Feasibility of mobile mental wellness training for older adults

Mobile technology has been increasingly adopted in promotion of mental health among older people. This study assessed the feasibility of a mobile mental wellness training application for individual use and for group work from the perspectives of older adults and social care professionals. The older individuals recruited for the study were participants in a Circle of Friends group and family caregivers' peer support group offered by the communal senior services. The qualitative and quantitative results of interviews, questionnaires, observation, and application usage were reported. Seven older adults started using the application independently at home in parallel with the group activity. This study revealed new information regarding the barriers to the older adults' full adoption of such mobile technologies. The results indicated that there may be potential in the incorporation of mobile technologies in promotion of mental health of older people at group settings.     

The impact of mobility limitations on health outcomes among older adults

The purpose of this study was to stratify an older adult population for subsequent interventions based on functional ability, and to estimate prevalence, characteristics and impact of mobility limitations on health outcomes. In 2016, surveys were sent to a stratified random sample of AARP^® Medicare Supplement insureds; mobility limitations were defined using two screening questions. Responses were stratified to three mobility limitation levels. Multivariate regression models determined characteristics and impact on health outcomes. Among weighted survey respondents (N = 15,989), severe, moderate and no limitation levels were 21.4%, 18.4% and 60.3%, respectively. The strongest predictors of increased limitations included pain and poor health. Individuals with more severe limitations had increased falls, decreased preventive services compliance and increased healthcare utilization and expenditures. Utilizing two screening questions stratified this population to three meaningful mobility limitation levels. Higher levels of mobility limitations were strongly associated with negative health outcomes. Mobility-enhancing interventions could promote successful aging.     

Mind over bladder: Women,aging, and bladder health

The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy and acceptability of an innovative, electronically delivered self-management intervention for urinary incontinence (UI) that included daily mindfulness practice, completion of sequential bladder diaries, and bladder health education to improve UI in older women living independently in a retirement community. A mixed methods pilot study was conducted over ten weeks using a custom website or CD. Ten women were recruited and 8 completed the study; 5 of those (71%) experienced fewer daily UI episodes post intervention (p = 0.055). The women also reported a statistically significant decrease in the impact UI had on their everyday life (p = 0.04). Seventy-one percent (N = 5) reported subjective improvement in UI, and high acceptability scores also were achieved. The intervention was both effective in helping older women self-manage UI and acceptable to the population group. Further research is needed with a larger and diverse population of older women.     

Instruments for detection and screening of cognitive impairment for older adults in primary care settings: A review

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires evaluation for cognitive impairment as part of the Annual Wellness Visit (AWV). Nurses and nurse practitioners in primary care are in a good position to incorporate brief cognitive screens into the AWV. Early recognition of cognitive problems allows clinicians and patients the opportunity to discuss any new or ongoing concerns about cognition, address possible reversible causes, or refer for further evaluation. It should be noted that some patients may prefer not to explore for cognitive impairment.Numerous brief cognitive screens have been developed for primary care, with no one screen being appropriate for all patients or clinicians. This review examines the psychometric properties, usefulness, and limitations of both patient and informant brief (under five minutes) cognitive screens endorsed by the Alzheimer's, National Institute of Aging (NIA), and Gerontological Society (GSA) workgroups, plus a recently developed brief version of the standard MoCA.     

On-line health seeking activity of older adults: an integrative review of the literature

The internet is increasingly used to provide health information. Supporting older people to access on-line health information requires understanding their current usage and possible barriers and facilitators. Methods involved searching three databases. Inclusion criteria were: (i) articles published within 10 years; (ii) people aged >65; (iii) explored reasons for older people accessing on-line health information and (iv) in English. Eight articles met these criteria. Older people use on-line health information to learn about a disease, medication, treatment, or healthy living. Factors influencing usefulness of on-line health information included demographics, health status, trust in the information, lack of skills using the internet and attitudes of health professionals. Findings indicate that while older people access on-line health information there are barriers: Low trust, financial barriers, lack of familiarity with the internet and low health literacy levels. Implications for nursing include working in partnership with older people to assist them to identify appropriate on-line information.     

