Nutritional status of school-age children - A scenario of urban slums in India

Objectives

This article aims at describing, in a Belgian town, the frequency of the fear of falling and of subsequent activity restriction among non-institutionalised people aged 65 years and over, and at identifying persons affected by these two issues.

Methods

Cross-sectional survey conducted in Fontaine l'Evêque (Belgium) in 2006, using a self-administered questionnaire.

Results

The participants could fill in the questionnaire on their own or with the help of a third party if needed. The latter were not taken into account in this article. Analyses covered 419 questionnaires. Fear of falling and activity restriction were reported by, respectively, 59.1% and 33.2% of participants. They were more frequent among fallers but also affected non-fallers. In logistic regression analyses: gender, the fact of living alone and the number of falls were significantly associated with fear of falling; gender, age and the number of falls were significantly associated with activity restriction.

Conclusions

Our study, despite various limitations, shows the importance of fear of falling and of subsequent activity restriction among older people, among fallers as well as among non-fallers. It also provides information, though limited, concerning persons affected by these two issues in Belgium, and in other contexts as well. Given the ageing of our populations, it is important to take these problems into account when caring for older people.     

Feasibility of a cognitive behavioural group intervention to reduce fear of falling and associated avoidance of activity in community-living older people: a process evaluation

Background  

Fear of falling and associated avoidance of activity are common among older people and may have negative consequences in terms of functional decline, quality of life and institutionalisation. We evaluated the effects of a cognitive behavioural group intervention to reduce fear of falling and associated avoidance of activity among older persons. This intervention showed favourable effects on fear of falling, avoidance of activity, daily activity, and several secondary outcomes. The aim of the present study is to assess the feasibility of this cognitive behavioural group intervention for participants and facilitators.     

Socio-demographic, health-related and psychosocial correlates of fear of falling and avoidance of activity in community-living older persons who avoid activity due to fear of falling

Background  

Fear of falling and avoidance of activity are common in old age and are suggested to be (public) health problems of equal importance to falls. Earlier studies of correlates of fear of falling and avoidance of activity did hardly differentiate between severe and mild levels of fear of falling and avoidance of activity which may be relevant from clinical point of view. Furthermore, most studies focused only on socio-demographics and/or health-related variables and hardly incorporated an extensive range of potential correlates of fear of falling including psychosocial variables. This study analyzes the univariate and multivariate associations between five socio-demographic, seven health-related and six psychosocial variables and levels of fear of falling and avoidance of activity in older persons who avoid activity due to fear of falling.     

Country of origin predicts nutrition risk among community living older people

Objectives  

To assess the nutrition risk status of community living older people and to identify associated risk factors.     

The relationship between risk factors for falling and the quality of life in older adults

Background  

Falls are one of the major health problems that effect the quality of life among older adults. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between quality of life (Short Form-12) and the risk factors of falls (balance, functional mobility, proprioception, muscle strength, flexibility and fear of falling) in older adults.     

Sense of coherence as a resource in relation to health-related quality of life among mentally intact nursing home residents – a questionnaire study

Background  

Sense of coherence (SOC) is a strong determinant of positive health and successful coping. For older people living in the community or staying in a hospital, SOC has been shown to be associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Studies focusing on this aspect among nursing home (NH) residents have been limited. This study investigated the relationship between SOC and HRQOL among older people living in NHs in Bergen, Norway.     

A survey of nutrition and health status of solitary and non-solitary elders in Taiwan

Objectives  

To compare the effects of living alone versus living in a group setting on the health, nutrition, personal cognition and general living function of a group of elderly Taiwanese. We also hypothesized that older adults living alone would have poorer indices of function and health than would elderly persons living in a group setting.     

