlessness and pacing; (b) verbally agitated behaviors, including constant requests for attention and related interruptions; and (c) aggressive behaviors, including cursing, grabbing, kicking, and pushing. The syndromes of both models showed similarity to the factors found in a nursing home population, although differences were also apparent.