The Impact of a Home-Delivered Meal Program on Nutritional Risk,Dietary Intake,Food Security,Loneliness, and Social Well-Being

Maintaining independence and continuing to live at home is one solution to manage the rising health care costs of aging populations in the United States; furthermore, seniors are at risk of malnutrition and food insecurity. Home-delivered meal programs are a tool to address food, nutrition, and well-being concerns of this population. Few studies have identified outcomes from these programs; this pilot study reviews the nutritional status, dietary intake, well-being, loneliness, and food security levels of seniors participating in a Meals on Wheels delivery service. Clients, new to the meal program, participated in pre- and postphone interviews, and 51 seniors completed the study. The survey was composed of five scales or questionnaires, and statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS. Improvements across all five measures were statistically significant after participating two months in the home-delivered meal program. Implications for further research, practice, and the Older Americans Act are discussed.     

Associations between neighborhood perceptions and mental well-being among older adults

This study examined whether perceived neighborhood factors were associated with positive well-being in older adults using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Neighborhood perceptions were assessed at baseline (2006/2007) and three measures of well-being – hedonic, eudaimonic and evaluative – were assessed at baseline and follow-up (2010/2011) for 6134 participants. In cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, negative neighborhood perceptions were associated with poorer well-being on all three measures. These associations remained significant after adjusting for a range of sociodemographic and health status variables and depressive symptoms.     

Postural control in response to unilateral and bilateral external perturbations in older adults

BackgroundBalance is an important determinant of physical function and falls risk. The ability to withstand external perturbations is important when walking on icy or uneven surfaces, whether the perturbations are bilateral or unilateral.Research questionThis study sought to determine the effect of unilateral and bilateral standing perturbations on leg muscle activity in healthy older adults.MethodsParticipants experienced unilateral and bilateral standing perturbations of the treadmill. Surface electromyography (EMG) from lower limb muscles was recorded unilaterally. EMG onset latency and root mean square (RMS) amplitude of the muscle bursts were calculated.ResultsOlder adults demonstrated a combined ankle/hip strategy, along with pre-activation and co-contraction of muscles in response to unilateral and bilateral stance perturbations. As well, older adults demonstrated higher levels of EMG, but no difference in the latency of burst onset, in bilateral than unilateral perturbation types.SignificanceWhen the stance limb was perturbed in the bilateral condition, the older adults responded with a Gastrocs EMG burst nearly 100% of the maximum EMG. The high level of EMG used, especially in the Gastrocs, during the bilateral perturbations may reduce the safety factor for falls in older adults. Older adults responded to the different perturbation demands by modulating EMG amplitude as opposed to the onset timing of EMG.     

50岁以上瓣膜性心脏病冠脉造影分析

目的探讨老年瓣膜性心脏病合并冠心病的情况。方法96例50岁以上瓣膜性心脏病住院患者,其中男性38例,女性58例,常规予Judkins法经股动脉或桡动脉行冠脉造影。并结合冠心病的危险因素、瓣膜病的病因、病变部位进行多因素分析。结果96例瓣膜性心脏病患者合并冠心病11例,总发生率11.5%。其中风湿性瓣膜性心脏病82例,合并冠心病7例,发生率8.5%,非风湿性瓣膜性心脏病14例,合并冠心病4例,发生率28.5%,两组相比P<0.05。多危险因素组46例,合并冠心病9例,发生率19.6%,少危险因素组50例,合并冠心病2例,发生率4%,两组相比P<0.05。主动脉瓣病变者合并冠心病2例,二尖瓣病变者合并冠心病3例,联合瓣膜病变者合并冠心病5例,各组相比P>0.05。结论瓣膜性心脏病合并冠心病发生率不高且合并冠心病者多为非风湿性病因,其中危险因素组冠心病发生率较高,不同瓣膜病变在合并冠心病发病率上无显著性差异。