Is Fear of Falling Associated With Incident Disability? A Prospective Analysis in Young-Old Community-Dwelling Adults

ObjectivesFear of falling (FOF) is common in older people and is related to negative outcomes. This study aimed to investigate whether 2 different instruments, the Falls Efficacy Scale–International (FES-I) and the single question on FOF and activity restriction (SQ-FAR), were associated with incident disability at 3 years.DesignProspective observational study.Setting and ParticipantsParticipants (n = 1219, 57.4% women) were disability-free community-dwelling persons enrolled in the Lausanne cohort 65+, aged 66 to 71 years, in 2005.MeasuresBaseline covariates included demographic, cognitive, affective, and health status. Basic activities of daily living (BADL) assessment was recorded annually from a self-administered questionnaire. Disability outcome was defined as reporting difficulty or help needed in ≥1 of 5 BADL in ≥2 consecutive years, or being institutionalized during follow-up.ResultsAt 3 years, disability was reported by 77 participants (6.3%). Reporting the highest level of fear at FES-I [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 5.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.82-14.55, P = .002] or “FOF with activity restriction” with SQ-FAR (aOR 3.23, 95% CI 1.29-8.08, P = .012) were both associated with increased odds of disability even after adjusting for covariates. The FES-I model explained incident disability slightly better than the SQ-FAR one [Bayesian information criterion (BIC) values of 466.70 and 469.43, respectively].Conclusions and ImplicationsHigh FOF and related activity restriction, assessed with FES-I and SQ-FAR, are associated with incident disability in young-old community-dwelling people. The SQ-FAR is suitable as a screening tool to proactively detect a potentially reversible risk factor for disability. Using the FES-I may serve additional clinical purposes, such as FOF characterization and management.     

Cluster of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with an oil field waste site: a cross sectional study

Background  

This is a community comparison study that examines persons living in a subdivision exposed to petroleum products and mercury.     

Physical activity and quality of life in community dwelling older adults

Background  

Physical activity has been consistently associated with enhanced quality of life (QOL) in older adults. However, the nature of this relationship is not fully understood. In this study of community dwelling older adults, we examined the proposition that physical activity influences global QOL through self-efficacy and health-status.     

Effects of intensive home visiting programs for older people with poor health status: A systematic review

Background  

Home visiting programs have been developed aimed at improving the health and independent functioning of older people. Also, they intend to reduce hospital and nursing home admission and associated cost. A substantial number of studies have examined the effects of preventive home visiting programs on older people living in the community; the findings have been inconsistent. The objective of this review was to assess the effectiveness of intensive home visiting programs targeting older people with poor health or otherwise with functional impairments.     

Prevalence of Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Japanese Older Adults

Background

Sarcopenia, the age-dependent loss of skeletal muscle mass, is highly prevalent among older adults in many countries; however, the prevalence of sarcopenia in healthy Japanese community-dwelling older adults is not well characterized.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of sarcopenia and to examine the association of sarcopenia with falls and fear of falling in community-dwelling Japanese older adults.

Design

This is a cross-sectional study.

Setting and Subjects

Healthy men (568) and women (1314) aged 65 to 89 years participated in this research.

Measurements

For all participants, 3 measurements were taken: skeletal muscle mass measurement using bioelectrical impedance, 10 m at a usual walking speed, and handgrip strength. Sarcopenia was defined as the presence of both poor muscle function (low physical performance or low muscle strength) and low muscle mass.

Results

The prevalence of sarcopenia, determined using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People–suggested algorithm, in men and women aged 65 to 89 years was 21.8% and 22.1%, respectively. The prevalence of sarcopenia increased age-dependently, especially in those older than 75 years in both genders. In the young old, the prevalence of sarcopenia was higher in women than in men; however, in those older than 85 years, the prevalence of sarcopenia was lower in women than in men (P < .05). In addition, fall incidents and fear of falling were more prevalent in sarcopenic older adults than in nonsarcopenic older adults (P < .05).

Conclusions

These results suggest that sarcopenia is highly prevalent in community-dwelling Japanese older adults and is related to falls and fear of falling.     

Social status, life changes, housing conditions, health, functional abilitiesand life-style as risk factors for recurrent falls among the home-dwelling elderly

Objective

To define the risk factors for recurrent falls in the home-dwelling elderly.

Design

A prospective population-based study covering two years.

Setting

Five rural municipalities around the city Oulu, northern Finland.

Participants

All home-dwelling elderly persons (N = 1,016) aged 70 years or older living in the municipalities.

Outcome measures

The risk factors of recurrent falling by variables related to social status, life changes,housing conditions, health, functional abilities and life style, using cross-tabulations and multivariate analyses.

Results

The recurrent fallers (at least two falls within 365 days after the examination day) consisted of 17 men (6% of the men) and 71 women (14%). Logistic regression analyses showed female sex, urinary urgency, frequent fear of falling, dizziness, a poor pulse rate rise 30 seconds after standing up and falling during the previous year to be risk factors for recurrent falls. After the variable representing previous falls had been removed from the analysis, urinary incontinence and a change in housing conditions during the past two years emerged and urinary urgency dropped out of the model.

Conclusions

Women particularly are a target group for the prevention of falls among the elderly. Urinary urgency and urinary incontinence, fear of falling, dizziness and changes in the housing conditions should be inquired about to identify the elderly at risk for falling and to take preventive interventions. In addition to testing blood pressure changes after standing up, the changes in pulse rate should be determined to identify and treat elderly people who have orthostatic conditions.     

Effects of anorexia on mortality among older adults receiving home care: An observational study

Purpose  

We describe the prevalence of secondary anorexia in a population of older people living in community and receiving home care. In addition, we examined the relationship between secondary anorexia and mortality.     

Geographic variations in avoidable hospitalizations in the elderly,in a health system with universal coverage

Background  

The study of Hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSH) has been proposed as an indirect measure of access to and receipt of care by older persons at the entryway to the Spanish public health system. The aim of this work is to identify the rates of ACSH in persons 65 years or older living in different small-areas of the Community of Madrid (CM) and to detect possible differences in ACSH.     

Who will become malnourished? A prospective study of factors associated with malnutrition in older persons living at home

Objectives  

To describe the nutritional status of older persons living at home, to investigate factors of importance for nutritional status, and to describe possible relationships between nutritional status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).     

The design of the Dutch EASYcare study: a randomised controlled trial on the effectiveness of a problem-based community intervention model for frail elderly people [NCT00105378]

Background  

Because of their complex clinical presentations and needs frail elderly people require another approach than people who age without many complications. Several inpatient geriatric health services have proven effectiveness in frail persons. However, the wish to live independently and policies that promote independent living as an answer to population aging call for community intervention models for frail elderly people. Maybe models such as preventive home visits, comprehensive geriatric assessment, and intermediate care qualify, but their efficacy is controversial, especially in frail elderly persons living in the community. With the Dutch EASYcare Study Geriatric Intervention Programme (DGIP) we developed a model to study effectiveness of problem based community intervention models in frail elderly people.     

Current status of and factors associated with social isolation in the elderly living in a rapidly aging housing estate community

Objectives

The aim of this study was to examine social isolation development among elderly persons living in a rapidly aging housing estate community in terms of the frequency of activities of daily living outside the home and social contact with neighbors and to identify associated factors.

Methods

A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted in 2007 (102 subjects) and 2010 (104 subjects) involving elderly residents living on a suburban housing estate. The data collected on the 87 subjects who responded to both surveys were analyzed. The survey investigated physical, psychological, and social factors regarded as being associated with social isolation. The subjects were divided into four social types according to the frequency of activities of daily living outside the home and social contact with neighbors. Multiple logistic regression analysis involved would-be-isolated and non-isolated groups as dependent variables and each factor as an independent variable.

Results

Isolated group subjects increased from 2.3 to 7.0 % during the study period, with the would-be-isolated group accounting for 33.7 % of the study population in both years. Factors strongly associated with the would-be-isolated group were a low subjective sense of well-being and socioeconomic status were identified in 2007, and an older age, low subjective sense of socioeconomic status, and no provision of emotional support in 2010.

Conclusions

The health condition and social well-being of the elderly on a rapidly aging housing estate community tended to decline, revealing that the number of isolated and would-be-isolated subjects is increasing. Taking preventive action against social isolation among the elderly population is essential, suggesting the need to combine community health promotion and social communication interventions and to develop programs aimed at providing opportunities for elderly persons to be emotional support providers.     

Interactive video dance games for healthy older adults

Background  

Physical activity promotes health in older adults but participation rates are low. Interactive video dance games can increase activity in young persons but have not been designed for use with older adults. The purpose of this research was to evaluate healthy older adults’ interest and participation in a dance game adapted for an older user.